50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 27-28 Orange County Fairgrounds Raceway

Back in the swing of things on the oldest operating dirt track in America and our 200th post!  This is the 385 version which is much better than the one we started with.  After extensive tweaking of .lp and .ini files, I got the AI to near perfect levels.  At least for this type of dirt track anyway.  A somewhat smaller crowd than normal tonight but still tons of fun.

Race 1:

Humans were at the front in a cluster, though the pole was stolen from us.

Immediately, Darrel and I attacked the poor sap which almost took Darrel out in turn one.

Darrel only backslid a tad and was immediately attacking for 2nd by turn 3.

At that moment, Sandy was doing some attacking himself.

And found himself rocking and rolling.

But quickly recovered and continued on.

Only to be rear ended by Rowdy under caution.

And upside down.

On the restart, Darrel got a jump and took the lead.

As we came around, the 5 was dead out in turn 2 bringing out another yellow.

When we restarted, 4 laps ran by where I was practically glued to Darrel's bumper for some intensely close racing.  Zack was hanging just slightly back anticipating one of us to take the other out.

Darrel almost did that getting hot off the cushion and careening up the track as we approached backmarkers.

Those very backmarkers then caused trouble.  Sandy got bumped wide out of 2 by Trickle.

Hitting the wall and coming back into the 92 caused him to slip sideways and roll.  This one bit it.

Next restart, Darrel and Zack jumped on the restart a little too much and quickly formed one long car.

Darrel nearly took me around but I recovered while he backed off.

Zack didn't waste time to capitalize and shot into second.  But he wasn't clear of Darrel as he came down on him in turn 2.

They both ended up stuck in midair.  Darrel was done while Zack had less damage but had to be towed.  I'm assuming by a crane.

Things were green for a bit until Zack lost it out of 4.

I passed him but allowed him back by both coming to the yellow and shortly after while under green.

Things should have been smooth sailing from there until I got on top of the 93 while putting cars down a lap.

I only fell back to 4th when getting to the yellow but I was mad and tried taking it out on the 42 of Lee Petty.  Due to the sticky nature of the track, I ended up getting thrown into the inside wall.

Not to be discouraged I continued my harassment.

From which I rolled and was towed.

Back under green I was ready to make my fight to the front from the back when Klock and the 92 got tangled.

This Klockblocked the track and brought out the yellow.

With 5 to go, I started my charge with Zack.

I only made it to 19th but it ended in spectacular fashion.

Well, typical fashion.  At least Zack made it out clean.

Race 2:

Another 60 laps and fewer humans at the front for the second round.

A few laps in and Sandy found himself way outside along the wall being forced there from heavy traffic.

He got himself that sticky wall syndrome and swung back into traffic when getting unstuck, causing chaos with Mr. Cole Trickle.

Darrel slung his ride through an ever tightening gap and escaped with minor injuries.

Others did not...

Sandy was going to get a lucky dog but spent too much time on pit road.

Then it was back to green.

About 20+ laps in, Zack was making an inside pass on Sandy and there was a misqueue in communications.  Sandy never saw Zack coming and things got a bit cattywumpus.  By the way, Sandy was managing to stay close to the field with only 3rd gear and a near-nuclear hot engine.

Zack was hurting from this one and would once again be down the order but still running.

About halfway, Darrel did what I could not in Race 1 and took Lee Petty right around.

We were now one and two on the restart.

After lots of clear racing, my car was pushing through the corners and I was having trouble figuring out why.

Darrel approached and this was turning into a mirror image of when Sandy caught me at Cayuga.   Of course, in that scenario, Sandy made the pass and had 7 to go when he scuttled his car into lap traffic. Only about 10 laps left and we were approaching back markers.

It seemed I found my groove again and kept Darrel at arm's length when he got boxed in out of 2 on the white flag lap.

With the race in hand, it became like-father-like-son as I wrecked on Richard Petty.  Seems I bounced the apron a tad and upset my car enough that I glided into the 43.  Like a set of dominoes in the wind, this started a gentle catastrophe as I harpooned the pit wall and flung up the track in front of Darrel.

Our fenders touched and Darrel pulled a 180 right into the 43.

I was dead (and still finishing 4th) but Darrel would manage to bring his car around and finish out the race for the most unlikely win (and his first) of the season yet.

We now get slightly serious as we venture to our second NASCAR track and the largest of the series: Richmond.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	6	B Jordon	19.940
2	34	D Hamilton	19.946
3	19	T Nadz	19.967
4	23	Z Webster	19.976
5	42	L Petty	20.038
6	46	C Trickle	20.038
7	75	D Mulberry	20.046
8	43	R Petty	20.071
9	78	T McEwen	20.086
10	7	J Hampton	20.106
11	91	T Bear	20.114
12	67	B Klock	20.130
13	51	R Burns	20.143
14	13	J Meeks	20.168
15	18	R Wheeler	20.175
16	92	C Sumner	20.179
17	5	T Hankins	20.180
18	95	T Mater	20.186
19	001	H Smith	20.249
20	77	R Sweet	20.274
21	55	J Langford	20.298
22	36	P Rozelle	20.298
23	74	J DeWitt	20.304
24	24	M Lester	20.328
25	40	B Ebsen	20.347
26	003	R Holbrook	20.354
27	17	M Downing	20.364
28	1	T Daniels	20.366
29	11	M I Bannon	20.402
30	07	R Hutchins	20.413
31	72	A Grant	20.430
32	32	D Roberts	20.441
33	22	M Brings Plenty	20.458
34	3	M Benefield	20.460
35	4	A Unser	20.496
36	002	T Mender	20.506
37	9	S Greenbow	20.508
38	10	E Keene	20.513
39	102	S McBeam	20.518
40	61	D Hudson	20.632
41	08	S Holzheimer	20.659
42	93	R O'Reilly	20.679
43	98	M Joyner	20.731

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, West 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	19.850
2	91	T Bear	19.937
3	23	Z Webster	20.185
4	34	D Hamilton	21.027
5	7	J Hampton	21.376
6	5	T Hankins	21.415
7	67	B Klock	21.614
8	17	M Downing	21.681
9	42	L Petty	21.697
10	6	B Jordon	21.708
11	92	C Sumner	21.749
12	77	R Sweet	21.775
13	78	T McEwen	21.791
14	18	R Wheeler	21.801
15	32	D Roberts	21.818
16	36	P Rozelle	21.852
17	51	R Burns	21.936
18	55	J Langford	21.969
19	24	M Lester	21.983
20	95	T Mater	21.994
21	13	J Meeks	22.000
22	003	R Holbrook	22.004
23	43	R Petty	22.009
24	11	M I Bannon	22.078
25	75	D Mulberry	22.082
26	93	R O'Reilly	22.169
27	40	B Ebsen	22.185
28	22	M Brings Plenty	22.281
29	001	H Smith	22.349
30	46	C Trickle	22.415
31	98	M Joyner	22.473
32	74	J DeWitt	22.617
33	1	T Daniels	26.915

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southwest 2 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	8	43	R Petty	78.357	60	13	180	Running
2	15	18	R Wheeler	-2.15	60	0	170	Running
3	5	42	L Petty	-2.73	60	0	165	Running
4	13	51	R Burns	-2.91	60	0	160	Running
5	1	6	B Jordon	-3.13	60	0	155	Running
6	7	75	D Mulberry	-3.64	60	0	150	Running
7	26	003	R Holbrook	-3.81	60	0	146	Running
8	28	1	T Daniels	-4.05	60	0	142	Running
9	25	40	B Ebsen	-4.58	60	0	138	Running
10	35	4	A Unser	-4.92	60	0	134	Running
11	20	77	R Sweet	-5.15	60	0	130	Running
12	18	95	T Mater	-5.33	60	0	127	Running
13	10	7	J Hampton	-5.36	60	0	124	Running
14	32	32	D Roberts	-5.52	60	0	121	Running
15	43	98	M Joyner	-5.70	60	0	118	Running
16	21	55	J Langford	-5.86	60	0	115	Running
17	22	36	P Rozelle	-5.94	60	0	112	Running
18	3	19	T Nadz	-6.05	60	37*	119	Running
19	24	24	M Lester	-6.08	60	0	106	Running
20	36	002	T Mender	-6.11	60	0	103	Running
21	38	10	E Keene	-6.54	60	0	100	Running
22	33	22	M Brings Plenty	-6.83	60	0	97	Running
23	27	17	M Downing	-6.96	60	0	94	Running
24	41	08	S Holzheimer	-7.36	60	0	91	Running
25	39	102	S McBeam	-8.18	60	0	88	Running
26	16	92	C Sumner	-8.27	60	0	85	Running
27	29	11	M I Bannon	-8.43	60	0	82	Running
28	40	61	D Hudson	-8.58	60	0	79	Running
29	6	46	C Trickle	-8.69	60	0	76	Running
30	31	72	A Grant	-8.81	60	0	73	Running
31	37	9	S Greenbow	-9.05	60	0	70	Running
32	42	93	R O'Reilly	-1L	59	0	67	Running
33	30	07	R Hutchins	-2L	58	0	64	Running
34	4	23	Z Webster	-2L	58	0	61	Running
35	12	67	B Klock	-7L	53	0	58	Accident
36	19	001	H Smith	-24L	36	0	55	Running
37	11	91	T Bear	-29L	31	0	52	Piston
38	14	13	J Meeks	-32L	28	0	49	Running
39	2	34	D Hamilton	-38L	22	10	51	Accident
40	17	5	T Hankins	-52L	8	0	43	Running
41	9	78	T McEwen	-54L	6	0	40	Running
42	34	3	M Benefield	-55L	5	0	37	Running
43	23	74	J DeWitt	-59L	1	0	34	Running

