50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 37-38 Myrtle Beach Night

Well this race marks the first of three in the final tracks.  This half miler was quite exciting and had some extremely close and dangerous moments for everyone.

Race 1:

Three humans in the front and Zack with another pole.

Well, at least he enjoyed starting the race in first.

While we battled closely and warmed up our tires, Sandy was struggling to get his car to racing form, bottling the field a touch.

That caused the slow up which ultimately got him run over going into the next corner.

Luckily, Scot was a good human and returned the favor before the front stretch.

Which also knocked around a few others as per Scot style.

After the green fell the second time, Zack got ruckus with the Grave Digger.

That car was like a bucking bronco traveling down the backstretch and he over corrected into the wall.

The blow back immediately caught Darrel across the front and also took the Harley Davidson car with them into the inside wall.

It went from bad to worse when Darrel got struck by the 001 not just once...

...but twice.

If that wasn't bad enough, while he tried to Austin Powers his way to pointing straight on pit road, he got slapped a few times and things went from worse to rage quit.

Zack came in with the rest of the field to repair and refuel while Sandy stayed out with a few others to move up the order.

At the drop of the green, humans were 1,2,3 and Zack was down a lap.  A fact that Scot had mysteriously revealed well before the race started and was abashed to bring it up again.

Of course it didn't take long for things to get exciting again.  Sandy pushed for an aggressive pass on the outside while Scot was tripped up by lap traffic.

The move cost him some grip and paint while he bounced around with the purple people eater.

By the next corner things were out of sorts and when he slowed down, he was spun.

Simultaneously, just up the track, Scot was ramrodding McQueen out of his way.

And Zack was getting helped into the grass by the 5.

He collected things back up while the rest of the field unraveled.  

Another restart and Scot was back in the outside wall.

And bouncing off of cars.

After a number of great saves, he was finally, Outta Luck by the 32.

OH! but he saves it!  Truly amazing skill at play.

This caution was peculiar as the field accordioned trying to get to pit road.

At this point I made my stop and fell down the field a little but had fresh tires.

On the green, I had a great view into Zack's wild moments as he touched off of the 75 and shot up the track.

In 1, the 7 started turning him down.

Damn! A Moses!

A Moses Saves!  Zack got back into while I was shouting encouragements through the airwaves.

Although I should have been more focused on the stack around me as it was taking me out.

But after watching Zack recover from several scuffles...

I used those around me to straighten out and continue on.

Just as Zack and I got our legs under us and started moving forward, Scot took the horns to Grant in the 72 Jurassic Park car.

While he was stuck on the fence, he was able to come back out, all be it, nearly last.

The race to the line was exciting.

And the restart was even more so.

While trying to hold an outter line, things just collapsed on the bottom of the track and flew at me.

Sandy was slowed up for the event and Mr. Towmater gave him a punch.

He wasn't the only rude AI as Klock caught and clocked Scot just past the line.

This happened under yellow.  Not sure what's going on here...carry on.

And things did after some more intense racing.  Zack dove hard into turn one and nearly launched the 98 at Scot much the same way Scot launched a car at Scot a few races ago.

While Zack recovered from the accident, he got pummeled by the 003 and railed by the 55.

Further up, I was having a big moment with McEwen.

That kept getting bigger!

Huzzah!  Moses Saves again!

Thanks, Moses .

OK, down to 10 to go and Scot and I were in prime position to launch at the front.

But altercations caused a loose condition.  Save it, Ross!

While recovering, I may have wrecked Richard Petty.  Too bad.

Zack, meanwhile, was spinning on his own, officially bringing out the yellow.

Had he not, the smoking 88 would have.

When we got going to green, we had two to go.  Somehow, I spun Petty again.  Shoot!

And Scot killed the 5!  Although that had more to do with him reacting to my incident than being intentional.  I think...

A mass of cars had decided this was the time for a last dive to pit road to top off, allowing plenty of humans to take advantage.

Scot ran off the last corner with a pack right behind him that couldn't handle his blazing talent.  The 92 checked up and Mater took him down.  A 4th for Scot with me right ahead of him.

The ensuing carnage allowed some big gains by Sandy and Zack who deftly maneuvered to the inside.  Although, Sandy COULD have made two more spots if he kept in the gas through to the line.  Just saying...

Race 2:

Another 50 lapper and thar be humans at the front.  This time, Sandy was well up the order while Zack had a junk qualy and was back a few rows.

The fighting started almost immediately when Cole Trickle took a fender to Sandy.

To his credit, he showed restraint and kept his car up the track and out of the way until he could figure out how badly it was hurt.

Scot showed no such reserve and ruined Moses after all those nice things he did for us in Race 1.

While under the next green flag run, Zack was slowed up enough that he got a touch from the 92.

The unbalance sent him around.  He too stayed high while the field went by to avoid an assuredly junked car.

And it paid off because all the AI went in and four humans led the order.

A bit of bobbling between Scot and Sandy slowed up Zack who was managing the pack until he got rounded by Trickle!

This one was much worse, no matter how much he tried to stay out of the way.

But even though he rolled it, he kept going some how.

The wreck was so large, it was still going down the back stretch like this were a tiny Talladega.

Zack had to repair things but most of the order was similar to the previous start.

Until a lapper sent Scot up the track.  Things were still OK.

And then Trickle!  I think he hit all humans this race.

No human was safe from a slide job as Sandy was sent sideways by Unser after taking the yellow.

On the next restart, things were awkward.  Scot was receiving instructions to let someone by and they were not coming.  I had slowed down mightily and should have thrown the yellow for another lap but instead took off.  Maybe instinct?  Possibly more to do with thinking things had sorted out and I could clear any black flags.

However the bottleneck caused a lot of lost positions for humans and nearly an accident.

On a few occasions.  Sorry gents.

Sandy was constantly finding himself pinned or slid into the wall for these races.

While Zack was working with what car he had left, the Indian Motorcycle car took the boots to him and sent him slideways.  He recovered splendidly.

Meanwhile, Scot was pushing the limit in 2nd and blocking like a pro while trying to deal with some lap cars ahead.

After Rowdy got by, he gave him a piece of his mind, probably thinking the spot was for position.  It was not in fact.

But it made a nice wreck anyway.

And kept dominoing down the line.

Zack came up on the incident and struck hard into Pozzelle.

He tried to cut to the grass and make some serious positions, but ended up spinning it.

Another restart and both Scot and I were running into inside lane trouble.

Scot got a hip check from 55.

And took it out on Dewitt, nearly wrecking them both.

Or just her.

I was fighting to not kill the lappers around me while trying to catch Mike Lester in first.

And the upset caused me to get into the 7 and roll across the 74, impacting the inside wall.

Scot also had a harrowing experience as he went evasive to avoid the 7.

You'd think such an adventure would scare him straight but no.  He was back to his usual style by the next turn.

And it was causing upheaval through the field.

Restarting in the back with friends, Scot was now the only one up in the real traffic.

Nothing to see here...

No caution.

This one, however, was a different story.

Like Zack earlier, a roll did not equal a DNF.  Sandy kept going, though with a more curved top.

By the last dozen laps, Scot and I were rushing up through the pack getting as many places as possible.  Moses could barely believe how fast he was passed.

The final lap was very thrilling as Scot was making serious moves through 3 and 4, sliding up the track with the 1.  It left the gap wide open and I made a run off the corner, just passing them both for 6th place.

Our final dirt track will be next week at Eldora.  Should be fun.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	23	Z Webster	21.149
2	34	D Hamilton	21.183
3	19	T Nadz	21.193
4	91	T Bear	21.386
5	01	M Max	21.536
6	92	C Sumner	21.570
7	6	B Jordon	21.633
8	4	A Unser	21.700
9	42	L Petty	21.715
10	43	R Petty	21.722
11	7	J Hampton	21.799
12	003	R Holbrook	21.801
13	11	M I Bannon	21.817
14	46	C Trickle	21.845
15	5	T Hankins	21.853
16	78	T McEwen	21.857
17	13	J Meeks	21.862
18	35	J Foss	21.893
19	51	R Burns	21.937
20	88	T Bickle	21.945
21	74	J DeWitt	21.972
22	24	M Lester	21.982
23	10	E Keene	22.015
24	002	T Mender	22.019
25	77	R Sweet	22.023
26	32	D Roberts	22.035
27	40	B Ebsen	22.076
28	75	D Mulberry	22.096
29	54	T Smith	22.113
30	61	D Hudson	22.144
31	55	J Langford	22.157
32	67	B Klock	22.193
33	27	L McQueen	22.203
34	95	T Mater	22.245
35	001	H Smith	22.271
36	055	C McGee	22.273
37	98	M Joyner	22.277
38	1	T Daniels	22.300
39	59	B Paulsen	22.378
40	72	A Grant	22.454
41	18	R Wheeler	22.458
42	22	M Brings Plenty	22.476
43	93	R O'Reilly	22.661

Weather: Clear, 77 °F, Northwest 8 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	23	Z Webster	20.807
2	19	T Nadz	20.922
3	34	D Hamilton	21.112
4	6	B Jordon	21.324
5	42	L Petty	21.398
6	4	A Unser	21.440
7	46	C Trickle	21.462
8	43	R Petty	21.478
9	67	B Klock	21.496
10	75	D Mulberry	21.502
11	51	R Burns	21.552
12	78	T McEwen	21.566
13	7	J Hampton	21.581
14	92	C Sumner	21.627
15	91	T Bear	21.635
16	10	E Keene	21.643
17	18	R Wheeler	21.691
18	002	T Mender	21.691
19	35	J Foss	21.754
20	11	M I Bannon	21.766
21	77	R Sweet	21.797
22	74	J DeWitt	21.824
23	95	T Mater	21.834
24	24	M Lester	21.839
25	003	R Holbrook	21.841
26	40	B Ebsen	21.882
27	88	T Bickle	21.908
28	5	T Hankins	21.912
29	001	H Smith	21.915
30	55	J Langford	21.990
31	1	T Daniels	21.998
32	72	A Grant	22.001
33	13	J Meeks	22.016
34	055	C McGee	22.020
35	32	D Roberts	22.026
36	54	T Smith	22.034
37	61	D Hudson	22.049
38	59	B Paulsen	22.060
39	98	M Joyner	22.153
40	01	M Max	22.296
41	22	M Brings Plenty	22.334
42	27	L McQueen	22.348
43	93	R O'Reilly	22.422

Weather: Clear, 77 °F, North 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	20.825
2	23	Z Webster	20.881
3	01	M Max	21.122
4	003	R Holbrook	21.353
5	46	C Trickle	21.481
6	42	L Petty	21.508
7	67	B Klock	21.511
8	92	C Sumner	21.544
9	75	D Mulberry	21.581
10	43	R Petty	21.629
11	7	J Hampton	21.672
12	74	J DeWitt	21.693
13	40	B Ebsen	21.700
14	88	T Bickle	21.700
15	4	A Unser	21.709
16	51	R Burns	21.716
17	78	T McEwen	21.754
18	18	R Wheeler	21.766
19	98	M Joyner	21.785
20	1	T Daniels	21.791
21	001	H Smith	21.838
22	5	T Hankins	21.850
23	77	R Sweet	21.861
24	6	B Jordon	21.881
25	24	M Lester	21.933
26	11	M I Bannon	21.952
27	10	E Keene	22.057
28	54	T Smith	22.070
29	32	D Roberts	22.086
30	34	D Hamilton	22.087
31	91	T Bear	22.138
32	72	A Grant	22.145
33	13	J Meeks	22.154
34	59	B Paulsen	22.208
35	95	T Mater	22.245
36	35	J Foss	22.248
37	002	T Mender	22.253
38	55	J Langford	22.274
39	93	R O'Reilly	22.422
40	27	L McQueen	22.487
41	22	M Brings Plenty	22.498
42	61	D Hudson	22.510
43	055	C McGee	22.546

Weather: Cloudy, 78 °F, Southeast 9 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	20	11	M I Bannon	50.897	50	24*	185	Running
2	31	1	T Daniels	-1.13	50	0	170	Running
3	2	19	T Nadz	-2.58	50	21	170	Running
4	40	01	M Max	-3.35	50	5	165	Running
5	17	18	R Wheeler	-10.41	50	0	155	Running
6	8	43	R Petty	-1L	49	0	150	Running
7	23	95	T Mater	-1L	49	0	146	Running
8	28	5	T Hankins	-1L	49	0	142	Running
9	11	51	R Burns	-1L	49	0	138	Running
10	30	55	J Langford	-1L	49	0	134	Running
11	24	24	M Lester	-1L	49	0	130	Running
12	15	91	T Bear	-1L	49	0	127	Running
13	43	93	R O'Reilly	-1L	49	0	124	Running
14	14	92	C Sumner	-1L	49	0	121	Running
15	26	40	B Ebsen	-1L	49	0	118	Running
16	10	75	D Mulberry	-1L	49	0	115	Running
17	39	98	M Joyner	-1L	49	0	112	Running
18	18	002	T Mender	-1L	49	0	109	Running
19	21	77	R Sweet	-1L	49	0	106	Running
20	19	35	J Foss	-1L	49	0	103	Running
21	13	7	J Hampton	-1L	49	0	100	Running
22	36	54	T Smith	-1L	49	0	97	Running
23	5	42	L Petty	-1L	49	0	94	Running
24	6	4	A Unser	-1L	49	0	91	No Fuel
25	25	003	R Holbrook	-2L	48	0	88	Running
26	22	74	J DeWitt	-2L	48	0	85	Running
27	12	78	T McEwen	-2L	48	0	82	Running
28	1	23	Z Webster	-2L	48	0	79	Running
29	29	001	H Smith	-2L	48	0	76	Fuel Inj
30	35	32	D Roberts	-2L	48	0	73	Running
31	42	27	L McQueen	-2L	48	0	70	Running
32	9	67	B Klock	-2L	48	0	67	Running
33	41	22	M Brings Plenty	-2L	48	0	64	Running
34	4	6	B Jordon	-2L	48	0	61	Running
35	7	46	C Trickle	-2L	48	0	58	Running
36	33	13	J Meeks	-2L	48	0	55	Running
37	16	10	E Keene	-2L	48	0	52	Running
38	32	72	A Grant	-3L	47	0	49	Running
39	34	055	C McGee	-4L	46	0	46	Running
40	38	59	B Paulsen	-5L	45	0	43	Running
41	37	61	D Hudson	-6L	44	0	40	Running
42	27	88	T Bickle	-7L	43	0	37	Piston
43	3	34	D Hamilton	-42L	8	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 9 (34 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 78 °F, Southwest 3 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
37	91	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	21.052
2	91	T Bear	21.332
3	46	C Trickle	21.372
4	42	L Petty	21.406
5	72	A Grant	21.463
6	67	B Klock	21.509
7	23	Z Webster	21.515
8	7	J Hampton	21.537
9	36	P Rozelle	21.541
10	43	R Petty	21.548
11	18	R Wheeler	21.554
12	4	A Unser	21.554
13	74	J DeWitt	21.610
14	51	R Burns	21.640
15	24	M Lester	21.654
16	88	T Bickle	21.658
17	55	J Langford	21.679
18	13	J Meeks	21.686
19	001	H Smith	21.694
20	1	T Daniels	21.723
21	92	C Sumner	21.748
22	10	E Keene	21.770
23	77	R Sweet	21.790
24	17	M Downing	21.837
25	45	L Carbone	21.839
26	5	T Hankins	21.920
27	95	T Mater	21.968
28	99	R Melindez	21.983
29	40	B Ebsen	21.998
30	07	R Hutchins	22.002
31	11	M I Bannon	22.003
32	61	D Hudson	22.027
33	98	M Joyner	22.127
34	12	M A Bannon	22.136
35	75	D Mulberry	22.137
36	54	T Smith	22.140
37	22	M Brings Plenty	22.213
38	32	D Roberts	22.214
39	2	R Moore	22.332
40	3	M Benefield	22.368
41	27	L McQueen	22.387
42	08	S Holzheimer	22.554
43	01	M Max	24.213

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, Northeast 1 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, North 2 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	15	24	M Lester	54.330	50	11	180	Running
2	13	74	J DeWitt	-0.93	50	0	170	Running
3	19	001	H Smith	-2.45	50	0	165	Running
4	31	11	M I Bannon	-3.30	50	0	160	Running
5	1	19	T Nadz	-4.34	50	38*	165	Running
6	20	1	T Daniels	-4.34	50	0	150	Running
7	43	01	M Max	-4.52	50	0	146	Running
8	35	75	D Mulberry	-5.32	50	0	142	Running
9	4	42	L Petty	-5.52	50	0	138	Running
10	27	95	T Mater	-7.38	50	0	134	Running
11	18	13	J Meeks	-11.94	50	0	130	Running
12	7	23	Z Webster	-1L	49	1	132	Running
13	14	51	R Burns	-1L	49	0	124	Running
14	24	17	M Downing	-1L	49	0	121	Running
15	33	98	M Joyner	-1L	49	0	118	Running
16	17	55	J Langford	-1L	49	0	115	Running
17	2	91	T Bear	-1L	49	0	112	Running
18	16	88	T Bickle	-1L	49	0	109	Running
19	34	12	M A Bannon	-1L	49	0	106	Running
20	37	22	M Brings Plenty	-1L	49	0	103	Running
21	3	46	C Trickle	-1L	49	0	100	Running
22	32	61	D Hudson	-1L	49	0	97	Running
23	41	27	L McQueen	-1L	49	0	94	Running
24	36	54	T Smith	-1L	49	0	91	Running
25	12	4	A Unser	-1L	49	0	88	Running
26	8	7	J Hampton	-2L	48	0	85	Running
27	39	2	R Moore	-2L	48	0	82	Running
28	42	08	S Holzheimer	-5L	45	0	79	Running
29	40	3	M Benefield	-6L	44	0	76	Tire
30	29	40	B Ebsen	-9L	41	0	73	Retired
31	25	45	L Carbone	-9L	41	0	70	Retired
32	9	36	P Rozelle	-10L	40	0	67	Accident
33	5	72	A Grant	-16L	34	0	64	Retired
34	22	10	E Keene	-25L	25	0	61	Accident
35	28	99	R Melindez	-25L	25	0	58	Camshaft
36	6	67	B Klock	-31L	19	0	55	Accident
37	11	18	R Wheeler	-32L	18	0	52	Accident
38	10	43	R Petty	-35L	15	0	49	Accident
39	23	77	R Sweet	-36L	14	0	46	Retired
40	30	07	R Hutchins	-36L	14	0	43	Retired
41	21	92	C Sumner	-37L	13	0	40	Accident
42	26	5	T Hankins	-37L	13	0	37	Retired
43	38	32	D Roberts	-48L	2	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 8 (28 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 69 °F, Northeast 5 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY