50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 35-36 Dakota Dirt

We're closing in on the final three races of the season, and this last one has been quite a handful.

Race 1:

We all were posting good times and when it came to qualifying, we were all mostly towards the front half of the field.

But it wouldn't matter too much as Darrel got into it almost immediately with the 92.

Several laps of yellow and then back to green where Darrel was once again in trouble.  This time the 08 of Holzhiemer.

Knocked around but not out.

Our next yellow happened several laps later after the green was thrown and racing was going along smoothly.  The 10 of Keene decided he needed to hit the pits while the 11 was down low.

They scuffled a tad and the 10 was seen pulling a Duke Boys style maneuver to hit the commit line.

It didn't work out and instead he his the end of pit road with a flag man flinching away while Cole Trickle plowed Keene.

The approaching field started gumming up and things got messy.

More close racing on green flag and the 55 got caught out while being shoved low.

After this restart, I had fallen back after hitting the pits for fuel and when the field jacked the brakes in turn one, I was around, with no small help from Petty.

Sandy was watching the chaos ensue and must have had the car too high, for he was running wide to the tires.

Further up the track, Zack was getting a generous bump from the 32.

Things settled, we got back to racing.  But Darrel was hard on the brakes for some reason into one and Sandy did all he could to throw anchors and evade.

It did not, however, work out as planned with Zack and company plowing right on through.

Zack wasn't spared either as he flew up into the 55.

While racing for the line the 35 decided Darrel was in his way, and let him know about it.

After the restart and more racing, I ended up biting off more than I could chew and got mixed up with Moses and McEwen.

Less than 10 to go and one more before green flag racing and Darrel inexplicably locked breaks in front of Burns.  While Rowdy had room to stop, he clearly didn't...

And took Darrel around.  While attempting to turn around, Darrel rolled up the track then went in reverse to straighten out.  At this point, NASCAR said that was too much backwards driving and kicked him.  Another Yellow Flag DNF for Darrel.

Back to green and Sandy was immediately in trouble after leaving the outside line open to attack.  When attempting to block, he got slammed.

But it was the other drivers who would suffer from this misfortune.

Coming back to the line, I may have had some minor contact with Randy Sweet and the 55.

When the green flew, there was one lap to go and we were all going for it.  I got caught on Unser's rear bumper and was thrown to the inside of the track.

Zack was coming by while I was fighting for control and was set up to capitalize when...

...wait, what happened to Scot?  He was right there back on lap 22...

...Oh, there he is.

And there he went.

So back to Zack, he was running for the corner when the 32 was back for more, giving him a mighty shunt going through the last corners.

And it was pandemonium all over the track.

Not caring for the penalty, Webster went for revenge and cracked into the 32 at the end.  Even still, humans fared better than they could have.

Race 2:

Another good qualy for humans and the racing started off strong.

Immediately on the backstretch, I was way too tight and ran wide into the wall.

I was fighting back but things weren't lining up well for the corners.

Zack capitalized and moved to third and the front four were duking it out.

The first caution came, as no surprise, from Scot's dive bomb.

The 75 stuck like a dart into the turn 4 exit wall.

Darrel and Sandy scrambled to avoid the aftermath.

On the restart, Moses Brings Plenty didn't bring his revs up fast enough and was nearly dumped.

Scot scrambled to fill the gap by turn one but ended up cleanly dive bombing again and sending these two to early retirement.

Meanwhile, up front, I was dealing with Zack's connection issues.

While not his fault, I was none the less distracted and ended up getting out of position.

I had fought back up but was immediately tagged by McEwen.

Which sent me to the wall and back a bit.

Zack was driving for first.

Sandy and Darrel were working their way through the field.

And I was getting hipchecked by McEwen!  This one ran me completely out of the track.

When trying to get back on, the caution was thrown.

And Rowdy Burns was kind enough to hit me and send me around when trying to get up to speed.

Back to green and not many laps left with Zack just gaining the top spot.

With a green white checkered in play, I was pushing past as many cars as I could when I found my old friend who came down on me going through three.  This sent us both high, although he kept going while I kept going around.