Caution Flags: 8 (29 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, East 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 101%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 2

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	19.814
2	67	B Klock	19.951
3	42	L Petty	20.010
4	23	Z Webster	20.087
5	10	E Keene	20.092
6	92	C Sumner	20.100
7	54	T Smith	20.105
8	13	J Meeks	20.110
9	5	T Hankins	20.126
10	43	R Petty	20.131
11	51	R Burns	20.152
12	45	L Carbone	20.155
13	35	J Foss	20.174
14	7	J Hampton	20.175
15	88	T Bickle	20.180
16	36	P Rozelle	20.183
17	75	D Mulberry	20.194
18	91	T Bear	20.196
19	18	R Wheeler	20.204
20	17	M Downing	20.221
21	24	M Lester	20.244
22	77	R Sweet	20.281
23	95	T Mater	20.288
24	34	D Hamilton	20.299
25	002	T Mender	20.312
26	001	H Smith	20.318
27	4	A Unser	20.363
28	55	J Langford	20.370
29	11	M I Bannon	20.378
30	72	A Grant	20.386
31	46	C Trickle	20.402
32	1	T Daniels	20.417
33	99	R Melindez	20.432
34	40	B Ebsen	20.446
35	74	J DeWitt	20.457
36	27	L McQueen	20.470
37	3	M Benefield	20.508
38	22	M Brings Plenty	20.527
39	98	M Joyner	20.587
40	055	C McGee	20.590
41	08	S Holzheimer	20.728
42	93	R O'Reilly	20.747
43	61	D Hudson	20.930

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, West 4 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southwest 2 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	24	34	D Hamilton	91.667	60	1	180	Running
2	9	5	T Hankins	-4.13	60	0	170	Running
3	3	42	L Petty	-6.09	60	0	165	Running
4	1	19	T Nadz	-1L	59	59*	170	Running
5	16	36	P Rozelle	-1L	59	0	155	Running
6	2	67	B Klock	-1L	59	0	150	Running
7	6	92	C Sumner	-1L	59	0	146	Running
8	23	95	T Mater	-1L	59	0	142	Running
9	13	35	J Foss	-1L	59	0	138	Running
10	19	18	R Wheeler	-1L	59	0	134	Running
11	12	45	L Carbone	-1L	59	0	130	Running
12	15	88	T Bickle	-1L	59	0	127	Running
13	10	43	R Petty	-1L	59	0	124	Running
14	7	54	T Smith	-1L	59	0	121	Running
15	5	10	E Keene	-1L	59	0	118	Running
16	14	7	J Hampton	-1L	59	0	115	Running
17	21	24	M Lester	-1L	59	0	112	Running
18	29	11	M I Bannon	-2L	58	0	109	Running
19	25	002	T Mender	-2L	58	0	106	Running
20	22	77	R Sweet	-2L	58	0	103	Running
21	27	4	A Unser	-2L	58	0	100	Running
22	37	3	M Benefield	-2L	58	0	97	Running
23	43	61	D Hudson	-2L	58	0	94	Running
24	17	75	D Mulberry	-3L	57	0	91	Running
25	18	91	T Bear	-4L	56	0	88	Running
26	8	13	J Meeks	-10L	50	0	85	Retired
27	4	23	Z Webster	-38L	22	0	82	Piston
28	11	51	R Burns	-38L	22	0	79	Running
29	42	93	R O'Reilly	-55L	5	0	76	Running
30	40	055	C McGee	-56L	4	0	73	Running
31	36	27	L McQueen	-57L	3	0	70	Retired
32	38	22	M Brings Plenty	-57L	3	0	67	Accident
33	32	1	T Daniels	-57L	3	0	64	Retired
34	39	98	M Joyner	-57L	3	0	61	Accident
35	33	99	R Melindez	-58L	2	0	58	Retired
36	31	46	C Trickle	-58L	2	0	55	Running
37	26	001	H Smith	-58L	2	0	52	Accident
38	20	17	M Downing	-58L	2	0	49	Running
39	35	74	J DeWitt	-59L	1	0	46	Accident
40	28	55	J Langford	-59L	1	0	43	Accident
41	30	72	A Grant	-59L	1	0	40	Accident
42	41	08	S Holzheimer	-59L	1	0	37	Accident
43	34	40	B Ebsen	-59L	1	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 4 (14 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southeast 2 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 101%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
22	23	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs