Ah, Darlington. The lady in black. The track that's too tough to care about. It wouldn't be as bad if they would properly grade it instead of making it a slot car course with no room to pass. Can you tell I didn't finish well? Let's take a look at this mess.

Qualifying was sub par for all of us. I was the furthest up at half-pack.

All remaining humans were "safely" at the back.

The fun started early as I was following Jimmy Means for a few laps, trying not to blow him out of the way.

I semi-succeeded and only wiggled him up the hill. It's not my fault he bungled the deal and slopped into Kulwiki.

Christman was the only real casualty of this mess. Unfortunately...

On the start, I managed to move well up the order and only had to really deal with Jimmy Means and his busted ride.

I cleared Richard Petty straight to the wall and just had to keep Ken Schrader from getting by.

Back in the pack, humans were starting to pick their way through. Sandy was leading the group but could hardly keep his car off the wall for more than a lap after it developed a weird tightening that got worse.

Zack couldn't keep from hitting one of the many Cale Yarbour-ohs. But no caution.

Sandy showed his dismay by hitting the wall some more.

He got so slowed up, Chad and Scot nearly plowed into him and had to go by.

Greg Sacks did not afford him this courtesy and side swiped the 21. But still no yellow.

It would eventually come out as Zack, himself, caught the wall and turned it in too sharp.

This was harmless until Greg Sacks reared his ugly head. This looks worse than it really was.

Sandy gave Zack a crack for good measure. Just a gentle one.

Racing back to the line, I came up on Zack at an alarming rate and I'm glad he committed to punching the gas because it would have been the end for us both had he not.

Here I am, booching my stop.

Here's Chad nearly clobbering Scot under caution. I'm sure he was distracted by Means who was being a douche. As always.

On the restart, It was me at the front, once again going around Jimmy Means to go after the real competition.

The remaining humans were back at the tail end, regrouping and getting a grip on their cars.

It took a while to chase down Ken Schrader but I eventually got him.

Although he was further up the track than I anticipated and we had a moment off of four.

This ended Sterling Marlin.

And Darrel Waltrip.

And Morgan Sheppard.

So this made some interesting things happen. With about 25 to go, we would just be outside our pit window. But if we topped off at the last second, were conservative and had another caution, we could go the rest of the way without stopping. And we'd be at the front. Between Zack, Sandy and I, we could make it happen. Although, I think Zack was stopping for damage or tires or something.

That caution came about a half dozen laps after the green. Once again the Green Turtle Wax car of Jimmy Means was at the heart of it all. Neil Bonnet didn't give a damn about him and smooshed him straight to the wall. It's bad when the AI start hating on one of their own.

There was a small collection of cars but no real big accident.

Although Scot and I had to slow down for the outside lane and Chad came flying in. In his defense, the view was bad and it seemed like the high line was clear when it suddenly was not. Not a big loss for most humans.

I may have spoken too soon. Coming onto the front stretch, Scot had a serious case of oversteer and went right for the wall.

Another restart, another Means to contend with. But we were prepared to go all the way.

Sandy was lined up to shoot by on the outside.

When the prick, Jimmy Means (boy I hate typing his name) just swung up high, forcing Sandy to let off.

The field accordianed and Elliott spun the Avast car without distinction.

Despite being at the front, moving with great speed, Sandy's car was fairly undamaged and he managed to safely stay towards the middle of the track. I think Rusty Wallace was his guardian angel.

The rest of the field conga lined into and along the wall. It was weird.

Zack returned the kindness by rolling him under caution.

And nearly killing himself. Rusty would, however, be the only one dead from this. Usually we don't get this lucky from yellow wrecks.

Back racing and I was leading the race and winding down laps. At 7 to go, my car inexplicably drew up the track.

Even though I only just scraped the wall, I was so thrown off by this happening that I jerked back right, anticipating that I was about to spin. But that was totally unneeded and I tried to turn away from the wall and that caused my car to spin.

And even though I was in 3rd gear, it continued to spin around while I tried to recover and limp to the line. Oily Dave must have caused this to happen.

From first to last and now Zack was the human champion with only 3 to go when going green.

At the back, things were getting exciting while we geared up to try and get as many spots as possible. I had a run at Scot but he dipped a wheel off of two and I had to back off as he swung out wide.

Sandy also rolled out and swerved, leaving a perfect line for Chad.

He expertly shot the gap and stayed full throttle.

He and Scot looked like they were going to make a run at the field. But watch out for that Dave Marcus!

The moron pulled straight down in front of Scot who had an awesome run into the corner.

The following wreck caught Chad as well who had no where to go and no time to react.

I was going to go low when Ulrich, that stupid son of a bitch, slammed Sacks for no reason and sent him up the track into the mix.

I'm so glad we're going to Richmond where everybody dies...

I just thought this was cool that Scot popped a wheelie. Impressive.

Zack made the most of things and finished in the low 20s. And I can't believe Jimmy Means was still alive at the finish. I don't care how many laps down he was, he should have left early before the lynch mob could assembly. Because it's going to get ugly now.

Like I said before, Richmond, the DNF capital of NASCAR (for us anyway) is next.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	30.472
2	35	B Parsons	30.520
3	023	Z Webster	30.599
4	28	D Allison	30.657
5	15	R Rudd	30.674
6	021	T Bear	30.685
7	27	R Wallace	30.759
8	55	P Parsons	30.767
9	30	M Waltrip	30.772
10	5	G Bodine	30.773
11	21	K Petty	30.774
12	6	D Ulrich	30.784
13	90	K Schrader	30.785
14	67	B Arrington	30.788
15	25	T Richmond	30.792
16	8	B Hillin, Jr.	30.803
17	43	R Petty	30.808
18	11	T Labonte	30.814
19	22	B Allison	30.859
20	62	S Christman	30.859
21	83	L Speed	30.868
22	88	B Baker	30.869
23	26	M Shepherd	30.892
24	44	S Marlin	30.912
25	52	J Means	30.916
26	3	D Earnhardt	30.926
27	19	D Cope	30.932
28	33	H Gant	30.935
29	75	N Bonnett	30.937
30	17	D Waltrip	31.039
31	50	G Sacks	31.040
32	20	C Ferguson	31.061
33	77	E Bierschwale	31.075
34	29	C Yarborough	31.093
35	64	R Combs	31.141
36	71	D Marcis	31.182
37	7	A Kulwicki	31.204
38	1	B Bodine	31.207
39	4	R Wilson	31.211
40	18	D Jarrett	31.213
41	70	J McDuffie	31.230
42	9	B Elliott	31.293
43	029	M Max	31.347

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, North 13 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	11	T Labonte	29.908
2	3	D Earnhardt	29.968
3	17	D Waltrip	30.057
4	28	D Allison	30.074
5	9	B Elliott	30.079
6	5	G Bodine	30.084
7	27	R Wallace	30.124
8	90	K Schrader	30.129
9	44	S Marlin	30.130
10	21	K Petty	30.156
11	43	R Petty	30.175
12	7	A Kulwicki	30.177
13	30	M Waltrip	30.185
14	8	B Hillin, Jr.	30.190
15	55	P Parsons	30.191
16	75	N Bonnett	30.211
17	88	B Baker	30.221
18	22	B Allison	30.259
19	52	J Means	30.280
20	35	B Parsons	30.296
21	33	H Gant	30.313
22	25	T Richmond	30.322
23	013	T Nadz	30.359
24	26	M Shepherd	30.385
25	1	B Bodine	30.387
26	4	R Wilson	30.389
27	50	G Sacks	30.405
28	15	R Rudd	30.406
29	62	S Christman	30.407
30	67	B Arrington	30.414
31	77	E Bierschwale	30.475
32	29	C Yarborough	30.483
33	70	J McDuffie	30.549
34	18	D Jarrett	30.556
35	6	D Ulrich	30.597
36	83	L Speed	30.600
37	64	R Combs	30.652
38	19	D Cope	30.671
39	023	Z Webster	30.717
40	71	D Marcis	30.903
41	20	C Ferguson	31.551
42	021	T Bear	32.741
43	029	M Max	45.346

