50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 41-42 Bristol Night

As with all good things, they end.  As with most of our races, they end with fewer cars than what they started with.  The series finale had some triumphs and disappointments but, more importantly, some good racing.  Let's look at the highlights.

Race 1:

The first 75 lapper started off promising with three humans right at the front.  No mulligans and we slotted in nicely.  Things were going swimmingly.

Darrel and Scot were also holding their own within the grid when Klock got knocked and socked by the 002.

A massive pileup ensued that Scot was involved in but not overly affected by.

On the restart, Darrel had gone into the pits and was coming out right into the lapper lane.  This action launched him back down the track into the pits.  I'm not sure why he was exiting there since it was under caution...

But he wouldn't suffer too much from this technical error as Scot was spun by Unser immediately after crossing the line.

It was harmless enough until the 98 pounded his side door, sending him into the air.

And coming to that yellow, Zack lost it as he pushed the throttle a little too much for his cold tires to handle.

The resulting chaos nearly snagged Sandy as seen from his rear bumper here.

His mountain buddy, Darrel, was not as fortunate as he got hit by Tow Mater trying to evade the mess.  Darrel would end up rolled and getting his own Tow.

Things were looking up on the start until The Bear was a little high and loose out of the corner.  He over steered just a touch to avoid the wall but started pinballing off the inside line of cars.

The next hit started him sideways.

While he managed to keep his car away from everyone else for the most part, he couldn't stop others from falling on top of him.  This crushing blow would ruin his promising run for a top ten, if not a podium, which he desperately needed for the points chase.

Madness would happen again as Darrel was holding up the inside line under green.  The slightest opening and Keene was there to capitalize on Darrel's understeer.  But Darrel was already moving down to block and the two came together.

Hamilton mostly had it gathered up and was returning to the line when Bannon gave him a tap.

Under the next green, Darrel returned from the pits and nearly swung out in front of the leaders.  Maybe we shouldn't allow that pit-exit spot under green after all.

He wasn't the only one to cause a moment for the front of the field as Scot was diving WAY low into the corner.

I couldn't anticipate his action well enough and was into the back of Mad Max.

For the 01, it was mostly a harmless spin.  But the 34 of Hamilton was once again caught in the aftermath.

He would see it again while under the next green run when Paulsen went to dive for the pits and bounced into him.

That caused some fidgeting and agitation through the rest of the field and the domino effect collected Trickle, Lester, Mad Max and the 01.

The other AI couldn't help themselves coming to the line (actually AFTER taking the yellow) and started taking each other out.  Not surprised to see Lee Petty in this one.

It was past halfway and, therefore, time to pit for those who hadn't yet.  This one would make it barely to the end.

While Zack and I were struggling at the front to reclaim position, Scot was back pounding doors.

And almost ending the race for me and Zack.

What you don't see here is how Zack held this slide the entire corner.  It's not a dirt track, buddy.

On the next start, Darrel squealed the tires and rotated the car out of line.  Back to yellow.

We were starting to get close to the end by this point and lap traffic was giving both the 23 and myself some grief, to the point that it was costing us positions.

Zack nearly got taken out by Lighting McQueen in one of the turns.

While everyone was dogging for position, the inevitable happened.  Here, both Unser and the 98 were high into the wall, causing a stackup.

The result was yet another large pileup that even caught Darrel who would have been fine if not for the Grave Digger.

He had another moment some laps later and ended up swinging the car while trying to correct.

Another yellow and it would be the last one before we ran out of racing laps.

Zack and I were once again fighting for top positions when Darrel's battered ride took another slapping to bring out the last caution.

But the biggest loser from this was Scot who was racing for a potential top ten when he got spun by the 7.

In a desperate attempt to recover, he actually got rolled onto his side by the 88 taxi car and fell back to 21st.

Race 2:

Some more good qualifying efforts again.  Sandy and Scot were up the field but on the outside.  Darrel was almost dead, midpack...on the outside.

It was less than a lap before this position caused him grief.  Fortunately, it was just slide job that caused him to fall to the back without much damage.

Further up, however, Scot was driving hard against traffic, without much to lose.  It was working until he got into Rowdy Burns and they both slide.  Scot hit hard on the inside wall but wasn't quite dead.

As he became the eye of the storm, it looked like he might make it out of this one alive.

OH! Until his buddy, the 98, came crashing through and launched him on his top. Dead for sure.

And I wasn't sure what this was.  Zack possibly letting him know that he's still alive and lapping Scot this race?  Maybe a gesture to try and push him back to his stall?  Uncertain.  Regardless, this would be the last time these two would come together in this series.

Back under green, Sandy was working to make the most of his less than fortunate starting place and was working the line.  Coming off of 2, he was on the outside and looking good after running really close with Trickle.

It's impossible to tell, but either a small touch from the 46 or a tiny wheel correction caused him to step right and scrape the wall.

That minute collision was enough to launch him across the nose of the Superflo car and crush the inside wall.

If that impact wasn't enough, the 72 of Grant was on him almost immediately to run his engine block through the cockpit and end yet another promising race for The Bear.

That left just three humans which were positioned at the front of the field but still a lot of laps keeping them from that podium.

This also left the AI to their own devices and they started causing wrecks between themselves.  Three wide rarely works off the corner, guys.

Darrel knew this on the next green run and tried to keep it high in the wall.  Lester tried to give him room but was right on top of Holbrook.

The two went for a ride.

Coming back up the track, the 003 ALMOST went right into Darrel's trunk.

The AI kept up their antics and the next yellow came at Holzieme's and Hill's expense.  But Darrel wasn't up in the front anymore.  What happened?

Turns out that under yelllow, he was coming out of the pits and got together with Bannon.

When finally straight, sort of, he pushed his car aggressively into line and got entangled with the 99.

Back to the caution brought on by the 98 and 08.  Nearly halfway, Zack and I decided to take our stops.

At this point, I received a penalty for exiting pit road without stopping for the end.  Clearly, the light is GREEN.  I don't understand this penalty but it looked like people were allowed to leave when it turned red.  I'll be considering this for the next Bristol runs we do.  Probably need a new download.

We got back to racing and Darrel was lassoed into yet another accident while cornering.

And it would be our friend the 8 ball of Holziehmer who would take him out.  I watched it happen while driving along the outside, in complete astonishment that the 08 would dive down there.  Totally unnecessary.  This would kill Hamilton's car and ruin another decent run.

Coming to the line, Zack got hit by Keene.  Piece of $h!t.

The 23 was tagged again and got spun in the midst of traffic.

Blinded by smoke, I came to the line and this was the view out my right side as I just swooped past.  His eyes are almost as beady as Outlaws.

Back under green and we were 1 and 2, surrounded by traffic.

We were sorting ourselves through it when Mike Lester slapped the outside and started slowing excessively.

I tried to turn in to avoid but caught his bumper.

And got slide up the track without too much damage but a lot of work to do.

Lester didn't stop there but continued his idiotic charge right into the 23.

It wasn't even for position but Zack would pay the price, getting spun by the 92. on the next run.

I barely avoided him while plowing Lee Petty.

The next several laps became a challenge of vehicle control.  Several times I had to go three wide for even a chance at pushing forward.

Or slot into gaps that only just existed.

A wreck in the back almost collected Zack as he was on the same charge.  Although I think he was slightly more damaged from various run ins.

Racing to the yellow, Keene couldn't help himself and tapped my quarter panel.

This caused some problems.

Lee Petty ALMOST rolled me but those knobby tires dug in and I turned her back over and hit the pits.

Green again and no penalty.  This place sucks.

I came out just in time to catch the back of the field while they took the green.  Zack wasn't much further up and our flight to the front began.

It wasn't easy to push past slower traffic without causing a wreck.  There were close calls.

Zack was three wide in front when he lost it through the turn.

In that crucial apex, I couldn't avoid contact and I pushed him up the track.

He came to more blows that miraculously didn't kill his engine.

With only two laps to go, we both poured everything we had into passing cars, bulling them out of the way if necessary.

I couldn't get up to the front, but I did give my friend, Keene a present.

As well as others.

And even my best friend, Petty.

Zack was on for a 14th when he lost it again on his cooked tires, getting passed by Mulberry and fell to 15th.

While this last race certainly didn't end as well as any of us would have liked, there was some fantastic racing in the interim.  Hopefully we see some of that again in the next series.  Check out the Standings Page to see where everything shook out once makeup points were awarded.

An excellent series.  We now move from the half milers and tight dirt tracks to...well, we don't really know because the Pot Luck series brings on unpredictability like that seen in a rodeo.  For now, we will take next week off and resume in November.  Here are the results of the final two races.  Look for a followup email and blog post for the Pot Luck series.

Race 1

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	15.583
2	34	D Hamilton	15.608
3	23	Z Webster	15.623
4	91	T Bear	15.632
5	51	R Burns	15.663
6	36	P Rozelle	15.679
7	18	R Wheeler	15.758
8	7	J Hampton	15.774
9	001	H Smith	15.780
10	24	M Lester	15.783
11	42	L Petty	15.784
12	92	C Sumner	15.800
13	13	J Meeks	15.811
14	6	B Jordon	15.834
15	43	R Petty	15.858
16	35	J Foss	15.862
17	1	T Daniels	15.880
18	5	T Hankins	15.887
19	78	T McEwen	15.891
20	002	T Mender	15.905
21	88	T Bickle	15.911
22	003	R Holbrook	15.912
23	11	M I Bannon	15.935
24	77	R Sweet	15.939
25	67	B Klock	15.954
26	72	A Grant	15.987
27	40	B Ebsen	15.999
28	55	J Langford	16.012
29	32	D Roberts	16.015
30	74	J DeWitt	16.020
31	4	A Unser	16.021
32	99	R Melindez	16.029
33	10	E Keene	16.039
34	27	L McQueen	16.157
35	59	B Paulsen	16.165
36	46	C Trickle	16.181
37	61	D Hudson	16.183
38	98	M Joyner	16.209
39	75	D Mulberry	16.262
40	01	M Max	16.316
41	08	S Holzheimer	16.371
42	22	M Brings Plenty	16.383
43	95	T Mater	16.386

Weather: Clear, 54 °F, Northwest 4 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	15.445
2	23	Z Webster	15.572
3	91	T Bear	15.589
4	42	L Petty	15.692
5	51	R Burns	15.726
6	46	C Trickle	15.737
7	78	T McEwen	15.758
8	24	M Lester	15.762
9	4	A Unser	15.770
10	92	C Sumner	15.790
11	43	R Petty	15.807
12	003	R Holbrook	15.825
13	18	R Wheeler	15.842
14	13	J Meeks	15.882
15	67	B Klock	15.915
16	6	B Jordon	15.918
17	002	T Mender	15.919
18	77	R Sweet	15.934
19	36	P Rozelle	15.948
20	7	J Hampton	15.950
21	001	H Smith	15.954
22	1	T Daniels	15.970
23	88	T Bickle	15.993
24	11	M I Bannon	16.009
25	74	J DeWitt	16.032
26	72	A Grant	16.036
27	40	B Ebsen	16.045
28	5	T Hankins	16.057
29	75	D Mulberry	16.094
30	55	J Langford	16.148
31	10	E Keene	16.152
32	32	D Roberts	16.172
33	01	M Max	16.235
34	95	T Mater	16.258
35	61	D Hudson	16.268
36	99	R Melindez	16.280
37	27	L McQueen	16.285
38	98	M Joyner	16.289
39	35	J Foss	16.337
40	59	B Paulsen	16.437
41	22	M Brings Plenty	16.522
42	08	S Holzheimer	16.797
43	34	D Hamilton	19.111

Weather: Clear, 53 °F, North 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	91	T Bear	15.604
2	01	M Max	15.740
3	23	Z Webster	15.779
4	78	T McEwen	15.876
5	77	R Sweet	15.900
6	74	J DeWitt	15.912
7	43	R Petty	15.976
8	92	C Sumner	15.978
9	51	R Burns	15.984
10	13	J Meeks	16.018
11	40	B Ebsen	16.080
12	11	M I Bannon	16.111
13	7	J Hampton	16.117
14	67	B Klock	16.117
15	001	H Smith	16.137
16	42	L Petty	16.138
17	5	T Hankins	16.191
18	19	T Nadz	16.194
19	002	T Mender	16.217
20	35	J Foss	16.225
21	6	B Jordon	16.227
22	10	E Keene	16.231
23	88	T Bickle	16.261
24	27	L McQueen	16.270
25	003	R Holbrook	16.276
26	36	P Rozelle	16.310
27	32	D Roberts	16.311
28	34	D Hamilton	16.358
29	1	T Daniels	16.365
30	18	R Wheeler	16.382
31	4	A Unser	16.412
32	08	S Holzheimer	16.430
33	61	D Hudson	16.444
34	95	T Mater	16.458
35	24	M Lester	16.580
36	46	C Trickle	16.798
37	99	R Melindez	16.799
38	72	A Grant	16.953
39	55	J Langford	17.381
40	75	D Mulberry	17.721
41	22	M Brings Plenty	21.615
42	98	M Joyner	22.555
43	59	B Paulsen	22.893

Weather: Clear, 59 °F, East 18 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	4	42	L Petty	60.983	75	23	180	Running
2	1	19	T Nadz	-0.41	75	45*	180	Running
3	24	11	M I Bannon	-2.55	75	0	165	Running
4	27	40	B Ebsen	-1L	74	2	165	Running
5	2	23	Z Webster	-1L	74	1	160	Running
6	17	002	T Mender	-1L	74	0	150	Running
7	18	77	R Sweet	-1L	74	0	146	Running
8	41	22	M Brings Plenty	-1L	74	0	142	Running
9	19	36	P Rozelle	-1L	74	0	138	Running
10	7	78	T McEwen	-1L	74	1	139	Running
11	37	27	L McQueen	-1L	74	0	130	Running
12	5	51	R Burns	-1L	74	0	127	Running
13	6	46	C Trickle	-1L	74	0	124	Running
14	12	003	R Holbrook	-2L	73	0	121	Running
15	8	24	M Lester	-2L	73	0	118	Running
16	9	4	A Unser	-2L	73	0	115	Running
17	31	10	E Keene	-2L	73	0	112	Running
18	35	61	D Hudson	-2L	73	0	109	Running
19	13	18	R Wheeler	-2L	73	0	106	Running
20	39	35	J Foss	-2L	73	0	103	Running
21	33	01	M Max	-2L	73	0	100	Running
22	14	13	J Meeks	-2L	73	0	97	Running
23	16	6	B Jordon	-2L	73	0	94	Running
24	32	32	D Roberts	-2L	73	0	91	Running
25	15	67	B Klock	-2L	73	0	88	Running
26	20	7	J Hampton	-2L	73	0	85	Running
27	34	95	T Mater	-2L	73	0	82	Running
28	26	72	A Grant	-2L	73	0	79	Running
29	11	43	R Petty	-3L	72	0	76	Running
30	38	98	M Joyner	-3L	72	0	73	Running
31	40	59	B Paulsen	-3L	72	0	70	Running
32	23	88	T Bickle	-3L	72	0	67	Running
33	21	001	H Smith	-3L	72	3	69	Running
34	28	5	T Hankins	-4L	71	0	61	Running
35	42	08	S Holzheimer	-4L	71	0	58	Running
36	30	55	J Langford	-4L	71	0	55	Running
37	25	74	J DeWitt	-6L	69	0	52	Running
38	29	75	D Mulberry	-6L	69	0	49	Running
39	36	99	R Melindez	-6L	69	0	46	Running
40	43	34	D Hamilton	-9L	66	0	43	Running
41	22	1	T Daniels	-10L	65	0	40	Running
42	10	92	C Sumner	-20L	55	0	37	DQ
43	3	91	T Bear	-60L	15	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 11 (53 laps)

Lead Changes: 11 (6 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, East 13 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 93%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
6	34	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
6	34	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
7	34	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
12	01	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
12	01	Passing under yellow	Held for 14 seconds
13	01	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
13	01	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
23	34	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
23	34	Passing under yellow	Held for 6 seconds
23	34	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
24	34	Passing under yellow	Held for 6 seconds
29	01	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
25	34	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
25	34	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
37	34	Passing the leader	Stop and go
56	34	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
74	01	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	19	T Nadz	15.480
2	42	L Petty	15.527
3	23	Z Webster	15.617
4	46	C Trickle	15.628
5	51	R Burns	15.668
6	7	J Hampton	15.727
7	24	M Lester	15.759
8	01	M Max	15.763
9	43	R Petty	15.775
10	91	T Bear	15.802
11	18	R Wheeler	15.814
12	003	R Holbrook	15.817
13	6	B Jordon	15.859
14	67	B Klock	15.874
15	92	C Sumner	15.877
16	78	T McEwen	15.879
17	99	R Melindez	15.921
18	001	H Smith	15.940
19	13	J Meeks	15.944
20	74	J DeWitt	15.947
21	77	R Sweet	15.954
22	34	D Hamilton	15.969
23	11	M I Bannon	15.977
24	1	T Daniels	16.002
25	002	T Mender	16.011
26	61	D Hudson	16.081
27	10	E Keene	16.088
28	36	P Rozelle	16.098
29	07	R Hutchins	16.121
30	12	M A Bannon	16.137
31	72	A Grant	16.177
32	55	J Langford	16.199
33	27	L McQueen	16.230
34	32	D Roberts	16.276
35	95	T Mater	16.291
36	4	A Unser	16.301
37	75	D Mulberry	16.305
38	22	M Brings Plenty	16.333
39	40	B Ebsen	16.353
40	98	M Joyner	16.385
41	93	R O'Reilly	16.411
42	08	S Holzheimer	16.441
43	102	S McBeam	16.456

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, Northwest 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	36	P Rozelle	15.502
2	23	Z Webster	15.525
3	78	T McEwen	15.581
4	19	T Nadz	15.605
5	1	T Daniels	15.617
6	51	R Burns	15.623
7	7	J Hampton	15.761
8	34	D Hamilton	15.771
9	92	C Sumner	15.776
10	75	D Mulberry	15.832
11	18	R Wheeler	15.902
12	67	B Klock	15.909
13	24	M Lester	15.943
14	98	M Joyner	15.957
15	55	J Langford	15.980
16	002	T Mender	16.013
17	01	M Max	16.024
18	001	H Smith	16.041
19	40	B Ebsen	16.042
20	07	R Hutchins	16.046
21	77	R Sweet	16.061
22	6	B Jordon	16.063
23	99	R Melindez	16.074
24	43	R Petty	16.116
25	11	M I Bannon	16.136
26	91	T Bear	16.139
27	4	A Unser	16.153
28	27	L McQueen	16.170
29	12	M A Bannon	16.179
30	61	D Hudson	16.232
31	003	R Holbrook	16.238
32	46	C Trickle	16.245
33	93	R O'Reilly	16.265
34	08	S Holzheimer	16.282
35	95	T Mater	16.301
36	72	A Grant	16.307
37	22	M Brings Plenty	16.316
38	42	L Petty	16.323
39	13	J Meeks	16.515
40	32	D Roberts	16.522
41	102	S McBeam	16.571
42	74	J DeWitt	17.917
43	10	E Keene	22.415

Weather: Cloudy, 57 °F, Northwest 6 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	21	77	R Sweet	61.960	75	24	180	Running
2	13	6	B Jordon	-0.19	75	2	175	Running
3	11	18	R Wheeler	-1.19	75	0	165	Running
4	9	43	R Petty	-2.25	75	0	160	Running
5	16	78	T McEwen	-3.20	75	0	155	Running
6	12	003	R Holbrook	-3.60	75	0	150	Running
7	32	55	J Langford	-4.52	75	0	146	Running
8	6	7	J Hampton	-4.76	75	1	147	Running
9	15	92	C Sumner	-4.86	75	0	138	Running
10	34	32	D Roberts	-5.35	75	0	134	Running
11	1	19	T Nadz	-5.50	75	31*	140	Running
12	2	42	L Petty	-5.90	75	8	132	Running
13	35	95	T Mater	-6.71	75	0	124	Running
14	37	75	D Mulberry	-9.76	75	0	121	Running
15	3	23	Z Webster	-1L	74	9	123	Running
16	38	22	M Brings Plenty	-1L	74	0	115	Retired
17	23	11	M I Bannon	-1L	74	0	112	Running
18	36	4	A Unser	-1L	74	0	109	Running
19	30	12	M A Bannon	-1L	74	0	106	Running
20	7	24	M Lester	-1L	74	0	103	Running
21	18	001	H Smith	-1L	74	0	100	Running
22	27	10	E Keene	-1L	74	0	97	Running
23	42	08	S Holzheimer	-1L	74	0	94	Running
24	41	93	R O'Reilly	-1L	74	0	91	Running
25	25	002	T Mender	-3L	72	0	88	Running
26	19	13	J Meeks	-4L	71	0	85	Running
27	26	61	D Hudson	-4L	71	0	82	Running
28	28	36	P Rozelle	-8L	67	0	79	Retired
29	14	67	B Klock	-8L	67	0	76	Retired
30	5	51	R Burns	-8L	67	0	73	Running
31	20	74	J DeWitt	-17L	58	0	70	Retired
32	43	102	S McBeam	-18L	57	0	67	Retired
33	4	46	C Trickle	-37L	38	0	64	Retired
34	40	98	M Joyner	-38L	37	0	61	Retired
35	17	99	R Melindez	-39L	36	0	58	Tire
36	22	34	D Hamilton	-39L	36	0	55	Accident
37	31	72	A Grant	-41L	34	0	52	Retired
38	33	27	L McQueen	-48L	27	0	49	Retired
39	29	07	R Hutchins	-50L	25	0	46	Retired
40	10	91	T Bear	-67L	8	0	43	Accident
41	24	1	T Daniels	-72L	3	0	40	Retired
42	39	40	B Ebsen	-73L	2	0	37	Retired
43	8	01	M Max	-73L	2	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 11 (50 laps)

Lead Changes: 12 (6 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 57 °F, Northwest 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 4x

AI Strength: 93%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
34	19	Passing the pacecar	Held for 1 seconds
35	19	Failure to pit	Go to end of longest line
51	23	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line