Darrel just managed to eek out position ahead of Sandy while taking the yellow/white flag.

What about Scot?  Well, this happened with 8 to go...

Karma, is a bitch.

Much like Zack took out his constant companion, the 32 in race one, I felt I owed it to the 78 to celebrate his fantastic driving.

By killing us both before the end.  No regrets.

Zack, however, went on to take a victory, despite his lapsing connection.

Next week is Myrtle Beach Night.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.083
2	23	Z Webster	18.407
3	34	D Hamilton	18.524
4	91	T Bear	18.636
5	74	J DeWitt	18.777
6	51	R Burns	18.780
7	003	R Holbrook	18.782
8	18	R Wheeler	18.842
9	43	R Petty	18.846
10	92	C Sumner	18.857
11	42	L Petty	18.867
12	36	P Rozelle	18.870
13	78	T McEwen	18.895
14	75	D Mulberry	18.921
15	001	H Smith	18.932
16	11	M I Bannon	18.936
17	47	R Vining	18.951
18	7	J Hampton	18.955
19	01	M Max	18.956
20	055	C McGee	19.017
21	1	T Daniels	19.080
22	77	R Sweet	19.081
23	4	A Unser	19.114
24	40	B Ebsen	19.116
25	72	A Grant	19.118
26	67	B Klock	19.121
27	35	J Foss	19.141
28	10	E Keene	19.148
29	98	M Joyner	19.150
30	002	T Mender	19.158
31	13	J Meeks	19.161
32	88	T Bickle	19.177
33	59	B Paulsen	19.197
34	41	R Farmer	19.230
35	46	C Trickle	19.263
36	54	T Smith	19.266
37	55	J Langford	19.397
38	27	L McQueen	19.446
39	32	D Roberts	19.451
40	95	T Mater	19.460
41	08	S Holzheimer	19.616
42	3	M Benefield	19.642
43	22	M Brings Plenty	19.649

Weather: Cloudy, 68 °F, Northwest 3 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	23	Z Webster	18.224
2	19	T Nadz	18.409
3	42	L Petty	18.616
4	003	R Holbrook	18.655
5	43	R Petty	18.679
6	34	D Hamilton	18.688
7	18	R Wheeler	18.750
8	36	P Rozelle	18.854
9	92	C Sumner	18.855
10	78	T McEwen	18.903
11	51	R Burns	18.915
12	47	R Vining	18.923
13	1	T Daniels	18.958
14	7	J Hampton	18.964
15	40	B Ebsen	18.966
16	91	T Bear	19.001
17	11	M I Bannon	19.041
18	001	H Smith	19.045
19	72	A Grant	19.054
20	055	C McGee	19.057
21	88	T Bickle	19.062
22	67	B Klock	19.065
23	13	J Meeks	19.075
24	74	J DeWitt	19.075
25	35	J Foss	19.075
26	95	T Mater	19.106
27	10	E Keene	19.128
28	77	R Sweet	19.130
29	41	R Farmer	19.144
30	59	B Paulsen	19.147
31	4	A Unser	19.155
32	32	D Roberts	19.203
33	98	M Joyner	19.210
34	54	T Smith	19.257
35	75	D Mulberry	19.283
36	01	M Max	19.358
37	46	C Trickle	19.394
38	55	J Langford	19.395
39	3	M Benefield	19.404
40	27	L McQueen	19.413
41	002	T Mender	19.432
42	22	M Brings Plenty	19.458
43	08	S Holzheimer	19.558

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, Northwest 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.321
2	23	Z Webster	18.392
3	01	M Max	18.576
4	34	D Hamilton	18.668
5	36	P Rozelle	18.997
6	42	L Petty	19.011
7	43	R Petty	19.138
8	74	J DeWitt	19.158
9	47	R Vining	19.229
10	003	R Holbrook	19.237
11	91	T Bear	19.245
12	11	M I Bannon	19.274
13	002	T Mender	19.302
14	78	T McEwen	19.304
15	92	C Sumner	19.306
16	77	R Sweet	19.347
17	055	C McGee	19.348
18	001	H Smith	19.367
19	7	J Hampton	19.410
20	18	R Wheeler	19.445
21	46	C Trickle	19.462
22	59	B Paulsen	19.477
23	54	T Smith	19.479
24	40	B Ebsen	19.494
25	67	B Klock	19.502
26	13	J Meeks	19.523
27	51	R Burns	19.547
28	35	J Foss	19.573
29	32	D Roberts	19.593
30	72	A Grant	19.611
31	55	J Langford	19.627
32	75	D Mulberry	19.662
33	88	T Bickle	19.682
34	27	L McQueen	19.717
35	1	T Daniels	19.729
36	10	E Keene	19.736
37	41	R Farmer	19.766
38	4	A Unser	19.767
39	95	T Mater	19.780
40	08	S Holzheimer	19.794
41	22	M Brings Plenty	19.903
42	98	M Joyner	20.035
43	3	M Benefield	20.246

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, Northeast 10 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	42	L Petty	48.573	60	29	180	Running
2	5	43	R Petty	-0.57	60	0	170	Running
3	26	95	T Mater	-1.73	60	0	165	Running
4	31	4	A Unser	-4.08	60	0	160	Running
5	4	003	R Holbrook	-6.42	60	0	155	Running
6	28	77	R Sweet	-8.28	60	0	150	Running
7	10	78	T McEwen	-8.89	60	0	146	Running
8	39	3	M Benefield	-9.51	60	0	142	Running
9	2	19	T Nadz	-9.65	60	31*	148	Running
10	16	91	T Bear	-1L	59	0	134	Running
11	40	27	L McQueen	-1L	59	0	130	Running
12	24	74	J DeWitt	-1L	59	0	127	Running
13	38	55	J Langford	-1L	59	0	124	Running
14	1	23	Z Webster	-1L	59	0	121	Running
15	9	92	C Sumner	-1L	59	0	118	Running
16	15	40	B Ebsen	-1L	59	0	115	Running
17	33	98	M Joyner	-1L	59	0	112	Running
18	43	08	S Holzheimer	-1L	59	0	109	Running
19	32	32	D Roberts	-1L	59	0	106	Running
20	22	67	B Klock	-1L	59	0	103	Running
21	13	1	T Daniels	-2L	58	0	100	Retired
22	34	54	T Smith	-2L	58	0	97	Running
23	23	13	J Meeks	-2L	58	0	94	Running
24	14	7	J Hampton	-2L	58	0	91	Running
25	37	46	C Trickle	-2L	58	0	88	Running
26	20	055	C McGee	-2L	58	0	85	Running
27	25	35	J Foss	-2L	58	0	82	Running
28	29	41	R Farmer	-2L	58	0	79	Running
29	27	10	E Keene	-3L	57	0	76	Running
30	18	001	H Smith	-4L	56	0	73	DQ
31	11	51	R Burns	-5L	55	0	70	DQ
32	21	88	T Bickle	-5L	55	0	67	Running
33	8	36	P Rozelle	-10L	50	0	64	DQ
34	19	72	A Grant	-10L	50	0	61	Accident
35	17	11	M I Bannon	-10L	50	0	58	DQ
36	6	34	D Hamilton	-11L	49	0	55	DQ
37	42	22	M Brings Plenty	-15L	45	0	52	Accident
38	35	75	D Mulberry	-21L	39	0	49	Accident
39	12	47	R Vining	-21L	39	0	46	Header
40	36	01	M Max	-39L	21	0	43	Accident
41	30	59	B Paulsen	-40L	20	0	40	DQ
42	41	002	T Mender	-40L	20	0	37	DQ
43	7	18	R Wheeler	-52L	8	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 10 (46 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, Northeast 11 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 93%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
25	34	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
50	34	Reckless driving	DQ'd: Scoring is ended
61	23	Passing under yellow	Held for 5 seconds

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	18.368
2	23	Z Webster	18.406
3	51	R Burns	18.636
4	42	L Petty	18.723
5	92	C Sumner	18.784
6	34	D Hamilton	18.784
7	46	C Trickle	18.785
8	36	P Rozelle	18.786
9	78	T McEwen	18.787
10	43	R Petty	18.808
11	74	J DeWitt	18.839
12	7	J Hampton	18.839
13	18	R Wheeler	18.864
14	24	M Lester	18.877
15	77	R Sweet	18.894
16	5	T Hankins	18.897
17	40	B Ebsen	18.991
18	6	B Jordon	19.004
19	99	R Melindez	19.011
20	91	T Bear	19.060
21	002	T Mender	19.071
22	003	R Holbrook	19.090
23	10	E Keene	19.092
24	95	T Mater	19.100
25	11	M I Bannon	19.105
26	17	M Downing	19.148
27	4	A Unser	19.183
28	88	T Bickle	19.186
29	1	T Daniels	19.224
30	67	B Klock	19.244
31	98	M Joyner	19.244
32	75	D Mulberry	19.323
33	72	A Grant	19.329
34	61	D Hudson	19.365
35	13	J Meeks	19.366
36	35	J Foss	19.435
37	22	M Brings Plenty	19.446
38	3	M Benefield	19.449
39	08	S Holzheimer	19.460
40	32	D Roberts	19.520
41	93	R O'Reilly	19.561
42	55	J Langford	19.701
43	01	M Max	--

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Southeast 2 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	23	Z Webster	57.283	30	8	180	Running
2	4	42	L Petty	-0.77	30	1	175	Running
3	13	18	R Wheeler	-1.35	30	0	165	Running
4	3	51	R Burns	-1.93	30	21*	170	Running
5	8	36	P Rozelle	-2.50	30	0	155	Running
6	10	43	R Petty	-3.03	30	0	150	Running
7	11	74	J DeWitt	-3.60	30	0	146	Running
8	25	11	M I Bannon	-4.18	30	0	142	Running
9	16	5	T Hankins	-7.88	30	0	138	Running
10	9	78	T McEwen	-1L	29	0	134	Running
11	5	92	C Sumner	-1L	29	0	130	Running
12	12	7	J Hampton	-1L	29	0	127	Running
13	18	6	B Jordon	-1L	29	0	124	Running
14	17	40	B Ebsen	-1L	29	0	121	Running
15	15	77	R Sweet	-1L	29	0	118	Running
16	14	24	M Lester	-1L	29	0	115	Running
17	19	99	R Melindez	-1L	29	0	112	Running
18	23	10	E Keene	-1L	29	0	109	Running
19	7	46	C Trickle	-1L	29	0	106	Running
20	22	003	R Holbrook	-1L	29	0	103	Running
21	21	002	T Mender	-1L	29	0	100	Running
22	33	72	A Grant	-1L	29	0	97	Running
23	27	4	A Unser	-1L	29	0	94	Running
24	35	13	J Meeks	-1L	29	0	91	Running
25	31	98	M Joyner	-1L	29	0	88	Running
26	24	95	T Mater	-1L	29	0	85	Running
27	34	61	D Hudson	-1L	29	0	82	Running
28	29	1	T Daniels	-1L	29	0	79	Running
29	30	67	B Klock	-1L	29	0	76	Running
30	36	35	J Foss	-1L	29	0	73	Running
31	6	34	D Hamilton	-1L	29	0	70	Running
32	20	91	T Bear	-1L	29	0	67	Running
33	41	93	R O'Reilly	-1L	29	0	64	Running
34	38	3	M Benefield	-1L	29	0	61	Running
35	37	22	M Brings Plenty	-1L	29	0	58	Running
36	39	08	S Holzheimer	-2L	28	0	55	Running
37	42	55	J Langford	-2L	28	0	52	Running
38	1	19	T Nadz	-2L	28	0	49	Running
39	40	32	D Roberts	-3L	27	0	46	Running
40	43	01	M Max	-8L	22	0	43	Accident
41	28	88	T Bickle	-22L	8	0	40	Accident
42	26	17	M Downing	-22L	8	0	37	Accident
43	32	75	D Mulberry	-29L	1	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 4 (16 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, West 1 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 93%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY