2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 9: Richmond

 Live Stream: https://youtu.be/A8-ajEvabCU

Race 1:

After a couple restarts, things kicked off hot and heavy with The Egg making a slingshot attempt up the inside.  While risky and slightly jumpy on the start, it was deemed borderline and The Egg was asked to be sure to watch his starts going into the future.

Eventually, he was passed by the 26 and 13 and it became a two pony race for the top spot as the laps wound down and the lappers and wrecks piled up.

Smith did what he could to close down the gap and was starting to have some net gains before the end but the track carnage was too much to risk and he even took a hit on the final lap.

While he had enough gap to hold onto second, the win was a foregone conclusion for the 26 of Zolecki.

Race 2:

The front 3 of the previous race continued to run the show at the top with Gut Slab falling back into the field and turning it into a blender...

In the aftermath of this incident, Tnadz and Egg both took some knocks with Egg cutting a tire.

While attempting to stop for pit road, Egg couldn't make the entry and, while trying to reverse to get a better angle, the car slipped sideways up the track, side swiping the leader.

This left Tnadz to thread the needle to the end to take victory of the second sprint.

Race 3:

The main also began with Tnadz and GB on the front row, drag racing through the corners.

Tnadz managed to eek out a nose before the first caution came from McDowell and Hamilton.

Myhr would pull the second one, stalling the competition at the front.

The restart took even longer as there was a big checkup into 4 coming to the green.

Darrel kept the yellow out as his Men's Warehouse ride died from seemingly little damage.

There was a short period of good racing when Scot caused another yellow, taking out the 21.

Large moments ensued.

The Egg, dealing with some black flag conditions then inexplicably pulled over and left.

Tnadz had picked the last caution to grab fuel and it was a disaster.  While only back in 6th, Almirola went full dunce and sent him flying.

While there were a few more cars ahead now, he still tried to rally to the front when Logano chucked him from the outside, sending him all the way to the back with damage and bringing out another yellow.

Smith only managed it up to the top 10 runners (and also taking out his father) when Scot brought out the final caution.

With all the slow laps, Jamie held on for the win without a single stop and Gut Slab was able to join him on strategy for a season best of 2nd.

Race 1

Track: RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

Date: 03/24/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	20.803
2	26	J Zolecki	20.813
3	034	T Egg	21.152
4	79	G Slab	21.187
5	48	J Johnson	21.500
6	10	A Almirola	21.516
7	22	J Logano	21.550
8	061	D Hamilton	21.563
9	14	C Bowyer	21.573
10	52	J Yeley	21.584
11	1	K Busch2	21.586
12	42	M Kenseth	21.589
13	11	D Hamlin	21.618
14	43	B Wallace	21.643
15	4	K Harvick	21.648
16	12	R Blaney	21.648
17	2	B Keselowski	21.652
18	15	B Poole	21.655
19	3	A Dillon	21.660
20	7	J Bilicki	21.680
21	20	E Jones	21.684
22	21	M DiBenedetto	21.685
23	18	K Busch	21.687
24	021	T Bear	21.688
25	34	M McDowell	21.695
26	95	C Bell	21.698
27	9	C Elliott	21.701
28	13	T Dillon	21.706
29	27	G Gaulding	21.706
30	88	A Bowman	21.714
31	41	C Custer	21.725
32	8	T Reddick	21.726
33	00	Q Houff	21.732
34	62	B Gaughan	21.736
35	66	T Hill	21.757
36	6	R Newman	21.775
37	38	J Nemechek	21.779
38	24	W Byron	21.809
39	51	J Gase	21.811
40	37	R Preece	21.816
41	19	M Truex Jr.	21.865
42	029	M Max	22.048

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Northeast 3 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	20.888
2	013	T Nadz	21.043
3	034	T Egg	21.152
4	79	G Slab	21.203
5	11	D Hamlin	21.451
6	2	B Keselowski	21.533
7	14	C Bowyer	21.544
8	1	K Busch2	21.560
9	38	J Nemechek	21.568
10	48	J Johnson	21.570
11	41	C Custer	21.587
12	10	A Almirola	21.589
13	20	E Jones	21.599
14	19	M Truex Jr.	21.602
15	88	A Bowman	21.607
16	12	R Blaney	21.617
17	18	K Busch	21.620
18	24	W Byron	21.637
19	9	C Elliott	21.680
20	21	M DiBenedetto	21.714
21	4	K Harvick	21.722
22	95	C Bell	21.727
23	43	B Wallace	21.784
24	52	J Yeley	21.792
25	7	J Bilicki	21.807
26	22	J Logano	21.819
27	00	Q Houff	21.820
28	6	R Newman	21.854
29	27	G Gaulding	21.856
30	66	T Hill	21.888
31	15	B Poole	21.896
32	34	M McDowell	21.916
33	51	J Gase	21.926
34	8	T Reddick	21.934
35	13	T Dillon	21.947
36	37	R Preece	21.972
37	021	T Bear	22.012
38	3	A Dillon	22.097
39	42	M Kenseth	22.204
40	62	B Gaughan	22.205
41	061	D Hamilton	22.280
42	029	M Max	23.856

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, South 1 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 77 °F, South 6 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	J Zolecki	124.236	20	17*	185	Running
2	2	013	T Nadz	-8.32	20	0	170	Running
3	7	14	C Bowyer	-18.54	20	0	165	Running
4	14	19	M Truex Jr.	-19.68	20	0	160	Running
5	18	24	W Byron	-1L	19	0	155	Running
6	15	88	A Bowman	-1L	19	0	150	Running
7	16	12	R Blaney	-1L	19	0	146	Running
8	26	22	J Logano	-1L	19	0	142	Running
9	36	37	R Preece	-1L	19	0	138	Running
10	41	061	D Hamilton	-1L	19	0	134	Running
11	30	66	T Hill	-1L	19	0	130	Running
12	35	13	T Dillon	-1L	19	0	127	Running
13	21	4	K Harvick	-1L	19	0	124	Running
14	11	41	C Custer	-1L	19	0	121	Running
15	12	10	A Almirola	-1L	19	0	118	Running
16	17	18	K Busch	-2L	18	0	115	Running
17	10	48	J Johnson	-2L	18	0	112	Running
18	6	2	B Keselowski	-2L	18	0	109	Running
19	13	20	E Jones	-2L	18	0	106	Running
20	27	00	Q Houff	-2L	18	0	103	Running
21	22	95	C Bell	-2L	18	0	100	Running
22	25	7	J Bilicki	-2L	18	0	97	Running
23	9	38	J Nemechek	-2L	18	0	94	Retired
24	5	11	D Hamlin	-2L	18	0	91	Running
25	8	1	K Busch2	-2L	18	0	88	Running
26	24	52	J Yeley	-2L	18	0	85	Running
27	19	9	C Elliott	-2L	18	0	82	Running
28	20	21	M DiBenedetto	-2L	18	0	79	Running
29	40	62	B Gaughan	-2L	18	0	76	Running
30	29	27	G Gaulding	-2L	18	0	73	Running
31	34	8	T Reddick	-2L	18	0	70	Running
32	32	34	M McDowell	-2L	18	0	67	Running
33	23	43	B Wallace	-2L	18	0	64	Running
34	42	029	M Max	-2L	18	0	61	Running
35	37	021	T Bear	-2L	18	0	58	Running
36	33	51	J Gase	-2L	18	0	55	Running
37	3	034	T Egg	-3L	17	3	57	Accident
38	31	15	B Poole	-3L	17	0	49	Accident
39	28	6	R Newman	-3L	17	0	46	Running
40	39	42	M Kenseth	-4L	16	0	43	Running
41	4	79	G Slab	-5L	15	0	40	Running
42	38	3	A Dillon	-15L	5	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 77 °F, South 5 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
18	034	Dropping Debris	Pit for repairs
18	034	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	20.770
2	013	T Nadz	20.956
3	79	G Slab	21.026
4	034	T Egg	21.169
5	19	M Truex Jr.	21.494
6	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	21.498
7	1	K Busch2	21.513
8	10	A Almirola	21.518
9	22	J Logano	21.519
10	2	B Keselowski	21.520
11	24	W Byron	21.520
12	88	A Bowman	21.522
13	20	E Jones	21.527
14	41	C Custer	21.534
15	14	C Bowyer	21.543
16	021	T Bear	21.547
17	18	K Busch	21.548
18	3	A Dillon	21.565
19	48	J Johnson	21.570
20	12	R Blaney	21.591
21	11	D Hamlin	21.607
22	21	M DiBenedetto	21.608
23	4	K Harvick	21.623
24	8	T Reddick	21.632
25	42	M Kenseth	21.640
26	17	C Buescher	21.643
27	53	G Smithley	21.701
28	66	T Hill	21.714
29	43	B Wallace	21.715
30	15	B Poole	21.723
31	34	M McDowell	21.738
32	00	Q Houff	21.748
33	27	G Gaulding	21.767
34	62	B Gaughan	21.773
35	6	R Newman	21.793
36	95	C Bell	21.831
37	38	J Nemechek	21.837
38	52	J Yeley	21.842
39	13	T Dillon	21.875
40	061	D Hamilton	21.892
41	96	D Suarez	21.930
42	029	M Max	27.010

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, West 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, East 3 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	013	T Nadz	120.076	20	14*	185	Running
2	5	19	M Truex Jr.	-3.77	20	0	170	Running
3	21	11	D Hamlin	-4.12	20	0	165	Running
4	17	18	K Busch	-4.65	20	0	160	Running
5	19	48	J Johnson	-6.28	20	0	155	Running
6	11	24	W Byron	-17.11	20	0	150	Running
7	10	2	B Keselowski	-17.66	20	0	146	Running
8	16	021	T Bear	-1L	19	0	142	Running
9	25	42	M Kenseth	-1L	19	0	138	Running
10	36	95	C Bell	-1L	19	0	134	Running
11	41	96	D Suarez	-2L	18	0	130	Running
12	39	13	T Dillon	-2L	18	0	127	Running
13	9	22	J Logano	-2L	18	0	124	Running
14	31	34	M McDowell	-2L	18	0	121	Running
15	13	20	E Jones	-2L	18	0	118	Running
16	8	10	A Almirola	-2L	18	0	115	Running
17	32	00	Q Houff	-3L	17	0	112	Running
18	6	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-3L	17	0	109	Running
19	34	62	B Gaughan	-3L	17	0	106	Running
20	28	66	T Hill	-3L	17	0	103	Running
21	30	15	B Poole	-3L	17	0	100	Running
22	37	38	J Nemechek	-3L	17	0	97	Running
23	29	43	B Wallace	-3L	17	0	94	Running
24	22	21	M DiBenedetto	-3L	17	0	91	Running
25	3	79	G Slab	-3L	17	0	88	Running
26	24	8	T Reddick	-4L	16	0	85	Running
27	1	26	J Zolecki	-5L	15	6	87	Running
28	23	4	K Harvick	-6L	14	0	79	Accident
29	7	1	K Busch2	-10L	10	0	76	Accident
30	14	41	C Custer	-12L	8	0	73	Retired
31	35	6	R Newman	-14L	6	0	70	Accident
32	42	029	M Max	-14L	6	0	67	Accident
33	4	034	T Egg	-15L	5	0	64	Accident
34	15	14	C Bowyer	-15L	5	0	61	Retired
35	40	061	D Hamilton	-16L	4	0	58	Retired
36	12	88	A Bowman	-16L	4	0	55	Accident
37	26	17	C Buescher	-16L	4	0	52	Accident
38	27	53	G Smithley	-16L	4	0	49	Retired
39	20	12	R Blaney	-16L	4	0	46	Accident
40	33	27	G Gaulding	-17L	3	0	43	Accident
41	38	52	J Yeley	-17L	3	0	40	Retired
42	18	3	A Dillon	-17L	3	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 58 °F, Northeast 3 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
11	26	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
12	26	Speeding in pits	Stop and go

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	20.606
2	013	T Nadz	20.874
3	034	T Egg	20.991
4	1	K Busch2	21.153
5	22	J Logano	21.161
6	48	J Johnson	21.162
7	2	B Keselowski	21.172
8	11	D Hamlin	21.188
9	88	A Bowman	21.189
10	19	M Truex Jr.	21.192
11	18	K Busch	21.196
12	3	A Dillon	21.202
13	12	R Blaney	21.207
14	20	E Jones	21.240
15	10	A Almirola	21.240
16	4	K Harvick	21.243
17	14	C Bowyer	21.254
18	24	W Byron	21.287
19	21	M DiBenedetto	21.293
20	15	B Poole	21.321
21	41	C Custer	21.333
22	27	G Gaulding	21.348
23	52	J Yeley	21.351
24	62	B Gaughan	21.397
25	43	B Wallace	21.439
26	42	M Kenseth	21.453
27	6	R Newman	21.455
28	96	D Suarez	21.456
29	8	T Reddick	21.482
30	53	G Smithley	21.495
31	66	T Hill	21.498
32	13	T Dillon	21.518
33	9	C Elliott	21.525
34	95	C Bell	21.525
35	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	21.543
36	38	J Nemechek	21.546
37	17	C Buescher	21.563
38	34	M McDowell	21.629
39	061	D Hamilton	21.804
40	029	M Max	23.072
41	79	G Slab	--
42	021	T Bear	--

Weather: Cloudy, 66 °F, South 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	20.764
2	013	T Nadz	21.317
3	034	T Egg	21.427
4	061	D Hamilton	21.590
5	95	C Bell	21.865
6	11	D Hamlin	21.875
7	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	21.892
8	22	J Logano	21.961
9	9	C Elliott	21.964
10	18	K Busch	21.969
11	12	R Blaney	21.985
12	10	A Almirola	22.025
13	34	M McDowell	22.060
14	14	C Bowyer	22.068
15	3	A Dillon	22.089
16	38	J Nemechek	22.107
17	17	C Buescher	22.144
18	27	G Gaulding	22.160
19	029	M Max	22.266
20	66	T Hill	22.302
21	42	M Kenseth	22.326
22	41	C Custer	22.332
23	24	W Byron	22.517
24	52	J Yeley	23.174
25	13	T Dillon	23.197
26	43	B Wallace	23.376
27	6	R Newman	23.550
28	21	M DiBenedetto	24.525
29	15	B Poole	25.980
30	62	B Gaughan	26.114
31	48	J Johnson	27.249
32	4	K Harvick	27.417
33	8	T Reddick	27.727
34	021	T Bear	29.163
35	53	G Smithley	29.333
36	96	D Suarez	31.350
37	1	K Busch2	34.983
38	20	E Jones	39.687
39	79	G Slab	44.761
40	19	M Truex Jr.	51.536

Weather: Clear, 73 °F, Southwest 6 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	J Zolecki	67.067	60	38*	185	Running
2	41	79	G Slab	-0.74	60	0	170	Running
3	37	17	C Buescher	-1.18	60	0	165	Running
4	32	13	T Dillon	-1.51	60	0	160	Running
5	13	12	R Blaney	-1.83	60	0	155	Running
6	31	66	T Hill	-2.44	60	0	150	Running
7	21	41	C Custer	-2.74	60	0	146	Running
8	11	18	K Busch	-3.04	60	0	142	Running
9	15	10	A Almirola	-3.63	60	0	138	Running
10	2	013	T Nadz	-4.45	60	22	139	Running
11	25	43	B Wallace	-5.36	60	0	130	Running
12	12	3	A Dillon	-1L	59	0	127	Running
13	16	4	K Harvick	-1L	59	0	124	Running
14	19	21	M DiBenedetto	-1L	59	0	121	Running
15	42	021	T Bear	-1L	59	0	118	Running
16	4	1	K Busch2	-1L	59	0	115	Running
17	28	96	D Suarez	-1L	59	0	112	Running
18	36	38	J Nemechek	-1L	59	0	109	Running
19	34	95	C Bell	-1L	59	0	106	Running
20	10	19	M Truex Jr.	-1L	59	0	103	Running
21	22	27	G Gaulding	-1L	59	0	100	Running
22	8	11	D Hamlin	-1L	59	0	97	Running
23	5	22	J Logano	-2L	58	0	94	Running
24	23	52	J Yeley	-2L	58	0	91	Running
25	18	24	W Byron	-2L	58	0	88	Running
26	30	53	G Smithley	-2L	58	0	85	Running
27	24	62	B Gaughan	-2L	58	0	82	Running
28	35	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-2L	58	0	79	Running
29	38	34	M McDowell	-2L	58	0	76	Running
30	20	15	B Poole	-3L	57	0	73	Running
31	40	029	M Max	-3L	57	0	70	Running
32	29	8	T Reddick	-3L	57	0	67	Running
33	7	2	B Keselowski	-3L	57	0	64	Running
34	26	42	M Kenseth	-3L	57	0	61	Running
35	33	9	C Elliott	-4L	56	0	58	Running
36	9	88	A Bowman	-9L	51	0	55	DQ
37	14	20	E Jones	-21L	39	0	52	Tire
38	6	48	J Johnson	-24L	36	0	49	Retired
39	27	6	R Newman	-24L	36	0	46	Retired
40	3	034	T Egg	-25L	35	0	43	Retired
41	39	061	D Hamilton	-42L	18	0	40	Piston
42	17	14	C Bowyer	-43L	17	0	37	Ignition

Caution Flags: 9 (48 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Northeast 5 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
7	061	Passing on the inside	Stop and go
16	034	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
17	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
18	034	Passing under yellow	Held for 10 seconds
19	034	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line