50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 15-16 Cedarburg Fairgrounds: Fireman's Park

Well a slightly smaller group but still some good racing.  Couldn't get the yellows or pits to work properly so we went without both.  As it was, nearly everyone shared a pitstall which caused the server to crash about every 5-10 minutes.  But we got it all in.  Had to shorten the second race since the first one had a ton of random pit penalties from AI stopping for tires (for some reason).  But the second one was a bit smoother.  Let's take a look.

Race 1:

At the start it was all humans in attendance minus Scot who "failed to qualify well".

Things started off very aggressively for Sandy as he was shuffled back ever so slightly but kept fighting.

It didn't take Scot long to get things going.

It wasn't just humans cracking chrome either.

Even though I was leading, I couldn't keep out of it.

Yes, well, he should have paid attention to the blue and crossed flag.

Again, more AI getting tangled up.  This time, poor Richard Petty was shuffled to the outside.

While not wrecked, he did cause a slow down off of four.

The slow down turned into bottle neck and Scot came flying out of the corner on three wheels.

And he really needed all of them on the ground to stop as he barreled into the 08, followed by a bashing from several other cars behind him.

Concurrently, Darrel was getting spun on the other side of the track by Tow Mater.

He landed gently on his top but was not out.

Back to the front stretch, Sandy was deftly avoiding Scot's droppings and moving back up.

Scot on the other hand was still getting massacred.

I was coming up on the scene but before I got there, I got into a lapper.

It almost all ended there as the 001 smacked me.

But he spun and hit me in such a way that kept me going straight, just as Zack pulled in, hungry for the lead.

But while he was watching me, Rowdy Burns came along the outside and caught a bit of fender on Zack, giving him a bit of a slide.

Meanwhile, Scot was playing tidly winks in the pits, while his crew tried to figure out how to service him.

At this time, Darrel was just getting out of the pits and this was all under 20 of 75 laps.

Sandy was still moving up through the field and avoiding hazards like the sliding 36.

Until he was the one getting slid.

It may not have been so bad if he hadn't of slid up the track in front of Darrel.

The wrecking was intense.

While he didn't survive, some of the other cars around him didn't either.

They were really getting hammered.  So much for yellows.

Lee Petty ruined Darrel's aero and caused him to spin slowly.

This caused a log jam and somewhere amongst it, he lost first gear.

That left him a sitting duck and then he got destroyed.

About 30 laps in and I was starting to run out of patience for some of these lappers.  But it almost cost me again.

I was lucky the 75 was there to take the hit from the 17 for me.

And the 51

And the 11

And the 24

And the 42

And the 74

Halfway into the race and all of a sudden, the pits were full of cars which meant....

...potentially server-crashing wrecks were happening.

With only about 10 laps left, Zack and I were the only humans alive and two of only about 10 cars still running.  At this point I passed him to have put the whole field a lap down.

So he took his frustrations out on Cole Trickle.

Cole spent a few laps trying to figure his way back into the track.

And I brought it home without issue.

Race 2:

Race 2 saw a little more spread with the humans but not much.

Off the bat, Russ Wheeler got launched and both he and the 001 were done.

Darrel almost got caught up himself as Richard Petty took a fender to him.

And by the next turn, he was taking it out on the 24.

Which made a pile.

And the pile was growing.

Scot took advantage and sailed by, climbing the ladder.

More trouble by the next lap as these two got together and into the wall.

The ensuing chaos gave Sandy a scare as Moses pushed him well down the track.

A couple laps on, and Cole Trickle got clipped off of the turn 2 wall.

This would be the first of many spectacular wrecks Darrel would see coming out of this turn.

The 88 should have followed Darrel.

He would have been better off.

Moses Brings Plenty and Meeks got into each other about 5 laps in.

And then the 55 got turned...

...and rolled it out the track.

This was the view on the racing surface as some cars were breaking down and others braking to avoid.

At the end of the stretch, there was still more wrecking.

Scot and Sandy managed to sidestep this mess however.

Not even 10 laps in and Sandy was already getting perilously close to Scot's bumper.

On lap 5, Zack had disappeared due to a quick outage (lightning maybe?).  Then he was back on track and headed straight to a wreck.

This confrontation ended up hurting something enough to plume black smoke which miraculously fixed itself about 4 laps later.

Like I said, coming off of 2 is a dangerous place to be near the wall.  Petty was at it again.

Hudson in the 61 couldn't help but take out Lee.  I guess, take vengeance on the father...

A short while later, Al Unser got pegged by the 78.

The following wreck was large.

Darrel was coming out of the corner just in time to have a heart attack.

All that slowing up put me right on his bumper where I'd get to tag along for some exciting runs while Darrel fought to keep on the lead lap.

Meeks was in trouble again with the 74 off of 4.

I thought about passing Darrel when the 82 got in my way.

Further along, Randy Sweet got crunched into that turn two wall.

I barely avoided him coming back in line down the back stretch.

Scot then had a very large moment as he caught a tire on the inside apron mound.

He would need a tow.

Zack was fighting hard to come back and got into it with Randy Sweet.

Then the inevitable happened.  As Scot had come back on track, he was too slow for Sandy's battering pace.

Sandy probably didn't anticipate how slow he was (Scot lost 4th gear) and slid him up in front of the Purple People Eater.

Well, at least he saved it.

Doh!

And it got ugly from there.  Beady little eyes...

By the time he was wrapped back around to the front stretch, his car was in ruins and Darrel and I only just avoided the whole mess.

As did Zack.

At this point, it was about halfway through the race and half the field was out.  Then this most spectacular thing happened.  These two morons got hooked on each other and sped towards that infamous turn 2 exit.

The caught the wall and went airborn.

As Darrel and I caught them, they simply fell out of the giant dust cloud right into the racing line.

Darrel was lucky the 1 was there to buffer him to the left or he might have been in trouble.  Come to think of it, so would I.

We made it through relatively unscathed but Zack still had to clear the carnage.

He didn't exactly miss it, but he did keep going.

Lee Petty avoided it on the outside and skewered himself on the outside wall like an idiot.  Moron.

Yep, Zack just couldn't keep his grubby hands off of Randy Sweet and went for a ride this time.

Speaking of the pits, Scot was actually just coming out of them at about this time.  Somehow his car still worked, be it just barely.

And running into Zack (or was it the other way around?) didn't help.

To his credit, Scot did try and pit for repairs but he couldn't get the pits to activate within two attempts.  So I just kept clearing his penalties.

Sandy was powering through laps and holding a podium when the 82 spun Michelle Benefield up the track and nearly into his driver door.

This was an interesting thing that happened to Zack.  He was minding his own business, driving around this lapper...

...when his car got jacked sideways for no reason.

The sudden upset threw his car around.

He did get going again, though.

With a few more laps to go, I finally got my run on Darrel and passed him.  No longer would I be subjected to ridiculously massive accidents and close calls.  Not saying he caused them, but he sure is a magnet...

While the laps were winding down, Zack and Sandy were battling when this jackass smacked the 42 of Petty.  How either one was still running I'll never know.

Regardless, Sandy went evasive and Zack had a clear pass.

Minor damage to the side but still good.

And three humans were right together at the line.

Next week we take to a big name track:  Martinsville.  Get ready for your nasty ass hot dogs.  I'd like to see Will and Mark join us now that we have a work around for Mark's issues.  And hopefully Chad can get some useful minions so he can take the night off.  Hell, let's get Odie and Hagerty in this so we can have a real race going.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.455
2	91	T Bear	18.777
3	34	D Hamilton	18.902
4	23	Z Webster	19.067
5	18	R Wheeler	19.516
6	51	R Burns	19.567
7	01	M Max	19.798
8	92	C Sumner	19.839
9	93	R O'Reilly	20.717
10	08	S Holzheimer	21.084

Weather: Cloudy, 85 °F, South 6 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.402
2	91	T Bear	18.779
3	23	Z Webster	18.934
4	34	D Hamilton	18.980
5	51	R Burns	18.990
6	18	R Wheeler	19.171
7	66	D Monroe	19.220
8	003	R Holbrook	19.230
9	43	R Petty	19.239
10	78	T McEwen	19.255
11	42	L Petty	19.304
12	92	C Sumner	19.352
13	74	J DeWitt	19.359
14	46	C Trickle	19.412
15	24	M Lester	19.478
16	77	R Sweet	19.489
17	36	P Rozelle	19.489
18	6	B Jordon	19.496
19	11	M I Bannon	19.553
20	10	E Keene	19.624
21	99	R Melindez	19.647
22	4	A Unser	19.674
23	1	T Daniels	19.716
24	54	T Smith	19.769
25	55	J Langford	19.779
26	7	J Hampton	19.851
27	67	B Klock	19.877
28	75	D Mulberry	19.963
29	45	L Carbone	19.976
30	40	B Ebsen	20.075
31	13	J Meeks	20.110
32	002	T Mender	20.110
33	98	M Joyner	20.119
34	001	H Smith	20.146
35	17	M Downing	20.226
36	22	M Brings Plenty	20.272
37	82	K Rodriguez	20.273
38	08	S Holzheimer	20.418
39	3	M Benefield	20.444
40	93	R O'Reilly	20.508
41	27	L McQueen	20.543
42	95	T Mater	20.614
43	01	M Max	--

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, North 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	19	T Nadz	93.842	75	75*	185	Running
2	3	23	Z Webster	-1L	74	0	170	Running
3	15	24	M Lester	-8L	67	0	165	Running
4	27	67	B Klock	-20L	55	0	160	Running
5	18	6	B Jordon	-23L	52	0	155	Running
6	14	46	C Trickle	-23L	52	0	150	Retired
7	33	98	M Joyner	-26L	49	0	146	DQ
8	25	55	J Langford	-27L	48	0	142	Retired
9	28	75	D Mulberry	-27L	48	0	138	DQ
10	8	003	R Holbrook	-31L	44	0	134	Retired
11	29	45	L Carbone	-33L	42	0	130	Retired
12	10	78	T McEwen	-34L	41	0	127	Accident
13	22	4	A Unser	-34L	41	0	124	Accident
14	41	27	L McQueen	-34L	41	0	121	DQ
15	12	92	C Sumner	-34L	41	0	118	Accident
16	23	1	T Daniels	-35L	40	0	115	Accident
17	5	51	R Burns	-35L	40	0	112	Retired
18	20	10	E Keene	-35L	40	0	109	Accident
19	19	11	M I Bannon	-35L	40	0	106	Accident
20	11	42	L Petty	-36L	39	0	103	Accident
21	6	18	R Wheeler	-36L	39	0	100	Accident
22	13	74	J DeWitt	-36L	39	0	97	Accident
23	17	36	P Rozelle	-36L	39	0	94	Accident
24	31	13	J Meeks	-36L	39	0	91	Accident
25	30	40	B Ebsen	-36L	39	0	88	Accident
26	21	99	R Melindez	-36L	39	0	85	Accident
27	35	17	M Downing	-37L	38	0	82	Accident
28	16	77	R Sweet	-37L	38	0	79	Accident
29	39	3	M Benefield	-38L	37	0	76	Running
30	37	82	K Rodriguez	-38L	37	0	73	Accident
31	38	08	S Holzheimer	-39L	36	0	70	Running
32	36	22	M Brings Plenty	-40L	35	0	67	Accident
33	34	001	H Smith	-46L	29	0	64	DQ
34	9	43	R Petty	-46L	29	0	61	Accident
35	7	66	D Monroe	-49L	26	0	58	Accident
36	26	7	J Hampton	-55L	20	0	55	DQ
37	4	34	D Hamilton	-58L	17	0	52	Accident
38	2	91	T Bear	-59L	16	0	49	Accident
39	32	002	T Mender	-62L	13	0	46	DQ
40	40	93	R O'Reilly	-66L	9	0	43	DQ
41	43	01	M Max	-69L	6	0	40	Accident
42	24	54	T Smith	-69L	6	0	37	Retired
43	42	95	T Mater	-74L	1	0	34	DQ

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Cloudy, 93 °F, Southwest 3 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 89%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
8	34	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
15	34	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.630
2	42	L Petty	19.037
3	23	Z Webster	19.083
4	51	R Burns	19.200
5	18	R Wheeler	19.293
6	001	H Smith	19.303
7	91	T Bear	19.307
8	34	D Hamilton	19.380
9	43	R Petty	19.402
10	66	D Monroe	19.405
11	7	J Hampton	19.422
12	24	M Lester	19.427
13	92	C Sumner	19.436
14	78	T McEwen	19.472
15	67	B Klock	19.513
16	13	J Meeks	19.513
17	36	P Rozelle	19.545
18	11	M I Bannon	19.555
19	77	R Sweet	19.558
20	88	T Bickle	19.591
21	5	T Hankins	19.607
22	74	J DeWitt	19.627
23	002	T Mender	19.662
24	46	C Trickle	19.670
25	40	B Ebsen	19.721
26	98	M Joyner	19.736
27	75	D Mulberry	19.754
28	10	E Keene	19.816
29	55	J Langford	19.837
30	35	J Foss	19.858
31	4	A Unser	19.867
32	72	A Grant	19.885
33	95	T Mater	19.984
34	59	B Paulsen	20.044
35	61	D Hudson	20.061
36	82	K Rodriguez	20.068
37	3	M Benefield	20.162
38	1	T Daniels	20.191
39	22	M Brings Plenty	20.357
40	08	S Holzheimer	20.396
41	93	R O'Reilly	20.489
42	9	S Greenbow	20.558
43	01	M Max	--

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, South 9 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	19	T Nadz	91.825	40	40*	185	Running
2	9	43	R Petty	-6.70	40	0	170	Running
3	7	91	T Bear	-1L	39	0	160	Running
4	8	34	D Hamilton	-1L	39	0	155	Running
5	19	77	R Sweet	-1L	39	0	150	Running
6	13	92	C Sumner	-1L	39	0	146	Running
7	38	1	T Daniels	-1L	39	0	142	Running
8	26	98	M Joyner	-1L	39	0	138	Running
9	3	23	Z Webster	-2L	39	0	165	Running
10	39	22	M Brings Plenty	-3L	37	0	134	Running
11	16	13	J Meeks	-3L	37	0	130	Running
12	14	78	T McEwen	-4L	36	0	127	Accident
13	43	01	M Max	-11L	29	0	124	Running
14	15	67	B Klock	-12L	28	0	121	Running
15	2	42	L Petty	-13L	27	0	118	DQ
16	22	74	J DeWitt	-15L	25	0	115	Retired
17	23	002	T Mender	-16L	24	0	112	Accident
18	36	82	K Rodriguez	-16L	24	0	109	Running
19	41	93	R O'Reilly	-19L	21	0	106	Accident
20	40	08	S Holzheimer	-19L	21	0	103	Accident
21	27	75	D Mulberry	-19L	21	0	100	Accident
22	37	3	M Benefield	-23L	17	0	97	Retired
23	11	7	J Hampton	-25L	15	0	94	Retired
24	10	66	D Monroe	-26L	14	0	91	Retired
25	31	4	A Unser	-28L	12	0	88	Retired
26	35	61	D Hudson	-30L	10	0	85	Accident
27	32	72	A Grant	-33L	7	0	82	Accident
28	30	35	J Foss	-33L	7	0	79	Retired
29	33	95	T Mater	-34L	6	0	76	Accident
30	4	51	R Burns	-35L	5	0	73	Retired
31	18	11	M I Bannon	-35L	5	0	70	Accident
32	29	55	J Langford	-36L	4	0	67	Accident
33	34	59	B Paulsen	-36L	4	0	64	Accident
34	28	10	E Keene	-36L	4	0	61	Accident
35	24	46	C Trickle	-36L	4	0	58	Accident
36	21	5	T Hankins	-37L	3	0	55	Accident
37	20	88	T Bickle	-37L	3	0	52	Accident
38	12	24	M Lester	-37L	3	0	49	Accident
39	42	9	S Greenbow	-37L	3	0	46	Accident
40	17	36	P Rozelle	-38L	2	0	43	Retired
41	25	40	B Ebsen	-39L	1	0	40	DQ
42	5	18	R Wheeler	-39L	1	0	37	Accident
43	6	001	H Smith	-39L	1	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, Southeast 10 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
25	23	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
21	01	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs
21	01	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
24	01	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs
26	01	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs
28	01	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs
30	01	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs