50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 21-22 Salem Night

An old familiar but rather more chaotic track than I remember.  Salem Night was a narrow short track that's fast and high banked.  Rather like driving on ice for 60 laps or more.  We only did 60.

Race 1:

Sandy actually sniped the pole after a somewhat botched start with several restarts and a system crash.  Scot was the only human to start toward the back in his usual spot.  But Sandy was very impressive after struggling initially and slowly improving his time dramatically.

Naturally, Scot would be bringing out the first caution.  Although he had help.

More than once.

And it just kept getting ugly.

Darrel helped with the next one after running up on the 7.

And like Scot, things got more worse from there.  Zack did all he could to stop but he couldn't help but trade some paint with others.

And Darrel kept things going.

 Fortunately, he managed to pull away from the mess unscathed.  Mostly.

As always, Scot got a little piece of the action as well.

After some actual green flag laps, Scot got caught in the turn 3-to-4 magnet against the wall.

No trouble was had until Darrel bounced him...

...and Zack slammed him.

He also recovered fairly well and made it 5 and a half wide.

We got going again and Sandy was leading with me in second.  I had to check up a bit while he was slowing early for a turn and got the wall.

Darrel must have though I was running a good line as he did the same thing.

But things didn't turn out as well for him.

Or Zack.

Or most everyone else.

The next green was short lived as the pace car was confusingly still on the track, but humans were up front.

And then it happened, Sandy got a tap.

But with some help from the wall, straightened things out again.

But the ride wasn't over as Zack got into him a tad and sent him down into the 13 of Keene.

And he went sliding across the line to STILL hold the lead.

Scot was again involved.  He likes these pileups.

He caught up to Sandy and managed to entangle their bumpers.

After disentangling, he snuck onto pit road.

Although still in first, Sandy knew his tires were useless and brought it in for fresh rubber.

Racing again and Zack was checking up to avoid hitting Darrel.

And that sent him into traffic.

Slammed not once...

...but twice!

Sandy, in third, also got into it though not too hard.

However, it did toss him around as the 72 of Grant bashed the hell out of him.

Back under green, Zack passed me after I got caught on the wall.  But he lost it in the next corner and I bashed the 40 attempting to avoid.

I kept going while Zack was stuck getting slammed around.

And as always, the track was blocked.

The next caution came at the same time that Sandy was coming out of the pits for more repairs or a black flag or something.

With 4 to go, Darrel got spun by Bannon.

We finished under caution.

Race 2:

OK, so this didn't happen in Race 2 but actually Race 1.  I forgot to include it.  It was early on in the race when Sandy was leading and had an amazing slide-save.  Expertly using the apron to keep the car from whipping around.  Right in front of all of us.

OK so Race 2 started in similar fashion but Zack had the lead on this one.  Sandy held 3rd and we were slotted in on through the field.

The first caution started from a chain reaction when I caught the corner of the 75.

We kept things mostly clean but the slow up accordion-ed the field just enough.

Scot, who was not far behind, was caught in the evasive action and got piled into the wall.

And the track was blocked.  Little damage to humans.

Another restart and Zack jumped it.  Notice the yellow flag is being put away but the green is not out yet.  I thought the 42 of Petty should have been penalized as well.

The next yellow happened quickly as I was simply coming up to a group of cars and got spun by the 75.  I guess he didn't care for my driving.

I suffered some damage but it was the rest of the field that took some major hits.

I was involved with the next yellow as well while the 7 and I made some mild touches that got us both in the wall.

Hampton then took it to the back of Zack's 23.

While under this caution, Darrel plowed Bannon going into 1.  Not sure why.

Sandy got turned later on by the 1.  Fortunately he kept going.

It would seem that I would be the crash star of this race, even though I didn't feel my moves were exceptionally hard.  I got caught on the 55 going through 2.

That sent him down into Grant.

Grant came back and smooshed me into the wall.

No major damage until the 78 hit me trying to race to the line, sending me around.

We had some words under caution.

And under green as he wouldn't move it.

We hadn't made it to the line yet and the 17 was going to pass on the inside.  He then poured salt in the wounds by hitting me.

The lazy slide sent me right into the only break in the front stretch wall.  Dead.  The 17 would have all points stripped for this race as he had several other infractions.

The next series of events happened as Darrel swam up for the green.  There was confusion on where he needed to be and Scot/Sandy were waiting for him.  This caused an awkward break in the field and the two mustard cars were out of pace.

The resulting collision caused the trailing cars to get right on top of them.

And Sandy was spun.

Not much damage to him though.  The cars then started piling up.

After the rolled 78 car of McEwen disappeared, Lee Petty blew into the 98.

Obviously we finished under yellow and several of these morons were out.

We now head to our shortest (dirt) track on the circuit (.375 miles), Albany-Saratoga.

Race 1

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	91	T Bear	15.883
2	23	Z Webster	15.925
3	19	T Nadz	16.227
4	34	D Hamilton	16.437
5	42	L Petty	16.504
6	001	H Smith	16.544
7	51	R Burns	16.586
8	78	T McEwen	16.615
9	18	R Wheeler	16.677
10	75	D Mulberry	16.709
11	43	R Petty	16.721
12	99	R Melindez	16.738
13	35	J Foss	16.753
14	46	C Trickle	16.768
15	36	P Rozelle	16.801
16	7	J Hampton	16.813
17	67	B Klock	16.827
18	47	R Vining	16.828
19	17	M Downing	16.869
20	88	T Bickle	16.885
21	74	J DeWitt	16.887
22	40	B Ebsen	16.899
23	4	A Unser	16.908
24	6	B Jordon	16.919
25	1	T Daniels	16.931
26	3	M Benefield	16.946
27	10	E Keene	16.952
28	11	M I Bannon	16.975
29	01	M Max	16.984
30	002	T Mender	16.992
31	92	C Sumner	17.026
32	54	T Smith	17.059
33	72	A Grant	17.077
34	95	T Mater	17.081
35	13	J Meeks	17.088
36	32	D Roberts	17.108
37	22	M Brings Plenty	17.111
38	27	L McQueen	17.113
39	61	D Hudson	17.126
40	59	B Paulsen	17.166
41	055	C McGee	17.190
42	9	S Greenbow	17.282
43	08	S Holzheimer	17.434

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, North 10 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	19	T Nadz	55.581	60	27	180	Running
2	29	01	M Max	-3.41	60	0	170	Running
3	2	23	Z Webster	-1L	59	1	170	Running
4	4	34	D Hamilton	-1L	59	0	160	Running
5	22	40	B Ebsen	-1L	59	0	155	Running
6	28	11	M I Bannon	-2L	58	0	150	Running
7	1	91	T Bear	-2L	58	32*	156	Running
8	19	17	M Downing	-2L	58	0	142	Running
9	16	7	J Hampton	-3L	57	0	138	Running
10	27	10	E Keene	-3L	57	0	134	Running
11	6	001	H Smith	-3L	57	0	130	Running
12	10	75	D Mulberry	-3L	57	0	127	Running
13	20	88	T Bickle	-3L	57	0	124	No Fuel
14	15	36	P Rozelle	-3L	57	0	121	Running
15	18	47	R Vining	-3L	57	0	118	Running
16	30	002	T Mender	-3L	57	0	115	Running
17	21	74	J DeWitt	-4L	56	0	112	Running
18	31	92	C Sumner	-4L	56	0	109	Running
19	32	54	T Smith	-4L	56	0	106	Running
20	8	78	T McEwen	-4L	56	0	103	Running
21	13	35	J Foss	-4L	56	0	100	Running
22	25	1	T Daniels	-4L	56	0	97	Running
23	26	3	M Benefield	-4L	56	0	94	Running
24	35	13	J Meeks	-5L	55	0	91	Running
25	5	42	L Petty	-5L	55	0	88	Running
26	43	08	S Holzheimer	-5L	55	0	85	Running
27	14	46	C Trickle	-5L	55	0	82	Running
28	11	43	R Petty	-5L	55	0	79	Running
29	9	18	R Wheeler	-5L	55	0	76	Running
30	23	4	A Unser	-6L	54	0	73	Running
31	17	67	B Klock	-6L	54	0	70	Running
32	24	6	B Jordon	-6L	54	0	67	Running
33	33	72	A Grant	-7L	53	0	64	Running
34	12	99	R Melindez	-7L	53	0	61	Running
35	7	51	R Burns	-7L	53	0	58	Running
36	36	32	D Roberts	-8L	52	0	55	Header
37	41	055	C McGee	-8L	52	0	52	Running
38	37	22	M Brings Plenty	-8L	52	0	49	Running
39	42	9	S Greenbow	-8L	52	0	46	Running
40	34	95	T Mater	-8L	52	0	43	Running
41	39	61	D Hudson	-9L	51	0	40	Running
42	40	59	B Paulsen	-10L	50	0	37	Running
43	38	27	L McQueen	-11L	49	0	34	Running

Caution Flags: 10 (43 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, North 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
3	01	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
13	34	Passing under yellow	Held for 3 seconds
13	23	Passing under yellow	Held for 3 seconds
32	01	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
32	01	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
32	01	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
32	01	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	23	Z Webster	15.882
2	42	L Petty	16.308
3	91	T Bear	16.330
4	001	H Smith	16.339
5	51	R Burns	16.347
6	43	R Petty	16.353
7	003	R Holbrook	16.398
8	75	D Mulberry	16.416
9	36	P Rozelle	16.442
10	19	T Nadz	16.443
11	67	B Klock	16.449
12	10	E Keene	16.458
13	01	M Max	16.466
14	78	T McEwen	16.493
15	7	J Hampton	16.505
16	92	C Sumner	16.514
17	46	C Trickle	16.528
18	5	T Hankins	16.529
19	4	A Unser	16.530
20	6	B Jordon	16.555
21	18	R Wheeler	16.556
22	1	T Daniels	16.562
23	99	R Melindez	16.593
24	35	J Foss	16.595
25	002	T Mender	16.632
26	74	J DeWitt	16.635
27	24	M Lester	16.638
28	34	D Hamilton	16.639
29	17	M Downing	16.649
30	77	R Sweet	16.654
31	72	A Grant	16.669
32	32	D Roberts	16.720
33	11	M I Bannon	16.727
34	40	B Ebsen	16.743
35	95	T Mater	16.777
36	98	M Joyner	16.837
37	55	J Langford	16.866
38	61	D Hudson	16.887
39	22	M Brings Plenty	16.948
40	93	R O'Reilly	16.952
41	13	J Meeks	17.062
42	63	C Coppess	17.087
43	08	S Holzheimer	17.168

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, North 5 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	4	001	H Smith	54.958	40	4	180	Running
2	12	10	E Keene	-0.54	40	0	170	Running
3	7	003	R Holbrook	-1.08	40	0	165	Running
4	11	67	B Klock	-3.73	40	0	160	Running
5	8	75	D Mulberry	-4.25	40	0	155	Running
6	16	92	C Sumner	-4.75	40	0	150	Running
7	13	01	M Max	-5.96	40	0	146	Running
8	29	17	M Downing	-1L	39	0	142	Running
9	1	23	Z Webster	-1L	39	6	143	Running
10	22	1	T Daniels	-1L	39	0	134	Running
11	3	91	T Bear	-1L	39	0	130	Running
12	6	43	R Petty	-1L	39	0	127	Running
13	43	08	S Holzheimer	-1L	39	0	124	Running
14	25	002	T Mender	-1L	39	0	121	Running
15	27	24	M Lester	-1L	39	0	118	Running
16	28	34	D Hamilton	-1L	37	0	88	Running
17	18	5	T Hankins	-2L	38	0	115	Running
18	14	78	T McEwen	-2L	38	0	112	Running
19	40	93	R O'Reilly	-2L	38	0	109	Running
20	42	63	C Coppess	-2L	38	0	106	Running
21	41	13	J Meeks	-2L	38	0	103	Running
22	5	51	R Burns	-3L	37	0	100	Retired
23	2	42	L Petty	-3L	37	30*	107	Retired
24	31	72	A Grant	-3L	37	0	94	Retired
25	15	7	J Hampton	-3L	37	0	91	Retired
26	37	55	J Langford	-4L	36	0	85	Retired
27	23	99	R Melindez	-4L	36	0	82	Retired
28	35	95	T Mater	-4L	36	0	79	Retired
29	24	35	J Foss	-4L	36	0	76	Retired
30	30	77	R Sweet	-4L	36	0	73	Running
31	38	61	D Hudson	-5L	35	0	70	Accident
32	36	98	M Joyner	-5L	35	0	67	Retired
33	33	11	M I Bannon	-6L	34	0	64	Retired
34	10	19	T Nadz	-11L	29	0	61	Accident
35	19	4	A Unser	-14L	26	0	58	Retired
36	9	36	P Rozelle	-15L	25	0	55	Retired
37	17	46	C Trickle	-27L	13	0	52	Retired
38	34	40	B Ebsen	-37L	3	0	49	Retired
39	26	74	J DeWitt	-37L	3	0	46	Retired
40	21	18	R Wheeler	-37L	3	0	43	Retired
41	32	32	D Roberts	-37L	3	0	40	Retired
42	20	6	B Jordon	-38L	2	0	37	Retired
43	39	22	M Brings Plenty	-39L	1	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 7 (30 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, Northeast 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
6	23	Passing the pacecar	Held for 1 seconds
3	34	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
3	34	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
31	34	Passing under yellow	Held for 5 seconds