In most races we have mulligans. And we definitely had one here. I killed Earnhardt in turn one and then we began anew. This beginning was fraught with danger and excitement.
Sandy and I were right at the tip of the top 10. On fresh tires, I was way loose on the inside and Sandy pressed the advantage. Not that it was much of an advantage.
We were governing the field while trying not to die. 4-wide for many turns.
About two laps later, Mikey and Dale Jarrett ran out turn 2 and started having issues.
Which gave others issues.
As Jarrett tried to rejoin, he got into Geoff Bodine which tore apart Oily Dave's dreams.
That wreck wasn't too bed and humans at the back avoided any hard times. Back at the front, Buddy Baker and Hillin Jr decided to have some words under yellow.
Darrel and Sandy stayed out and led the field to green.
Now Darrel had to contend with being the cork in the bottle.
He was doing quite well. Keeping pace with Sandy while I held line at the high side.
Then I started moving forward and things were getting hairy. Not Harry.
It was like this for many laps.
Before too long, I couldn't hold back and I didn't want to spend too much time outside of Darrel when he was fighting guys on the inside.
As I made my move, Darrel got a little bounce from Ricky Rudd.
It was dicey but he didn't travel up too much. I had enough foresight to give enough room for them to play and sailed by.
Fast forward some more laps and I eventually caught Sandy. As I moved to pass, he tucked inside to give me room.
But screwed up his approach in doing so and plowed up the track into the wall.
Foreseeing this too, I pulled down and Sandy was coming at me.
But he evened out and all was well.
We continued on and started walking away.
With about three more laps in the tank for Sandy and Darrel, there was another wall encounter towards the back as Johnny Sauter slapped the wall and hit Beirschwale.
The chain reaction was intense and right in front of Zack.
It doesn't look good.
But he smartly made it through without issue.
Pit road was busy.
Everyone got away without issue...except Darrel. He rammed right into JD McDuffy.
OK, throw it in reverse and slam back to first.
But he coasted too far in neutral and Christman came out right in time to turn him.
OK, we'll just back this right up and straighten out...CRASH! We didn't need that back end.
SMACK! Tiss but a scratch.
A fleshwound! Darrel really struggled with this. He would start way in the back.
Back at the front, Sandy had sights set on that 1st spot and was ready to reclaim his throne.
Oh no! He fell back and as the field caught Darrel, he came off the corner and came across Kyle Petty.
Then he went for a ride.
Despite the looks of it, he didn't get too beat up and got it going straight in the end. But who's that way in the back with smoke billowing out?
Oh no, it's Zack! He was running a low line and the rear slipped up.
Then, a sudden blow over as his big, knobby, ATV-18-wheeler truck tires caught the pavement and sent him twisting.
He landed wheels down but was in bad shape.
More pitting.
Three humans at the rear with almost half the race to go.
I was at the front but not walking away.
Sandy and Darrel were starting to move up when the 21 caught the outside wall going through turn one.
The slowing down and turning momentum (slowmentum?) brought him down just about to Geoff Bodine. Not really either one's fault, just two cars going for the same real estate. No caution though as Sandy got it going again with minor damage to the rear.
A lap later, a near accident with Lake Speed and Davey Allison.
Sterling Marlin got the worst of it and started falling back to the next group. Maybe pitting?
I think that caused certain uncertainty for Jimmy Means as he brake-checked Darrel in a bad way and there was no comfort for the Comfort Inn car.
Big pile right into the wall and Darrel would limp to the pits and die. Terrible way to end up after doing so well.
This caution presented a big problem. A stop at one-to-go could maybe get you to the end. Sandy and I gambled.
I was further up the track by almost a lap as Sandy dealt with damage repair but through careful management, we were staying out and starting to pass the field as they came in.
Then lord numbnuts ruined it all. Darrel Waltrip ran smack into the end of pit wall, EXACTLY like he did last time with two to go. This brought out the yellow even though he just slid up on the track.
So because of that, Neil Bonnet had enough to go the whole way.
As did Tim Richmond who wouldn't go the frick around Buddy Baker...COME ON! He's a lap down! I'm growing a beard before we get to the hauler.
Bear was getting caught by the leaders but could have cycled around to at least pick up more spots before the end.
And Zack didn't do too badly considering.
Now off to Darlington.
Results
Session: Practice
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 013 | T Nadz | 39.905 |
| 2 | 021 | T Bear | 39.923 |
| 3 | 83 | L Speed | 40.089 |
| 4 | 11 | T Labonte | 40.158 |
| 5 | 88 | B Baker | 40.168 |
| 6 | 30 | M Waltrip | 40.198 |
| 7 | 52 | J Means | 40.237 |
| 8 | 50 | G Sacks | 40.271 |
| 9 | 19 | D Cope | 40.295 |
| 10 | 28 | D Allison | 40.301 |
| 11 | 15 | R Rudd | 40.345 |
| 12 | 90 | K Schrader | 40.349 |
| 13 | 55 | P Parsons | 40.361 |
| 14 | 023 | Z Webster | 40.364 |
| 15 | 26 | M Shepherd | 40.373 |
| 16 | 17 | D Waltrip | 40.539 |
| 17 | 4 | R Wilson | 40.550 |
| 18 | 5 | G Bodine | 40.565 |
| 19 | 44 | S Marlin | 40.567 |
| 20 | 1 | B Bodine | 40.603 |
| 21 | 7 | A Kulwicki | 40.619 |
| 22 | 81 | M Potter | 40.658 |
| 23 | 77 | E Bierschwale | 40.693 |
| 24 | 71 | D Marcis | 40.768 |
| 25 | 89 | J Sauter | 40.958 |
| 26 | 64 | R Combs | 41.258 |
| 27 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | 52.371 |
| 28 | 62 | S Christman | 55.177 |
| 29 | 25 | T Richmond | 55.272 |
| 30 | 67 | B Arrington | 55.862 |
| 31 | 29 | C Yarborough | 55.930 |
Weather: Clear, 78 °F, South 7 mph
Session: Qualifying
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 11 | T Labonte | 40.014 |
| 2 | 17 | D Waltrip | 40.084 |
| 3 | 88 | B Baker | 40.104 |
| 4 | 71 | D Marcis | 40.120 |
| 5 | 3 | D Earnhardt | 40.126 |
| 6 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | 40.127 |
| 7 | 9 | B Elliott | 40.129 |
| 8 | 75 | N Bonnett | 40.142 |
| 9 | 013 | T Nadz | 40.147 |
| 10 | 44 | S Marlin | 40.156 |
| 11 | 021 | T Bear | 40.177 |
| 12 | 7 | A Kulwicki | 40.184 |
| 13 | 15 | R Rudd | 40.186 |
| 14 | 43 | R Petty | 40.191 |
| 15 | 28 | D Allison | 40.223 |
| 16 | 27 | R Wallace | 40.224 |
| 17 | 023 | Z Webster | 40.236 |
| 18 | 35 | B Parsons | 40.246 |
| 19 | 25 | T Richmond | 40.253 |
| 20 | 21 | K Petty | 40.260 |
| 21 | 4 | R Wilson | 40.265 |
| 22 | 30 | M Waltrip | 40.277 |
| 23 | 18 | D Jarrett | 40.289 |
| 24 | 90 | K Schrader | 40.321 |
| 25 | 52 | J Means | 40.340 |
| 26 | 55 | P Parsons | 40.366 |
| 27 | 26 | M Shepherd | 40.368 |
| 28 | 22 | B Allison | 40.413 |
| 29 | 5 | G Bodine | 40.435 |
| 30 | 33 | H Gant | 40.447 |
| 31 | 64 | R Combs | 40.476 |
| 32 | 83 | L Speed | 40.491 |
| 33 | 67 | B Arrington | 40.494 |
| 34 | 81 | M Potter | 40.611 |
| 35 | 77 | E Bierschwale | 40.636 |
| 36 | 70 | J McDuffie | 40.637 |
| 37 | 061 | D Hamilton | 40.637 |
| 38 | 62 | S Christman | 40.656 |
| 39 | 1 | B Bodine | 40.675 |
| 40 | 50 | G Sacks | 40.675 |
| 41 | 19 | D Cope | 40.759 |
| 42 | 89 | J Sauter | 40.892 |
| 43 | 29 | C Yarborough | 41.005 |
Weather: Clear, 78 °F, South 12 mph
Session: Happy Hour
| P | # | DRIVER | TIME |
| 1 | 021 | T Bear | 39.571 |
| 2 | 013 | T Nadz | 39.671 |
| 3 | 061 | D Hamilton | 39.702 |
| 4 | 75 | N Bonnett | 39.826 |
| 5 | 26 | M Shepherd | 39.838 |
| 6 | 15 | R Rudd | 39.889 |
| 7 | 21 | K Petty | 39.895 |
| 8 | 71 | D Marcis | 39.927 |
| 9 | 17 | D Waltrip | 39.960 |
| 10 | 11 | T Labonte | 39.992 |
| 11 | 18 | D Jarrett | 40.001 |
| 12 | 35 | B Parsons | 40.002 |
| 13 | 55 | P Parsons | 40.008 |
| 14 | 22 | B Allison | 40.016 |
| 15 | 30 | M Waltrip | 40.021 |
| 16 | 7 | A Kulwicki | 40.031 |
| 17 | 3 | D Earnhardt | 40.036 |
| 18 | 9 | B Elliott | 40.036 |
| 19 | 5 | G Bodine | 40.038 |
| 20 | 52 | J Means | 40.049 |
| 21 | 25 | T Richmond | 40.086 |
| 22 | 44 | S Marlin | 40.120 |
| 23 | 27 | R Wallace | 40.125 |
| 24 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | 40.129 |
| 25 | 28 | D Allison | 40.135 |
| 26 | 62 | S Christman | 40.138 |
| 27 | 67 | B Arrington | 40.140 |
| 28 | 1 | B Bodine | 40.156 |
| 29 | 33 | H Gant | 40.220 |
| 30 | 023 | Z Webster | 40.223 |
| 31 | 88 | B Baker | 40.235 |
| 32 | 4 | R Wilson | 40.251 |
| 33 | 77 | E Bierschwale | 40.269 |
| 34 | 50 | G Sacks | 40.276 |
| 35 | 89 | J Sauter | 40.281 |
| 36 | 64 | R Combs | 40.297 |
| 37 | 43 | R Petty | 40.312 |
| 38 | 83 | L Speed | 40.319 |
| 39 | 29 | C Yarborough | 40.329 |
| 40 | 19 | D Cope | 40.354 |
| 41 | 81 | M Potter | 40.362 |
| 42 | 90 | K Schrader | 40.481 |
| 43 | 70 | J McDuffie | 40.487 |
Weather: Clear, 81 °F, East 7 mph
Session: Race
OFFICIAL STANDINGS
| F | S | # | DRIVER | INTERVAL | LAPS | LED | POINTS | STATUS |
| 1 | 8 | 75 | N Bonnett | 139.325 | 50 | 7 | 180 | Running |
| 2 | 19 | 25 | T Richmond | -27.74 | 50 | 0 | 170 | Running |
| 3 | 9 | 013 | T Nadz | -27.91 | 50 | 17* | 175 | Running |
| 4 | 20 | 21 | K Petty | -28.71 | 50 | 1 | 165 | Running |
| 5 | 27 | 26 | M Shepherd | -29.02 | 50 | 0 | 155 | Running |
| 6 | 13 | 15 | R Rudd | -29.34 | 50 | 11 | 155 | Running |
| 7 | 15 | 28 | D Allison | -29.66 | 50 | 0 | 146 | Running |
| 8 | 32 | 83 | L Speed | -29.97 | 50 | 0 | 142 | Running |
| 9 | 26 | 55 | P Parsons | -30.29 | 50 | 0 | 138 | Running |
| 10 | 7 | 9 | B Elliott | -30.62 | 50 | 0 | 134 | Running |
| 11 | 43 | 29 | C Yarborough | -30.95 | 50 | 0 | 130 | Running |
| 12 | 10 | 44 | S Marlin | -31.31 | 50 | 0 | 127 | Running |
| 13 | 2 | 17 | D Waltrip | -40.64 | 50 | 0 | 124 | Running |
| 14 | 18 | 35 | B Parsons | -40.94 | 50 | 0 | 121 | Running |
| 15 | 41 | 19 | D Cope | -41.37 | 50 | 0 | 118 | Running |
| 16 | 28 | 22 | B Allison | -42.39 | 50 | 3 | 120 | Running |
| 17 | 30 | 33 | H Gant | -1L | 49 | 0 | 112 | Retired |
| 18 | 1 | 11 | T Labonte | -1L | 49 | 3 | 114 | Running |
| 19 | 29 | 5 | G Bodine | -1L | 49 | 0 | 106 | Retired |
| 20 | 6 | 8 | B Hillin, Jr. | -1L | 49 | 0 | 103 | Running |
| 21 | 21 | 4 | R Wilson | -1L | 49 | 0 | 100 | Running |
| 22 | 11 | 021 | T Bear | -1L | 49 | 8 | 102 | Running |
| 23 | 3 | 88 | B Baker | -1L | 49 | 0 | 94 | Running |
| 24 | 25 | 52 | J Means | -1L | 49 | 0 | 91 | Running |
| 25 | 17 | 023 | Z Webster | -1L | 49 | 0 | 88 | Running |
| 26 | 24 | 90 | K Schrader | -19L | 31 | 0 | 85 | Retired |
| 27 | 37 | 061 | D Hamilton | -20L | 30 | 0 | 82 | Camshaft |
| 28 | 14 | 43 | R Petty | -26L | 24 | 0 | 79 | Accident |
| 29 | 5 | 3 | D Earnhardt | -26L | 24 | 0 | 76 | Accident |
| 30 | 22 | 30 | M Waltrip | -27L | 23 | 0 | 73 | Retired |
| 31 | 16 | 27 | R Wallace | -29L | 21 | 0 | 70 | Header |
| 32 | 38 | 62 | S Christman | -29L | 21 | 0 | 67 | Retired |
| 33 | 36 | 70 | J McDuffie | -29L | 21 | 0 | 64 | Retired |
| 34 | 40 | 50 | G Sacks | -30L | 20 | 0 | 61 | Accident |
| 35 | 39 | 1 | B Bodine | -30L | 20 | 0 | 58 | Retired |
| 36 | 35 | 77 | E Bierschwale | -30L | 20 | 0 | 55 | Retired |
| 37 | 31 | 64 | R Combs | -30L | 20 | 0 | 52 | Accident |
| 38 | 42 | 89 | J Sauter | -30L | 20 | 0 | 49 | Accident |
| 39 | 23 | 18 | D Jarrett | -30L | 20 | 0 | 46 | Accident |
| 40 | 34 | 81 | M Potter | -31L | 19 | 0 | 43 | Valve |
| 41 | 33 | 67 | B Arrington | -32L | 18 | 0 | 40 | Camshaft |
| 42 | 12 | 7 | A Kulwicki | -35L | 15 | 0 | 37 | Retired |
| 43 | 4 | 71 | D Marcis | -46L | 4 | 0 | 34 | Retired |
Caution Flags: 5 (16 laps)
Lead Changes: 9 (7 drivers)
Weather: Clear, 80 °F, East 9 mph
Pitstop Frequency: 3x
AI Strength: 92%
PENALTIES
| LAP | # | INFRACTION | PENALTY |
| 19 | 061 | Speeding in pits | Drive through pit lane |
| 19 | 061 | Unsafe pit exit | Stop and go |
| 22 | 023 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 23 | 061 | Unsafe pit exit | Go to end of longest line |
| 31 | 061 | Entering closed pits | Go to end of longest line |
| 51 | 021 | Passing the pacecar | Held for 24 seconds |
No comments:
Post a Comment