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, West 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	29.708
2	33	H Gant	30.088
3	023	Z Webster	30.100
4	21	K Petty	30.192
5	83	L Speed	30.199
6	43	R Petty	30.208
7	44	S Marlin	30.223
8	26	M Shepherd	30.261
9	90	K Schrader	30.270
10	20	C Ferguson	30.306
11	15	R Rudd	30.308
12	28	D Allison	30.346
13	021	T Bear	30.379
14	22	B Allison	30.382
15	9	B Elliott	30.384
16	50	G Sacks	30.396
17	52	J Means	30.399
18	35	B Parsons	30.403
19	77	E Bierschwale	30.403
20	27	R Wallace	30.407
21	5	G Bodine	30.443
22	70	J McDuffie	30.447
23	4	R Wilson	30.465
24	55	P Parsons	30.468
25	67	B Arrington	30.471
26	17	D Waltrip	30.492
27	75	N Bonnett	30.518
28	18	D Jarrett	30.521
29	30	M Waltrip	30.522
30	71	D Marcis	30.531
31	11	T Labonte	30.557
32	64	R Combs	30.577
33	3	D Earnhardt	30.596
34	8	B Hillin, Jr.	30.599
35	25	T Richmond	30.631
36	88	B Baker	30.634
37	19	D Cope	30.640
38	7	A Kulwicki	30.644
39	29	C Yarborough	30.672
40	6	D Ulrich	30.884
41	029	M Max	30.942
42	62	S Christman	31.142
43	1	B Bodine	31.186

Weather: Cloudy, 83 °F, Northeast 7 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	10	21	K Petty	100.945	56	8	180	Running
2	5	9	B Elliott	-0.35	56	5	175	Running
3	37	64	R Combs	-0.69	56	0	165	Running
4	4	28	D Allison	-1.04	56	0	160	Running
5	15	55	P Parsons	-1.39	56	0	155	Running
6	17	88	B Baker	-1.74	56	0	150	Running
7	18	22	B Allison	-2.09	56	2	151	Running
8	33	70	J McDuffie	-2.44	56	0	142	Running
9	6	5	G Bodine	-2.79	56	0	138	Running
10	11	43	R Petty	-3.14	56	5	139	Running
11	13	30	M Waltrip	-3.49	56	0	130	Running
12	28	15	R Rudd	-3.85	56	0	127	Running
13	38	19	D Cope	-4.20	56	0	124	Running
14	2	3	D Earnhardt	-4.56	56	0	121	Running
15	25	1	B Bodine	-4.92	56	0	118	Running
16	1	11	T Labonte	-5.28	56	2	120	Running
17	36	83	L Speed	-5.64	56	0	112	Running
18	26	4	R Wilson	-6.00	56	0	109	Running
19	34	18	D Jarrett	-6.36	56	0	106	Running
20	21	33	H Gant	-6.73	56	0	103	Running
21	14	8	B Hillin, Jr.	-7.10	56	0	100	Running
22	39	023	Z Webster	-7.91	56	0	97	Running
23	16	75	N Bonnett	-8.28	56	0	94	Running
24	12	7	A Kulwicki	-8.65	56	0	91	Running
25	22	25	T Richmond	-9.02	56	0	88	Running
26	20	35	B Parsons	-9.41	56	0	85	Running
27	30	67	B Arrington	-9.81	56	0	82	Running
28	32	29	C Yarborough	-10.20	56	0	79	Running
29	31	77	E Bierschwale	-10.58	56	0	76	Running
30	42	021	T Bear	-10.97	56	1	78	Running
31	23	013	T Nadz	-11.08	56	23*	80	Running
32	43	029	M Max	-11.52	56	0	67	Running
33	40	71	D Marcis	-11.97	56	0	64	Running
34	19	52	J Means	-1L	55	0	61	Running
35	41	20	C Ferguson	-1L	55	0	58	Running
36	35	6	D Ulrich	-2L	54	0	55	Retired
37	27	50	G Sacks	-2L	54	0	52	Retired
38	7	27	R Wallace	-15L	41	0	49	Retired
39	9	44	S Marlin	-27L	29	0	46	Header
40	24	26	M Shepherd	-28L	28	0	43	Accident
41	8	90	K Schrader	-28L	28	9	45	Accident
42	3	17	D Waltrip	-28L	28	1	42	Accident
43	29	62	S Christman	-54L	2	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 7 (26 laps)

Lead Changes: 11 (9 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 82 °F, Northeast 15 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 92%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
20	023	Passing the pacecar	Held for 35 seconds
22	023	Passing the pacecar	Held for 38 seconds
35	20	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
42	021	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
53	013	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
56	029	Dropping Fluid	Pit for repairs
56	029	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

'87 Winston Cup 2016 Series - 25 Darlington