2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 1: Daytona

Live Stream: https://youtu.be/kRg-cytnaNU

The season opener at the great Daytona Super Speedway was definitely full of excitement and controversy.

Race 1:

After a lengthy delay in getting everyone set up, the race was artificially extended as the race officials accidentally turned on yellow flags.  This caused the sprint to draw out and kept some from advancing as high as they could have.  Tnadz, though, managed to gallop to the top after a strong qualifying effort.

Race 2:

Another win for Tnadz as the cautions were removed and the Toys R Us car started just inside the top 10.  The other humans were much more hindered by the wall of traffic and incidents down the order.  The Egg caught the first penalty of the season after diving below the yellow line and just nicking the 98 of Webster into a spin.

Race 3:

It really started heating up with the full on 20 lap race.  Humans worked out some of the qualifying setup with Hamilton and Zolecki up towards the front with Tnadz and Webster not far behind in midfield.  The first caution came just at the start of the fuel window as Myhr swerved to avoid slowing cars and hit the wall so hard, he popped a wheelie before running into drivers on the outside.

Half the field stayed out at the start of the caution period which meant that they would be coming in almost immediately for fuel.  Sure enough they did and this kicked off a crash starting with Hamilton who had nowhere to go but into trouble.

A large swath of the field would end up involved with Tnadz, Bear and Slab getting the worst of it.  Webster managed to gently slide through the infield, gracefully, avoiding all contact but would be punished as he just barely sped on pit road after recovering the car.

Tnadz and Mad Max weren't done yet as the pair were approaching pit road under the pace car.  The 29 was tapped by the Dewalt car and sent infield.  This sent that same car back towards Tnadz who barely went left to avoid on minimal steering (from the blown out tire he copped from Kurt Busch).  As Myhr rejoined the line, Tnadz had zero steering or brakes and sent the outlaw spinning into traffic where he'd roll on his side.

Scot wasn't done yet.  With about 4 to go, he racked on the Busch's Baked Beans car, sending the 32 into the wall and triggering another big one.

He wouldn't be able to avoid staying out of it much, delivering a massive blow to The Bear before crawling back to the line.  Webster and Tnadz would be locked in battle all the way to the flag with Gut Slab immediately there to attack.  Sadly, they would finish just outside the top 20 despite their better efforts, hurting their first points haul of the season.

But even though it was a rough go, there are still plenty of drop races to go around for the season.  And next week, it'll be the same track but with the road course instead.  What could go wrong?

Race 1

Track: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Date: 01/27/21

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, Southwest 1 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	4	K Harvick	47.046
2	11	D Hamlin	47.055
3	12	R Blaney	47.190
4	22	J Logano	47.229
5	14	C Bowyer	47.263
6	1	K Busch	47.295
7	013	T Nadz	47.298
8	48	J Johnson	47.314
9	2	B Keselowski	47.324
10	21	M DiBenedetto	47.333
11	18	K Busch	47.350
12	20	E Jones	47.410
13	88	A Bowman	47.420
14	10	A Almirola	47.436
15	8	T Reddick	47.441
16	42	M Kenseth	47.466
17	3	A Dillon	47.498
18	34	M McDowell	47.516
19	19	M Truex Jr.	47.526
20	9	C Elliott	47.535
21	17	C Buescher	47.541
22	13	T Dillon	47.580
23	15	B Poole	47.595
24	95	C Bell	47.637
25	37	R Preece	47.646
26	38	J Nemechek	47.657
27	00	Q Houff	47.678
28	24	W Byron	47.679
29	41	C Custer	47.767
30	62	B Gaughan	47.773
31	96	D Suarez	47.856
32	32	C Lajoie	47.900
33	6	R Newman	47.906
34	43	B Wallace	48.071
35	66	T Hill	48.325
36	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	48.369
37	98	Z Webster	48.518
38	26	J Zolecki	48.543
39	021	T Bear	48.613
40	061	D Hamilton	48.668
41	029	M Max	49.064
42	025	G Slab	--
43	034	T Egg	--

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, North 1 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 53 °F, Southwest 14 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	7	013	T Nadz	129.954	10	7*	185	Running
2	5	14	C Bowyer	-0.10	10	0	170	Running
3	9	2	B Keselowski	-0.20	10	0	165	Running
4	1	4	K Harvick	-0.30	10	3	165	Running
5	11	18	K Busch	-0.41	10	0	155	Running
6	13	88	A Bowman	-0.51	10	0	150	Running
7	10	21	M DiBenedetto	-0.62	10	0	146	Running
8	8	48	J Johnson	-0.72	10	0	142	Running
9	6	1	K Busch	-0.83	10	0	138	Running
10	3	12	R Blaney	-0.93	10	0	134	Running
11	4	22	J Logano	-1.04	10	0	130	Running
12	15	8	T Reddick	-1.15	10	0	127	Running
13	12	20	E Jones	-1.25	10	0	124	Running
14	19	19	M Truex Jr.	-1.35	10	0	121	Running
15	17	3	A Dillon	-1.46	10	0	118	Running
16	21	17	C Buescher	-1.60	10	0	115	Running
17	22	13	T Dillon	-1.60	10	0	112	Running
18	2	11	D Hamlin	-1.71	10	0	109	Running
19	18	34	M McDowell	-1.77	10	0	106	Running
20	14	10	A Almirola	-1.81	10	0	103	Running
21	37	98	Z Webster	-1.87	10	0	100	Running
22	29	41	C Custer	-1.87	10	0	97	Running
23	16	42	M Kenseth	-2.02	10	0	94	Running
24	27	00	Q Houff	-2.11	10	0	91	Running
25	42	025	G Slab	-2.39	10	0	88	Running
26	23	15	B Poole	-2.52	10	0	85	Running
27	25	37	R Preece	-2.57	10	0	82	Running
28	31	96	D Suarez	-2.85	10	0	79	Running
29	20	9	C Elliott	-2.98	10	0	76	Running
30	24	95	C Bell	-3.19	10	0	73	Running
31	38	26	J Zolecki	-4.52	10	0	70	Running
32	28	24	W Byron	-8.07	10	0	67	Running
33	26	38	J Nemechek	-8.31	10	0	64	Running
34	34	43	B Wallace	-8.73	10	0	61	Running
35	33	6	R Newman	-9.53	10	0	58	Running
36	39	021	T Bear	-22.19	10	0	55	Running
37	40	061	D Hamilton	-5.09	10	0	52	Running
38	30	62	B Gaughan	-5.48	10	0	49	Running
39	36	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-5.60	10	0	46	Running
40	35	66	T Hill	-5.71	10	0	43	Running
41	32	32	C Lajoie	-5.78	10	0	40	Running
42	43	034	T Egg	-18.53	10	0	37	Running
43	41	029	M Max	-22.30	10	0	34	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 53 °F, West 15 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 93%

Race 2

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 61 °F, South 14 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	1	K Busch	46.880
2	21	M DiBenedetto	46.909
3	41	C Custer	46.916
4	24	W Byron	46.935
5	19	M Truex Jr.	47.024
6	22	J Logano	47.038
7	10	A Almirola	47.084
8	013	T Nadz	47.090
9	96	D Suarez	47.124
10	38	J Nemechek	47.134
11	3	A Dillon	47.144
12	11	D Hamlin	47.148
13	20	E Jones	47.188
14	88	A Bowman	47.221
15	14	C Bowyer	47.226
16	8	T Reddick	47.278
17	6	R Newman	47.285
18	42	M Kenseth	47.324
19	13	T Dillon	47.334
20	95	C Bell	47.353
21	18	K Busch	47.357
22	43	B Wallace	47.357
23	12	R Blaney	47.361
24	4	K Harvick	47.368
25	48	J Johnson	47.387
26	2	B Keselowski	47.422
27	15	B Poole	47.453
28	37	R Preece	47.473
29	17	C Buescher	47.484
30	9	C Elliott	47.538
31	00	Q Houff	47.540
32	26	J Zolecki	47.606
33	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	47.681
34	34	M McDowell	47.698
35	32	C Lajoie	47.709
36	025	G Slab	47.726
37	62	B Gaughan	47.726
38	52	J Yeley	47.890
39	061	D Hamilton	47.903
40	034	T Egg	47.920
41	98	Z Webster	48.307
42	021	T Bear	48.379
43	029	M Max	49.166

Weather: Clear, 61 °F, North 8 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 53 °F, North 11 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	8	013	T Nadz	197.643	10	9*	185	Running
2	7	10	A Almirola	-0.48	10	0	170	Running
3	13	20	E Jones	-2.76	10	0	165	Running
4	11	3	A Dillon	-4.64	10	0	160	Running
5	23	12	R Blaney	-5.57	10	0	155	Running
6	25	48	J Johnson	-5.68	10	0	150	Running
7	14	88	A Bowman	-5.86	10	0	146	Running
8	9	96	D Suarez	-6.10	10	0	142	Running
9	20	95	C Bell	-6.96	10	0	138	Running
10	6	22	J Logano	-7.04	10	0	134	Running
11	29	17	C Buescher	-7.22	10	0	130	Running
12	1	1	K Busch	-7.26	10	0	127	Running
13	12	11	D Hamlin	-7.48	10	0	124	Running
14	17	6	R Newman	-7.79	10	0	121	Running
15	27	15	B Poole	-7.81	10	0	118	Running
16	5	19	M Truex Jr.	-7.85	10	0	115	Running
17	21	18	K Busch	-7.96	10	0	112	Running
18	3	41	C Custer	-8.07	10	0	109	Running
19	30	9	C Elliott	-8.39	10	0	106	Running
20	2	21	M DiBenedetto	-9.80	10	1	108	Running
21	31	00	Q Houff	-9.95	10	0	100	Running
22	4	24	W Byron	-14.24	10	0	97	Running
23	28	37	R Preece	-17.16	10	0	94	Running
24	18	42	M Kenseth	-19.38	10	0	91	Running
25	37	62	B Gaughan	-20.96	10	0	88	Running
26	34	34	M McDowell	-23.99	10	0	85	Running
27	33	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-24.15	10	0	82	Running
28	35	32	C Lajoie	-24.31	10	0	79	Running
29	26	2	B Keselowski	-37.37	10	0	76	Running
30	38	52	J Yeley	-40.33	10	0	73	Running
31	41	98	Z Webster	-44.80	10	0	70	Running
32	24	4	K Harvick	-1L	9	0	67	Running
33	15	14	C Bowyer	-1L	9	0	64	Running
34	16	8	T Reddick	-1L	9	0	61	Running
35	22	43	B Wallace	-1L	9	0	58	Running
36	43	029	M Max	-2L	8	0	55	Running
37	32	26	J Zolecki	-2L	8	0	52	Running
38	42	021	T Bear	-2L	8	0	49	Running
39	19	13	T Dillon	-6L	4	0	46	Retired
40	10	38	J Nemechek	-6L	4	0	43	Accident
41	36	025	G Slab	-7L	3	0	40	Accident
42	39	061	D Hamilton	-7L	3	0	37	Running
43	40	034	T Egg	-7L	3	0	34	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 52 °F, Northeast 11 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 93%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 3

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 68 °F, Southwest 21 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	18	K Busch	47.085
2	24	W Byron	47.120
3	48	J Johnson	47.168
4	10	A Almirola	47.183
5	62	B Gaughan	47.231
6	34	M McDowell	47.244
7	88	A Bowman	47.246
8	013	T Nadz	47.248
9	41	C Custer	47.262
10	22	J Logano	47.276
11	12	R Blaney	47.285
12	14	C Bowyer	47.290
13	11	D Hamlin	47.319
14	061	D Hamilton	47.324
15	21	M DiBenedetto	47.417
16	9	C Elliott	47.452
17	20	E Jones	47.488
18	96	D Suarez	47.494
19	3	A Dillon	47.495
20	17	C Buescher	47.497
21	26	J Zolecki	47.506
22	1	K Busch	47.508
23	95	C Bell	47.522
24	4	K Harvick	47.527
25	37	R Preece	47.536
26	2	B Keselowski	47.538
27	38	J Nemechek	47.614
28	19	M Truex Jr.	47.615
29	6	R Newman	47.725
30	00	Q Houff	47.726
31	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	47.831
32	43	B Wallace	47.867
33	51	J Gase	47.895
34	32	C Lajoie	47.896
35	42	M Kenseth	47.926
36	98	Z Webster	47.983
37	8	T Reddick	48.015
38	13	T Dillon	48.226
39	7	J Bilicki	48.457
40	021	T Bear	48.610
41	029	M Max	48.937
42	0		--
43	025	G Slab	--

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, Southeast 20 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	98	Z Webster	57.708
2	00	Q Houff	1:20.992

Weather: Clear, 76 °F, Southwest 17 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	12	14	C Bowyer	117.273	20	4	180	Running
2	11	12	R Blaney	-0.30	20	0	170	Running
3	2	24	W Byron	-0.61	20	8*	175	Running
4	1	18	K Busch	-0.91	20	0	160	Running
5	3	48	J Johnson	-1.22	20	0	155	Running
6	20	17	C Buescher	-1.52	20	0	150	Running
7	16	9	C Elliott	-1.83	20	0	146	Running
8	31	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-2.14	20	0	142	Running
9	22	1	K Busch	-2.44	20	0	138	Running
10	9	41	C Custer	-2.75	20	0	134	Running
11	17	20	E Jones	-3.06	20	0	130	Running
12	32	43	B Wallace	-3.68	20	0	127	Running
13	18	96	D Suarez	-3.99	20	0	124	Running
14	24	4	K Harvick	-4.30	20	0	121	Running
15	33	51	J Gase	-4.61	20	0	118	Running
16	35	42	M Kenseth	-4.92	20	1	120	Running
17	13	11	D Hamlin	-5.24	20	0	112	Running
18	37	8	T Reddick	-5.55	20	0	109	Running
19	7	88	A Bowman	-5.86	20	0	106	Running
20	15	21	M DiBenedetto	-6.18	20	0	103	Running
21	8	013	T Nadz	-6.36	20	4	105	Running
22	36	98	Z Webster	-6.55	20	0	97	Running
23	43	025	G Slab	-6.72	20	0	94	Running
24	30	00	Q Houff	-7.04	20	0	91	Running
25	23	95	C Bell	-7.35	20	0	88	Running
26	14	061	D Hamilton	-7.92	20	0	85	Running
27	25	37	R Preece	-8.25	20	0	82	Running
28	21	26	J Zolecki	-8.57	20	0	79	Running
29	40	021	T Bear	-9.15	20	0	76	Running
30	10	22	J Logano	-12.81	20	0	73	Retired
31	19	3	A Dillon	-14.16	20	0	70	Retired
32	4	10	A Almirola	-19.44	20	3	72	Retired
33	38	13	T Dillon	-22.16	20	0	64	Running
34	29	6	R Newman	-23.63	20	0	61	Running
35	28	19	M Truex Jr.	-25.82	20	0	58	Running
36	41	029	M Max	-43.29	20	0	55	Running
37	6	34	M McDowell	-1L	19	0	52	Retired
38	26	2	B Keselowski	-1L	19	0	49	Running
39	34	32	C Lajoie	-1L	19	0	46	Running
40	5	62	B Gaughan	-3L	17	0	43	Running
41	27	38	J Nemechek	-8L	12	0	40	Retired
42	39	7	J Bilicki	-14L	6	0	37	Retired

Caution Flags: 3 (11 laps)

Lead Changes: 5 (5 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 75 °F, South 15 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 92%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
9	26	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
9	26	Passing under yellow	Held for 27 seconds
10	98	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
10	021	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
11	021	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
13	98	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
13	98	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
13	26	Passing under yellow	Held for 2 seconds
14	013	Dropping Debris	Pit for repairs
14	025	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
19	029	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs