British Trucks 2018: 45-46 Homestead

As the series enters its final chapter, only 7 points separate the two leaders and 50 points covers the top three.  Anything could happen and a lot of game changers did in this dramatic finish.

Race 1:

The first major upset was a radical reversal of the field as the original 27 lap length was cut in half as the server died with Tnadz leading the pack and GB falling back into the field.  The reset put The Egg on the pole with Tnadz and Buster right in a tight wad.  Not far back, The Bear was also in the picture, looking for a top 10.

The opening laps were dramatic as GB looked inside and Tnadz bump drafted the 34.

The multi-groove circuit allowed each truck a different line and the game was afoot for some quick position shuffles.

Only two laps in and The Bear lost it going very low through a corner.

Hamilton spun coming to the scene as he tried to maneuver his aero-sensitive truck.  No real damage done.

On restart, The Egg got a run on Tnadz and followed Gurton down into one.

Alas, the racing would be interrupted again as Sandy lost control and was hit by the only Darrel running behind him.

The front runners were going at it and with 11 to go, Slab spun Scholz and brought out the race-ending yellow.

Gurton Buster was likely to hold off Tnadz coming to the line but Tnadz completely lost the back end and fell from 2nd to the back of the field.  It looked like the championship was over at this point.

Race 2:

The final race of the final round was underway and strong efforts by the competition set the three points leaders back from the front.

Hamstrung by his outside starting position, despite being the fastest, GB had to patiently watch as Tnadz and The Egg swept the low side of the field up to the top.

But he wouldn't have to wait long as he nearly forced a hole between Dixon and Egg.

It was madness as they went three wide down the front stretch.

Suddenly, the unthinkable happened as Burton somehow had slight contact with Hawkins.  The touch was so minor it shouldn't of even happened.  But whether you blame it on the aero, network inconsistencies or the will of the NASCAR gods, it happened and he was launched into the wall.

Bouncing off, he slid with the 98 while Egg dove low to avoid.

It almost looked like he might get a lucky break when he got unlucky broke from Hillesheim.

Darrel barely slowed down for the mass of trucks ahead of him.  The impact on the Strongbow truck would be the death knell of his race.  With a roughly 27 point lead ahead of Tnadz, he would have to hope for tragedy to hold the title.  Not the way either driver wanted to finish the series.

Tnadz brought them to the green and just needed to stay clean for another 48 laps.

Shortly after, Yughes pulled the same stunt on Slab as what happened with GB and the caution was out.

Tnadz had to fight Willis on the restart as he nearly lost it coming to the line and yielded.

He'd have to wait after The Bear rammed Franklin up into the wall for another caution.

This time, all but the Slab and The Egg were in.

He lead them to a wild start.

But fighting fresh tires was a losing battle as Tnadz regained the lead.

And he continued to fight to hold a high position as his tires became more abused.

Right at the pit window, Slab was spun again.

Several strategies were at play as tires were still somewhat fresh from the earlier stops.  Tnadz lost several spots going for 4.  A lower field position would jeopardize his run and Egg was not far behind.

But then out of nowhere, The Egg lost his engine for a bit under caution, absolutely ruining his race.  No damage and no poor shifting.  A bizarre and extremely rare occurrence.

When they spun 'em back up, Tnadz went on the offensive and took back the lead.

With only a few laps remaining, the lead group caught Slab and he was swept to the wall, bringing out the final caution.

With the win secured, Tnadz was able to come back in the points and after all drop races were accounted for, he took the title by only 3 points.  While it was an extremely close season, the three points leaders would have opted for more racing like the start of Race 2.  Slab pulled up a 37th with Bear holding 30th after a decent 15th place in Race 2.  But his rival, Zack Webster, finished 3 positions up in 27th, despite missing his final races.  The Egg made a strong attempt but had to settle for third with Buster trying to work out what kind of Russian interference could have absolved him of an assured victory.

The next series returns to the traditional wreck-'em-all style of racing with the Twisted Metal Tour: Gridiron Division.

Race 1

Track: HOMESTEAD-MIAMI SPEEDWAY

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	34.016
2	013	T Nadz	34.040
3	008	J Zolecki	34.064
4	65	M Willis	34.072
5	69	L Rogers	34.124
6	98	A Hawkins	34.184
7	27	M Collins	34.206
8	52	J Goldstraw	34.235
9	021	T Bear	34.240
10	4	P Stevens	34.279
11	82	P Jones	34.284
12	21	D Tompkins	34.314
13	37	N Tressler	34.325
14	12	R Hornacek	34.363
15	8	D O'Regan	34.377
16	50	G Dixon	34.421
17	36	N White	34.424
18	44	J Shorter	34.453
19	5	R Harris	34.476
20	20	S Tworz	34.523
21	14	C Hill	34.534
22	123	G Gruber Jr	34.539
23	3	P Hillesheim	34.556
24	96	C Theile	34.583
25	87	F Casula	34.587
26	147	K Vickers	34.621
27	43	K Hunter	34.648
28	29	Y Hughes	34.664
29	19	D Maksajda	34.687
30	78	J Franklin	34.734
31	74	S Rebrov	34.739
32	06	I Smythe	34.775
33	97	C Caldas	34.799
34	25	D Borisoff	34.816
35	60	J Turner	34.850
36	2	A Scholz	34.876
37	055	G Slab	--
38	061	D Hamilton	--

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	008	J Zolecki	98.184	14	14*	185	Running
2	1	034	T Egg	-0.07	14	0	170	Running
3	6	98	A Hawkins	-0.50	14	0	165	Running
4	5	69	L Rogers	-0.82	14	0	160	Running
5	4	65	M Willis	-1.12	14	0	155	Running
6	7	27	M Collins	-1.43	14	0	150	Running
7	8	52	J Goldstraw	-1.75	14	0	146	Running
8	11	82	P Jones	-2.10	14	0	142	Running
9	10	4	P Stevens	-2.48	14	0	138	Running
10	12	21	D Tompkins	-2.90	14	0	134	Running
11	14	12	R Hornacek	-3.35	14	0	130	Running
12	13	37	N Tressler	-3.76	14	0	127	Running
13	16	50	G Dixon	-4.26	14	0	124	Running
14	18	44	J Shorter	-4.71	14	0	121	Running
15	15	8	D O'Regan	-5.24	14	0	118	Running
16	17	36	N White	-5.77	14	0	115	Running
17	20	20	S Tworz	-6.31	14	0	112	Running
18	22	123	G Gruber Jr	-6.84	14	0	109	Running
19	19	5	R Harris	-7.43	14	0	106	Running
20	24	96	C Theile	-8.13	14	0	103	Running
21	21	14	C Hill	-9.58	14	0	100	Running
22	25	87	F Casula	-10.12	14	0	97	Running
23	23	3	P Hillesheim	-11.68	14	0	94	Running
24	26	147	K Vickers	-13.10	14	0	91	Running
25	30	78	J Franklin	-17.54	14	0	88	Running
26	32	06	I Smythe	-23.12	14	0	85	Running
27	28	29	Y Hughes	-1L	13	0	82	Running
28	29	19	D Maksajda	-1L	13	0	79	Running
29	27	43	K Hunter	-1L	13	0	76	Running
30	33	97	C Caldas	-1L	13	0	73	Running
31	34	25	D Borisoff	-1L	13	0	70	Running
32	31	74	S Rebrov	-1L	13	0	67	Running
33	35	60	J Turner	-1L	13	0	64	Running
34	37	055	G Slab	-1L	13	0	61	Running
35	2	013	T Nadz	-1L	13	0	58	Running
36	36	2	A Scholz	-1L	13	0	55	Running
37	9	021	T Bear	-2L	12	0	52	Running
38	38	061	D Hamilton	-9L	5	0	49	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (10 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 94%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
4	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line

Race 2

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	34.357
2	52	J Goldstraw	34.603
3	96	C Theile	34.617
4	021	T Bear	34.667
5	14	C Hill	34.843
6	69	L Rogers	34.889
7	29	Y Hughes	34.890
8	82	P Jones	34.905
9	8	D O'Regan	34.926
10	19	D Maksajda	34.960
11	98	A Hawkins	35.043
12	25	D Borisoff	35.293
13	87	F Casula	35.296
14	20	S Tworz	35.394
15	008	J Zolecki	42.272
16	74	S Rebrov	46.085
17	60	J Turner	46.346
18	23	C Sundberg	46.550
19	3	P Hillesheim	46.650
20	78	J Franklin	46.831
21	2	A Scholz	48.326
22	06	I Smythe	48.762

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	65	M Willis	33.960
2	50	G Dixon	34.038
3	52	J Goldstraw	34.068
4	008	J Zolecki	34.101
5	013	T Nadz	34.113
6	98	A Hawkins	34.162
7	27	M Collins	34.183
8	69	L Rogers	34.185
9	44	J Shorter	34.203
10	21	D Tompkins	34.208
11	034	T Egg	34.213
12	8	D O'Regan	34.231
13	12	R Hornacek	34.231
14	36	N White	34.308
15	37	N Tressler	34.313
16	82	P Jones	34.333
17	4	P Stevens	34.405
18	60	J Turner	34.409
19	14	C Hill	34.447
20	20	S Tworz	34.512
21	43	K Hunter	34.530
22	06	I Smythe	34.531
23	5	R Harris	34.537
24	96	C Theile	34.539
25	3	P Hillesheim	34.583
26	74	S Rebrov	34.590
27	23	C Sundberg	34.595
28	147	K Vickers	34.603
29	19	D Maksajda	34.632
30	29	Y Hughes	34.705
31	87	F Casula	34.717
32	123	G Gruber Jr	34.759
33	78	J Franklin	34.793
34	25	D Borisoff	34.835
35	2	A Scholz	34.909
36	021	T Bear	--
37	055	G Slab	--
38	061	D Hamilton	--

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	008	J Zolecki	33.843
2	021	T Bear	34.049
3	013	T Nadz	34.070
4	061	D Hamilton	34.123
5	52	J Goldstraw	34.238
6	82	P Jones	34.306
7	69	L Rogers	34.366
8	27	M Collins	34.383
9	147	K Vickers	34.403
10	5	R Harris	34.425
11	50	G Dixon	34.437
12	65	M Willis	34.459
13	87	F Casula	34.475
14	44	J Shorter	34.480
15	98	A Hawkins	34.481
16	4	P Stevens	34.485
17	37	N Tressler	34.506
18	12	R Hornacek	34.517
19	8	D O'Regan	34.519
20	78	J Franklin	34.558
21	43	K Hunter	34.582
22	123	G Gruber Jr	34.594
23	06	I Smythe	34.595
24	3	P Hillesheim	34.630
25	21	D Tompkins	34.643
26	96	C Theile	34.643
27	29	Y Hughes	34.645
28	034	T Egg	34.655
29	23	C Sundberg	34.695
30	20	S Tworz	34.739
31	36	N White	34.760
32	14	C Hill	34.833
33	25	D Borisoff	34.862
34	74	S Rebrov	34.869
35	60	J Turner	34.923
36	2	A Scholz	34.929
37	19	D Maksajda	35.210

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	5	013	T Nadz	120.955	54	41*	185	Running
2	8	69	L Rogers	-0.30	54	0	170	Running
3	17	4	P Stevens	-0.60	54	0	165	Running
4	12	8	D O'Regan	-0.89	54	0	160	Running
5	2	50	G Dixon	-1.19	54	0	155	Running
6	15	37	N Tressler	-1.49	54	0	150	Running
7	7	27	M Collins	-1.79	54	4	151	Running
8	23	5	R Harris	-2.09	54	0	142	Running
9	3	52	J Goldstraw	-3.02	54	0	138	Running
10	16	82	P Jones	-3.32	54	0	134	Running
11	21	43	K Hunter	-3.62	54	0	130	Running
12	26	74	S Rebrov	-3.92	54	0	127	Running
13	28	147	K Vickers	-4.22	54	0	124	Running
14	18	60	J Turner	-4.52	54	0	121	Running
15	36	021	T Bear	-5.53	54	0	118	Running
16	24	96	C Theile	-5.84	54	0	115	Running
17	9	44	J Shorter	-6.15	54	0	112	Running
18	31	87	F Casula	-6.44	54	0	109	Running
19	22	06	I Smythe	-6.74	54	0	106	Running
20	35	2	A Scholz	-7.03	54	0	103	Running
21	13	12	R Hornacek	-7.32	54	0	100	Running
22	30	29	Y Hughes	-7.61	54	0	97	Running
23	14	36	N White	-1L	53	0	94	Retired
24	19	14	C Hill	-1L	53	0	91	Retired
25	10	21	D Tompkins	-2L	52	0	88	Retired
26	1	65	M Willis	-2L	52	7	90	Retired
27	20	20	S Tworz	-2L	52	0	82	Retired
28	37	055	G Slab	-3L	51	0	79	Running
29	33	78	J Franklin	-3L	51	0	76	Running
30	11	034	T Egg	-14L	40	2	78	Piston
31	29	19	D Maksajda	-21L	33	0	70	Piston
32	38	061	D Hamilton	-44L	10	0	67	Disco
33	34	25	D Borisoff	-50L	4	0	64	Retired
34	32	123	G Gruber Jr	-50L	4	0	61	Retired
35	6	98	A Hawkins	-50L	4	0	58	Retired
36	4	008	J Zolecki	-50L	4	0	55	Accident
37	25	3	P Hillesheim	-51L	3	0	52	Accident
38	27	23	C Sundberg	-51L	3	0	49	Accident

Caution Flags: 5 (18 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, South 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 94%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
9	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
10	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
10	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
39	055	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
41	034	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs
40	055	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
53	055	Passing the pacecar	Held for 29 seconds