'87 Winston Cup 2016 Series - 21 Pocono

Our return to the Pennsylvania Triangle.  Lost some humans for the night but still managed plenty of action without them.

We had a restart but it wasn't because of a mulligan.  It was because Scot showed up after we were just about to start.  This shuffled things but Zack and I started exactly the same with Webster on the pole.  Sandy was way off from his original run, back in 33rd instead of 3rd.  Scot and Chad brought up the rear.

Much like our racing in practice, Zack and I kept it close and competitive.  Our plan was to keep it clean and break away.  It's just what we did.  And no one died!

Scot had a slide out within a lap.  Cold tires and no caution.

Chad also had problems early as his computer went to desktop and his car went into the wall.

Significant damage was sustained and then the server kicked him.  I'm thinking there's a conflicting software problem.

When he did come back, his ride was a wreck.

I think he broke a tie rod or lost a tire because he suddenly swerved out into traffic.  Darrel Waltrip had nowhere to go and blasted the driver side.

As Chad tumbled and twisted down the stretch, many more joined his jumble.

The Bear almost had a moment when Kulwicki suicided into the Bojangles car but was able to get away clean and stay out for the lead.

The rest of us came in.

Although the front row cars had terrible pit crews and we lost several positions.

Under green, we went a few laps, trying to get past traffic and catch up to Sandy who's tank was quickly running dry.  Just when he was planning to go in, Geoff Bodine did some odd brake checking and we were together and into the wall.

At the same time, Zack was losing it in front of Phil Parsons and also getting into the wall.  We both had only minor damage and a bunch of lost spots.

Sandy stayed out although lost first from slowing down to pit when we wrecked.  He was cruising along just fine when Harry Gant spun him out like the spineless bastard he is.

There wasn't any damage until Earnhardt and Arrington bounced him around.  He would never quite recover from this and get back into position.

Because Zack and I were already at the back from repairing damage, we came through again to top off.

Under green, only about a third of the way in and all humans were at the back with some form of damage.  We were ready for some real racing now.

Sandy and Scot mostly paced the rear, working out fuel strategy and maintaining their cars.  Zack and I worked the arduous task of passing all the assholes in the field.  And it was not easy.

One last stop was in order.  Scot and Zack went in about a lap before me.  But even while staying out for one more circuit, I was very close to not making it on gas.  Zack and Scot were in dire straights.

Sandy didn't think he'd make it and came in with 7 to go.

These two did everything they could to squeeze out every last ounce they could.  Mostly slowing down and staying in 4th.  A desperate battle between holding positions and trying to finish the race.

On the last lap, Rudd made it past the blockade and Scot moved over to avoid a collision with Richard Petty.

Even after touching the wall, he put on a strong effort to pass Zack as the duo finished 4th and 5th within a couple feet of each other.

I too held on with the fuel I had and took home the win.

We now hit up the second road course: Watkins Glen.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	54.952
2	11	T Labonte	56.719
3	50	G Sacks	56.857
4	55	P Parsons	56.882
5	25	T Richmond	56.917
6	27	R Wallace	56.966
7	26	M Shepherd	56.969
8	28	D Allison	57.041
9	35	B Parsons	57.099
10	44	S Marlin	57.100
11	20	C Ferguson	57.125
12	30	M Waltrip	57.136
13	4	R Wilson	57.174
14	21	K Petty	57.206
15	52	J Means	57.211
16	62	S Christman	57.302
17	1	B Bodine	57.328
18	33	H Gant	57.350
19	22	B Allison	57.366
20	29	C Yarborough	57.436
21	88	B Baker	57.491
22	83	L Speed	57.520
23	70	J McDuffie	57.525
24	18	D Jarrett	57.536
25	71	D Marcis	57.543
26	19	D Cope	57.548
27	9	B Elliott	57.562
28	17	D Waltrip	57.576
29	67	B Arrington	57.718
30	64	R Combs	57.793
31	7	A Kulwicki	57.812
32	43	R Petty	57.822
33	75	N Bonnett	57.830
34	5	G Bodine	57.851
35	15	R Rudd	57.889
36	8	B Hillin, Jr.	57.936
37	90	K Schrader	58.023
38	77	E Bierschwale	58.142
39	3	D Earnhardt	58.427
40	029	M Max	58.834

Weather: Clear, 86 °F, North 19 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	023	Z Webster	55.507
2	013	T Nadz	55.569
3	11	T Labonte	56.134
4	17	D Waltrip	56.219
5	3	D Earnhardt	56.232
6	26	M Shepherd	56.328
7	55	P Parsons	56.344
8	44	S Marlin	56.349
9	27	R Wallace	56.406
10	15	R Rudd	56.459
11	8	B Hillin, Jr.	56.492
12	33	H Gant	56.523
13	22	B Allison	56.538
14	83	L Speed	56.548
15	43	R Petty	56.568
16	5	G Bodine	56.578
17	18	D Jarrett	56.628
18	75	N Bonnett	56.637
19	30	M Waltrip	56.657
20	28	D Allison	56.678
21	88	B Baker	56.711
22	77	E Bierschwale	56.729
23	7	A Kulwicki	56.760
24	29	C Yarborough	56.774
25	67	B Arrington	56.837
26	81	M Potter	56.842
27	25	T Richmond	56.848
28	1	B Bodine	56.910
29	4	R Wilson	56.932
30	52	J Means	56.961
31	35	B Parsons	56.980
32	70	J McDuffie	57.029
33	021	T Bear	57.038
34	21	K Petty	57.038
35	62	S Christman	57.060
36	90	K Schrader	57.168
37	9	B Elliott	57.180
38	64	R Combs	57.252
39	50	G Sacks	57.257
40	19	D Cope	57.453
41	71	D Marcis	57.480
42	20	C Ferguson	58.207
43	029	M Max	--

Weather: Clear, 86 °F, Northeast 18 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	9	B Elliott	56.562
2	023	Z Webster	56.633
3	33	H Gant	56.684
4	43	R Petty	56.824
5	21	K Petty	56.894
6	71	D Marcis	56.975
7	30	M Waltrip	57.154
8	27	R Wallace	57.165
9	029	M Max	57.179
10	67	B Arrington	57.216
11	19	D Cope	57.246
12	35	B Parsons	57.253
13	28	D Allison	57.325
14	90	K Schrader	57.353
15	52	J Means	57.407
16	26	M Shepherd	57.472
17	70	J McDuffie	57.483
18	64	R Combs	57.488
19	8	B Hillin, Jr.	57.572
20	11	T Labonte	57.594
21	55	P Parsons	57.608
22	44	S Marlin	57.650
23	5	G Bodine	57.753
24	22	B Allison	57.776
25	7	A Kulwicki	57.780
26	20	C Ferguson	57.835
27	75	N Bonnett	57.881
28	62	S Christman	57.888
29	88	B Baker	57.908
30	81	M Potter	57.983
31	29	C Yarborough	58.439
32	50	G Sacks	58.595
33	25	T Richmond	1:09.197
34	3	D Earnhardt	1:23.408
35	021	T Bear	1:30.890
36	1	B Bodine	2:04.234
37	4	R Wilson	2:20.625

Weather: Clear, 89 °F, Northeast 12 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	013	T Nadz	141.841	40	25*	185	Running
2	10	15	R Rudd	-39.09	40	9	175	Running
3	15	43	R Petty	-39.54	40	0	165	Running
4	1	023	Z Webster	-39.74	40	0	160	Running
5	43	029	M Max	-39.77	40	0	155	Running
6	34	21	K Petty	-39.81	40	0	150	Running
7	8	44	S Marlin	-39.90	40	3	151	Running
8	21	88	B Baker	-40.11	40	0	142	Running
9	6	26	M Shepherd	-40.29	40	0	138	Running
10	3	11	T Labonte	-41.64	40	0	134	Running
11	31	35	B Parsons	-41.72	40	0	130	Running
12	40	19	D Cope	-45.40	40	0	127	Running
13	41	71	D Marcis	-46.07	40	0	124	Running
14	20	28	D Allison	-46.20	40	0	121	Running
15	17	18	D Jarrett	-46.38	40	0	118	Running
16	38	64	R Combs	-46.93	40	0	115	Running
17	29	4	R Wilson	-53.82	40	0	112	Running
18	39	50	G Sacks	-1:10.07	40	0	109	Running
19	24	29	C Yarborough	-1L	39	0	106	Running
20	14	83	L Speed	-1L	39	0	103	Running
21	22	77	E Bierschwale	-1L	39	0	100	Running
22	12	33	H Gant	-1L	39	0	97	Running
23	26	81	M Potter	-1L	39	0	94	Running
24	16	5	G Bodine	-1L	39	0	91	Running
25	7	55	P Parsons	-1L	39	0	88	Running
26	28	1	B Bodine	-1L	39	0	85	Running
27	33	021	T Bear	-1L	39	3	87	Running
28	13	22	B Allison	-1L	39	0	79	Running
29	5	3	D Earnhardt	-1L	39	0	76	Running
30	23	7	A Kulwicki	-1L	39	0	73	Running
31	19	30	M Waltrip	-27L	13	0	70	No Fuel
32	25	67	B Arrington	-28L	12	0	67	Retired
33	18	75	N Bonnett	-33L	7	0	64	Retired
34	11	8	B Hillin, Jr.	-33L	7	0	61	Retired
35	27	25	T Richmond	-33L	7	0	58	Retired
36	37	9	B Elliott	-34L	6	0	55	Radiator
37	35	62	S Christman	-34L	6	0	52	Retired
38	36	90	K Schrader	-34L	6	0	49	Retired
39	30	52	J Means	-34L	6	0	46	Accident
40	9	27	R Wallace	-34L	6	0	43	Accident
41	4	17	D Waltrip	-34L	6	0	40	Accident
42	32	70	J McDuffie	-35L	5	0	37	Accident
43	42	20	C Ferguson	-38L	2	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (7 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 89 °F, North 9 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
3	20	Unsafe pit entrance	Held for 30 seconds
3	20	Unsafe pit entrance	Held for 30 seconds

'87 Winston Cup 2016 Series - 20 Indianapolis

Well, we were at it again during the "boring" part of the season when we hit up all the rather banal series of tracks.  We take to Indy which had a lot of promise for action and delivered.  But it didn't really work out well for many of the humans.

Zack and I swept row 1.

Darrel and Chad ran the middle while Sandy and Scot held the back.

Chad had a loose car to start and swung up the track while loosing grip, causing Sandy to throw anchors.

Just up ahead, Potter and McDuffy were getting clobbered by Cope.

Into the wall they went.

Chad started going evasive and on his cold tires lost it into the infield.

Scot also went evasive but didn't harmlessly scrub his tires.  He crunched head on into the inside wall.  Out immediately.  Without taking out a single other car.  Frustration.

Racing to the line, Darrel slapped the wall and came back onto the track.

And right in front of Jimmy Means who took great pleasure in sending him on his way.

And as he spun onto the main stretch, he was nearly skewered onto the end of pit road as Sterling Marlin hit him.

As Potter, Cope and JD McDuffy came back to the line, they decided to be in another wreck together on the same lap.  It was so much fun the first time.

Zack and I probably made a mistake by coming in for this pit.  We both booched it and fell down the grid.

We were working our way up when Zack's car kicked out from under him.

He reflected off the wall with little damage while I tried to avoid and spun down.

But clearly not down enough for Tim Richmond who felt the need to slam my back end as did Bierschwale who sent me to the inside wall.  They are high on the shit list this time.

On the next green run, Darrel gave a hip check into Dale Jarrett.

But he lost control from that action and spun too.

And nearly caught Zack as he was coming by.  I hope Webster brought a few extra tighty whities.

On this restart, I was going for a pass on Davey Allison when he let off and I bounced off of him.

Mostly just lost speed and superficial damage.

Zack and I were making progress on some of the slower back markers when suddenly...

...I lost it going through turn one.  I tried to catch the thing but instead went right for the wall.

And there would be no caution.  Just a very broken car.

Further up the order and a few laps later, Sacks was taking out Jimmy Means.

Zack only just squirted by.  Good thing he brought all those extra pairs of Fruit of the Looms.

Others were not so lucky and the death toll continued to rise.

Sandy was once again hard on the brakes to keep from ruining himself.  I think he used his brakes more times during the race than any of the practices.

On the other side of the track, Chad was hitting the wall.

And then another wall....

...and then almost Darrel and into another wall.  Dead.

Around 10 to go, my engine had enough.

Dead.

On the restart, the last few humans were in the back.  Like old times.

Darrel was trying to make a statement by passing as many cars as possible.

But his 3-wide transgression got the better of him and he spun.

Back under green, Zack was pushing to carry the human banner when his car started sliding out.

He tried to correct but went too far.

Straight to the wall but still somehow alive.

The race would then end with the humans in a row.  Beat up but unbroken.

And celebrating in usual fashion.

Next week we return to Pocono for that love triangle.  You know, because it's got 3 turns.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	51.922
2	023	Z Webster	52.407
3	021	T Bear	53.174
4	061	D Hamilton	53.375
5	9	B Elliott	53.384
6	15	R Rudd	53.475
7	11	T Labonte	53.590
8	8	B Hillin, Jr.	53.595
9	20	C Ferguson	53.598
10	22	B Allison	53.613
11	75	N Bonnett	53.618
12	18	D Jarrett	53.622
13	3	D Earnhardt	53.666
14	35	B Parsons	53.690
15	33	H Gant	53.695
16	50	G Sacks	53.701
17	55	P Parsons	53.738
18	27	R Wallace	53.756
19	90	K Schrader	53.776
20	4	R Wilson	53.809
21	25	T Richmond	53.812
22	5	G Bodine	53.815
23	88	B Baker	53.816
24	17	D Waltrip	53.824
25	7	A Kulwicki	53.844
26	71	D Marcis	53.852
27	77	E Bierschwale	53.861
28	43	R Petty	53.863
29	28	D Allison	53.866
30	70	J McDuffie	53.873
31	30	M Waltrip	53.878
32	52	J Means	53.886
33	64	R Combs	53.892
34	44	S Marlin	53.911
35	62	S Christman	53.927
36	26	M Shepherd	53.941
37	21	K Petty	53.987
38	83	L Speed	54.042
39	67	B Arrington	54.069
40	1	B Bodine	54.109
41	81	M Potter	54.199
42	19	D Cope	54.379

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, Northeast 15 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	51.959
2	023	Z Webster	52.159
3	3	D Earnhardt	53.167
4	90	K Schrader	53.226
5	9	B Elliott	53.282
6	17	D Waltrip	53.314
7	11	T Labonte	53.374
8	33	H Gant	53.378
9	88	B Baker	53.378
10	75	N Bonnett	53.431
11	15	R Rudd	53.460
12	7	A Kulwicki	53.473
13	27	R Wallace	53.515
14	71	D Marcis	53.526
15	22	B Allison	53.528
16	26	M Shepherd	53.571
17	5	G Bodine	53.594
18	55	P Parsons	53.625
19	28	D Allison	53.626
20	35	B Parsons	53.626
21	4	R Wilson	53.644
22	1	B Bodine	53.686
23	20	C Ferguson	53.687
24	67	B Arrington	53.724
25	061	D Hamilton	53.742
26	50	G Sacks	53.760
27	30	M Waltrip	53.825
28	8	B Hillin, Jr.	53.837
29	62	S Christman	53.873
30	52	J Means	53.911
31	43	R Petty	53.922
32	83	L Speed	53.950
33	64	R Combs	54.024
34	44	S Marlin	54.034
35	18	D Jarrett	54.047
36	70	J McDuffie	54.141
37	25	T Richmond	54.162
38	19	D Cope	54.324
39	77	E Bierschwale	54.326
40	21	K Petty	54.533
41	81	M Potter	54.613
42	021	T Bear	--
43	029	M Max	--

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, Northeast 18 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	53.785
2	023	Z Webster	54.009
3	17	D Waltrip	54.254
4	20	C Ferguson	54.284
5	15	R Rudd	54.326
6	3	D Earnhardt	54.386
7	22	B Allison	54.514
8	28	D Allison	54.529
9	029	M Max	54.605
10	061	D Hamilton	54.643
11	44	S Marlin	54.648
12	26	M Shepherd	54.673
13	7	A Kulwicki	54.693
14	90	K Schrader	54.704
15	21	K Petty	54.707
16	19	D Cope	54.790
17	11	T Labonte	54.800
18	33	H Gant	54.833
19	5	G Bodine	54.898
20	71	D Marcis	54.910
21	18	D Jarrett	54.917
22	43	R Petty	55.004
23	021	T Bear	55.018
24	67	B Arrington	55.019
25	35	B Parsons	55.047
26	55	P Parsons	55.079
27	9	B Elliott	55.105
28	52	J Means	55.181
29	88	B Baker	55.209
30	8	B Hillin, Jr.	55.261
31	77	E Bierschwale	55.295
32	1	B Bodine	55.326
33	30	M Waltrip	55.341
34	83	L Speed	55.354
35	62	S Christman	55.378
36	25	T Richmond	55.382
37	70	J McDuffie	55.410
38	27	R Wallace	55.473
39	81	M Potter	55.483
40	64	R Combs	55.556
41	75	N Bonnett	55.627
42	4	R Wilson	55.780
43	50	G Sacks	55.817

Weather: Clear, 80 °F, Southwest 19 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	12	7	A Kulwicki	110.151	40	10*	185	Running
2	8	33	H Gant	-0.27	40	0	170	Running
3	15	22	B Allison	-0.55	40	5	170	Running
4	24	67	B Arrington	-0.83	40	0	160	Running
5	7	11	T Labonte	-1.10	40	2	160	Running
6	16	26	M Shepherd	-1.38	40	0	150	Running
7	29	62	S Christman	-1.65	40	0	146	Running
8	26	50	G Sacks	-1.93	40	0	142	Running
9	4	90	K Schrader	-2.21	40	2	143	Running
10	13	27	R Wallace	-2.48	40	4	139	Running
11	6	17	D Waltrip	-2.76	40	0	130	Running
12	19	28	D Allison	-3.04	40	0	127	Running
13	31	43	R Petty	-3.32	40	0	124	Running
14	11	15	R Rudd	-3.60	40	0	121	Running
15	3	3	D Earnhardt	-3.88	40	0	118	Running
16	5	9	B Elliott	-4.16	40	5	120	Running
17	20	35	B Parsons	-4.44	40	0	112	Running
18	9	88	B Baker	-4.72	40	2	114	Running
19	21	4	R Wilson	-5.00	40	0	106	Running
20	28	8	B Hillin, Jr.	-5.28	40	0	103	Running
21	33	64	R Combs	-5.57	40	0	100	Running
22	27	30	M Waltrip	-5.85	40	0	97	Running
23	42	021	T Bear	-6.27	40	4	99	Running
24	25	061	D Hamilton	-6.48	40	0	91	Running
25	22	1	B Bodine	-8.66	40	0	88	Running
26	2	023	Z Webster	-1L	39	0	85	Running
27	10	75	N Bonnett	-3L	37	3	87	Retired
28	1	013	T Nadz	-17L	23	2	84	Camshaft
29	14	71	D Marcis	-19L	21	0	76	Retired
30	18	55	P Parsons	-20L	20	0	73	Accident
31	35	18	D Jarrett	-20L	20	0	70	Accident
32	23	20	C Ferguson	-22L	18	1	72	Header
33	30	52	J Means	-22L	18	0	64	Accident
34	17	5	G Bodine	-29L	11	0	61	Piston
35	32	83	L Speed	-35L	5	0	58	Retired
36	40	21	K Petty	-35L	5	0	55	Retired
37	37	25	T Richmond	-35L	5	0	52	Retired
38	39	77	E Bierschwale	-35L	5	0	49	Retired
39	38	19	D Cope	-35L	5	0	46	Retired
40	36	70	J McDuffie	-39L	1	0	43	Retired
41	34	44	S Marlin	-40L	0	0	40	Accident
42	41	81	M Potter	-40L	0	0	37	Accident
43	43	029	M Max	-40L	0	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 7 (25 laps)

Lead Changes: 12 (11 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 78 °F, Southwest 16 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
2	20	Passing under yellow	Held for 1 seconds
37	023	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line