2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 12: Darlington

 Live Stream: https://youtu.be/TCTKNngnfSM

Race 1:

The 19 lapper kicked things off nicely, as long as your name wasn't Jamie.  His pole was unseated after he scrubbed the wall, letting his former teammate by.

Gut Slab was the first victim and was whacked by traffic he was fighting with.

This caught up Hamilton and Smith in the back.

Tnadz and Egg were vying for 2nd with Egg finally getting a good run and slipping by.

Which he likely would have held if only his motor did.

Webster showed dominance as he did in practice for win #1.

Race 2:

The second sprint saw Zolecki at the back with Gut Slab up behind Egg, both with blistering qualifying times.

Hamilton was an early victim of his own circumstances, spinning off of 4.

Jamie continued to carry his curse into the second bout, burning off tires as the field flew by.

Eventually, Slab shot by a flagging Tnadz, despite earlier reservations.

Further afield, a battle for 40th was brewing between GB and The Bear.

Webster had plenty of a gap in hand ahead of Egg, Slab and Tnadz for win #2.

Race 3:

56 laps for the main and all but The Bear were at the top (Hamilton hitting eject before the finale).

The 26 still struggled with a loose condition and was wall grabbed, allowing Tnadz and Egg to slide through.

The first caution was brought out by Gut Slab as he tagged Hamlin.

And it grew like bacteria.

On the restart, it was the usual 3 tucked behind a lapper.

Gut Slab caused some fear among the racers as he pushed through the field, giving Jamie a handful and everyone a caution.

It was time to pit again.

Except Egg who took a bonus for leading and gambled by staying out.  Gut Slab followed suit, picking up 2nd.

The next caution happened not long after as Truex Jr butt bumped Zolecki.  They would have a conversation about that.

Back to green and Tnadz was chasing Egg while being chased by Webster.

Tumbling down the order on old tires, Gut Slab tried to take out the 11.

Taking himself out and not bringing on a caution surprisingly.

He made an attempt on Jimmie Johnson, again to no avail.

Webster and Tnadz were finally free of the field and able to start racing.

Gut Slab continued to swing and miss to get a yellow.  No France/Jr rule for him today.

It took big brother Egg to knock out the Geico ride before Slab would see yellow relief.

Zack lead Tnadz to the restart, surrounded by lappers.

Having lost several positions, Egg launched into the corner, taking a few cars out.

This sent them back into a pile, collecting a raging Zolecki.

And Egg was not done yet, taking out McDowell on the restart with an almost identical maneuver.

These cautions got him closer to his rivals at the front where were just trying to get back to racing.

Zolecki would cause the final caution as the 8 jacked the brakes, concerned over Gut Slab.

While on for a 22nd that was clawed back from a tremendously crestfallen race, he got a face full of Woodsbrothers coming out of the final turn, costing him even more positions.

Tnadz would finish a little shy of Webster who pulled a hat trick.

Dover should be just as eventful.

Race 1

Track: DARLINGTON RACEWAY

Date: 04/14/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	98	Z Webster	28.266
2	26	J Zolecki	28.621
3	013	T Nadz	29.037
4	88	A Bowman	29.188
5	061	D Hamilton	29.218
6	034	T Egg	29.269
7	4	K Harvick	29.328
8	9	C Elliott	29.378
9	41	C Custer	29.389
10	2	B Keselowski	29.400
11	21	M DiBenedetto	29.408
12	11	D Hamlin	29.410
13	3	A Dillon	29.421
14	22	J Logano	29.421
15	24	W Byron	29.425
16	48	J Johnson	29.429
17	18	K Busch	29.430
18	19	M Truex Jr.	29.436
19	7	J Bilicki	29.438
20	43	B Wallace	29.445
21	14	C Bowyer	29.455
22	17	C Buescher	29.456
23	20	E Jones	29.462
24	96	D Suarez	29.470
25	53	G Smithley	29.475
26	10	A Almirola	29.479
27	66	T Hill	29.485
28	8	T Reddick	29.518
29	12	R Blaney	29.527
30	37	R Preece	29.540
31	95	C Bell	29.544
32	1	K Busch2	29.548
33	00	Q Houff	29.575
34	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	29.577
35	34	M McDowell	29.581
36	62	B Gaughan	29.587
37	38	J Nemechek	29.588
38	42	M Kenseth	29.617
39	32	C Lajoie	29.643
40	27	G Gaulding	29.649
41	021	T Bear	30.058
42	15	G Slab	31.421

Weather: Clear, 74 °F, North 11 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	28.032
2	98	Z Webster	28.448
3	013	T Nadz	28.763
4	034	T Egg	28.791
5	41	C Custer	29.388
6	3	A Dillon	29.418
7	21	M DiBenedetto	29.418
8	88	A Bowman	29.433
9	11	D Hamlin	29.437
10	4	K Harvick	29.439
11	48	J Johnson	29.449
12	24	W Byron	29.464
13	12	R Blaney	29.469
14	20	E Jones	29.471
15	18	K Busch	29.492
16	22	J Logano	29.509
17	2	B Keselowski	29.512
18	14	C Bowyer	29.514
19	10	A Almirola	29.519
20	1	K Busch2	29.520
21	27	G Gaulding	29.524
22	9	C Elliott	29.646
23	42	M Kenseth	29.718
24	8	T Reddick	29.742
25	66	T Hill	29.760
26	43	B Wallace	29.774
27	96	D Suarez	29.811
28	95	C Bell	29.819
29	34	M McDowell	29.820
30	061	D Hamilton	29.863
31	17	C Buescher	29.871
32	37	R Preece	29.921
33	62	B Gaughan	29.973
34	19	M Truex Jr.	30.011
35	53	G Smithley	30.099
36	38	J Nemechek	30.136
37	00	Q Houff	30.261
38	32	C Lajoie	30.299
39	7	J Bilicki	30.339
40	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	30.454
41	021	T Bear	30.527
42	15	G Slab	--
43	999	T Egg	--

Weather: Clear, 74 °F, Northwest 10 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	28.066
2	98	Z Webster	28.072
3	48	J Johnson	29.389
4	43	B Wallace	29.643
5	66	T Hill	29.672
6	53	G Smithley	29.765
7	00	Q Houff	29.773
8	3	A Dillon	29.792
9	14	C Bowyer	30.290
10	021	T Bear	30.494
11	11	D Hamlin	30.665
12	37	R Preece	30.958
13	15	G Slab	42.763
14	62	B Gaughan	46.173
15	32	C Lajoie	46.223
16	42	M Kenseth	46.367
17	17	C Buescher	46.598
18	38	J Nemechek	47.145
19	061	D Hamilton	49.261

Weather: Cloudy, 86 °F, Northeast 17 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	98	Z Webster	166.257	19	19*	185	Running
2	3	013	T Nadz	-9.75	19	0	170	Running
3	6	3	A Dillon	-10.18	19	0	165	Running
4	8	88	A Bowman	-10.96	19	0	160	Running
5	20	1	K Busch2	-13.90	19	0	155	Running
6	13	12	R Blaney	-15.13	19	0	150	Running
7	16	22	J Logano	-15.23	19	0	146	Running
8	12	24	W Byron	-18.27	19	0	142	Running
9	15	18	K Busch	-18.36	19	0	138	Running
10	11	48	J Johnson	-18.54	19	0	134	Running
11	31	17	C Buescher	-24.82	19	0	130	Running
12	17	2	B Keselowski	-25.29	19	0	127	Running
13	39	7	J Bilicki	-27.84	19	0	124	Running
14	37	00	Q Houff	-27.94	19	0	121	Running
15	14	20	E Jones	-28.04	19	0	118	Running
16	40	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1L	18	0	115	Running
17	9	11	D Hamlin	-1L	18	0	112	Running
18	19	10	A Almirola	-1L	18	0	109	Running
19	4	034	T Egg	-3L	16	0	106	Running
20	24	8	T Reddick	-3L	16	0	103	Running
21	41	021	T Bear	-3L	16	0	100	Running
22	26	43	B Wallace	-3L	16	0	97	Running
23	28	95	C Bell	-3L	16	0	94	Running
24	1	26	J Zolecki	-5L	14	0	91	Accident
25	35	53	G Smithley	-5L	14	0	88	Running
26	38	32	C Lajoie	-6L	13	0	85	Accident
27	22	9	C Elliott	-6L	13	0	82	Retired
28	25	66	T Hill	-6L	13	0	79	Accident
29	34	19	M Truex Jr.	-6L	13	0	76	Accident
30	33	62	B Gaughan	-6L	13	0	73	Accident
31	23	42	M Kenseth	-11L	8	0	70	Piston
32	36	38	J Nemechek	-13L	6	0	67	Retired
33	10	4	K Harvick	-13L	6	0	64	Overheat
34	7	21	M DiBenedetto	-13L	6	0	61	Valve
35	18	14	C Bowyer	-13L	6	0	58	Retired
36	5	41	C Custer	-13L	6	0	55	Accident
37	21	27	G Gaulding	-14L	5	0	52	Accident
38	27	96	D Suarez	-14L	5	0	49	Accident
39	29	34	M McDowell	-14L	5	0	46	Retired
40	42	15	G Slab	-14L	5	0	43	Running
41	30	061	D Hamilton	-15L	4	0	40	Accident
42	32	37	R Preece	-15L	4	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Cloudy, 86 °F, East 17 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	98	Z Webster	28.372
2	034	T Egg	28.384
3	15	G Slab	28.574
4	013	T Nadz	28.909
5	41	C Custer	29.280
6	22	J Logano	29.298
7	2	B Keselowski	29.340
8	21	M DiBenedetto	29.350
9	20	E Jones	29.359
10	18	K Busch	29.362
11	10	A Almirola	29.368
12	48	J Johnson	29.370
13	14	C Bowyer	29.373
14	4	K Harvick	29.381
15	24	W Byron	29.392
16	11	D Hamlin	29.399
17	88	A Bowman	29.407
18	3	A Dillon	29.427
19	19	M Truex Jr.	29.432
20	12	R Blaney	29.500
21	17	C Buescher	29.502
22	1	K Busch2	29.531
23	8	T Reddick	29.550
24	53	G Smithley	29.601
25	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	29.602
26	34	M McDowell	29.606
27	37	R Preece	29.606
28	9	C Elliott	29.650
29	62	B Gaughan	29.714
30	27	G Gaulding	29.718
31	43	B Wallace	29.720
32	00	Q Houff	29.732
33	51	J Gase	29.751
34	13	T Dillon	29.769
35	96	D Suarez	29.821
36	7	J Bilicki	29.831
37	95	C Bell	29.870
38	38	J Nemechek	29.933
39	061	D Hamilton	30.059
40	52	J Yeley	30.145
41	021	T Bear	30.420
42	26	J Zolecki	52.843

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, East 10 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 76 °F, South 3 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	98	Z Webster	169.190	19	19*	185	Running
2	2	034	T Egg	-9.21	19	0	170	Running
3	3	15	G Slab	-10.64	19	0	165	Running
4	4	013	T Nadz	-11.69	19	0	160	Running
5	11	10	A Almirola	-15.26	19	0	155	Running
6	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-15.34	19	0	150	Running
7	5	41	C Custer	-15.50	19	0	146	Running
8	12	48	J Johnson	-16.22	19	0	142	Running
9	10	18	K Busch	-16.39	19	0	138	Running
10	7	2	B Keselowski	-16.54	19	0	134	Running
11	14	4	K Harvick	-16.63	19	0	130	Running
12	22	1	K Busch2	-16.72	19	0	127	Running
13	18	3	A Dillon	-16.97	19	0	124	Running
14	13	14	C Bowyer	-17.16	19	0	121	Running
15	20	12	R Blaney	-18.02	19	0	118	Running
16	17	88	A Bowman	-18.16	19	0	115	Running
17	16	11	D Hamlin	-18.33	19	0	112	Running
18	19	19	M Truex Jr.	-18.42	19	0	109	Running
19	27	37	R Preece	-20.52	19	0	106	Running
20	21	17	C Buescher	-22.22	19	0	103	Running
21	33	51	J Gase	-22.30	19	0	100	Running
22	31	43	B Wallace	-22.42	19	0	97	Running
23	15	24	W Byron	-22.62	19	0	94	Running
24	25	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-22.89	19	0	91	Running
25	24	53	G Smithley	-23.00	19	0	88	Running
26	30	27	G Gaulding	-23.23	19	0	85	Running
27	23	8	T Reddick	-23.87	19	0	82	Running
28	35	96	D Suarez	-24.02	19	0	79	Running
29	37	95	C Bell	-24.24	19	0	76	Running
30	26	34	M McDowell	-26.24	19	0	73	Running
31	9	20	E Jones	-26.41	19	0	70	Running
32	34	13	T Dillon	-1L	18	0	67	Running
33	40	52	J Yeley	-2L	17	0	64	Running
34	32	00	Q Houff	-3L	16	0	61	Running
35	41	021	T Bear	-4L	15	0	58	Running
36	36	7	J Bilicki	-6L	13	0	55	Retired
37	6	22	J Logano	-6L	13	0	52	Accident
38	29	62	B Gaughan	-7L	12	0	49	Accident
39	28	9	C Elliott	-7L	12	0	46	Accident
40	38	38	J Nemechek	-7L	12	0	43	Accident
41	42	26	J Zolecki	-9L	10	0	40	Gearbox
42	39	061	D Hamilton	-16L	3	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Cloudy, 75 °F, North 4 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	28.261
2	98	Z Webster	28.663
3	034	T Egg	28.722
4	15	G Slab	28.743
5	013	T Nadz	29.242
6	22	J Logano	29.478
7	24	W Byron	29.514
8	14	C Bowyer	29.518
9	11	D Hamlin	29.528
10	10	A Almirola	29.557
11	12	R Blaney	29.566
12	1	K Busch2	29.577
13	41	C Custer	29.581
14	21	M DiBenedetto	29.581
15	88	A Bowman	29.586
16	18	K Busch	29.599
17	19	M Truex Jr.	29.599
18	20	E Jones	29.603
19	4	K Harvick	29.616
20	2	B Keselowski	29.633
21	3	A Dillon	29.656
22	32	C Lajoie	29.656
23	00	Q Houff	29.839
24	34	M McDowell	29.867
25	52	J Yeley	29.878
26	43	B Wallace	29.883
27	53	G Smithley	29.886
28	8	T Reddick	29.940
29	38	J Nemechek	29.951
30	7	J Bilicki	29.962
31	95	C Bell	29.978
32	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	29.999
33	96	D Suarez	30.013
34	62	B Gaughan	30.020
35	37	R Preece	30.031
36	17	C Buescher	30.044
37	9	C Elliott	30.231
38	13	T Dillon	30.379
39	42	M Kenseth	30.485
40	021	T Bear	31.107
41	48	J Johnson	49.914

Weather: Clear, 88 °F, Northwest 8 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	15	G Slab	28.489
2	013	T Nadz	28.745
3	98	Z Webster	28.886
4	034	T Egg	29.237
5	10	A Almirola	29.555
6	18	K Busch	29.573
7	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	29.575
8	34	M McDowell	29.612
9	62	B Gaughan	29.642
10	2	B Keselowski	29.651
11	12	R Blaney	29.651
12	38	J Nemechek	29.663
13	88	A Bowman	29.742
14	17	C Buescher	29.744
15	8	T Reddick	29.756
16	7	J Bilicki	29.772
17	4	K Harvick	29.788
18	43	B Wallace	29.804
19	42	M Kenseth	29.829
20	20	E Jones	29.834
21	3	A Dillon	29.852
22	52	J Yeley	29.865
23	14	C Bowyer	29.875
24	96	D Suarez	29.910
25	11	D Hamlin	29.928
26	1	K Busch2	29.930
27	95	C Bell	29.931
28	32	C Lajoie	29.937
29	9	C Elliott	29.941
30	53	G Smithley	29.969
31	13	T Dillon	29.986
32	48	J Johnson	30.013
33	26	J Zolecki	30.061
34	19	M Truex Jr.	30.102
35	00	Q Houff	30.151
36	021	T Bear	30.169
37	24	W Byron	30.215
38	37	R Preece	47.611
39	21	M DiBenedetto	47.972
40	41	C Custer	48.403

Weather: Cloudy, 88 °F, South 16 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	98	Z Webster	99.459	56	36*	185	Running
2	5	013	T Nadz	-0.39	56	6	175	Running
3	7	24	W Byron	-1.59	56	0	165	Running
4	3	034	T Egg	-2.15	56	11	165	Running
5	13	41	C Custer	-4.43	56	0	150	Running
6	16	18	K Busch	-6.37	56	0	146	Running
7	41	48	J Johnson	-8.32	56	0	142	Running
8	23	00	Q Houff	-10.41	56	0	138	Running
9	14	21	M DiBenedetto	-11.26	56	0	134	Running
10	32	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-11.54	56	0	130	Running
11	30	7	J Bilicki	-1L	55	0	127	Running
12	18	20	E Jones	-1L	55	0	124	Running
13	35	37	R Preece	-1L	55	0	121	Running
14	39	42	M Kenseth	-1L	55	0	118	Running
15	37	9	C Elliott	-1L	55	0	115	Running
16	31	95	C Bell	-1L	55	0	112	Running
17	4	15	G Slab	-1L	56	1	160	Running
18	19	4	K Harvick	-1L	55	0	109	Running
19	9	11	D Hamlin	-1L	55	0	106	Running
20	25	52	J Yeley	-1L	55	0	103	Running
21	27	53	G Smithley	-1L	55	0	100	Running
22	28	8	T Reddick	-1L	55	0	97	Running
23	40	021	T Bear	-1L	55	0	94	Running
24	29	38	J Nemechek	-1L	55	0	91	Running
25	1	26	J Zolecki	-1L	55	2	93	Running
26	36	17	C Buescher	-1L	55	0	85	Running
27	26	43	B Wallace	-1L	55	0	82	Running
28	20	2	B Keselowski	-1L	55	0	79	Running
29	11	12	R Blaney	-2L	54	0	76	Header
30	10	10	A Almirola	-2L	54	0	73	Running
31	38	13	T Dillon	-2L	54	0	70	Running
32	17	19	M Truex Jr.	-2L	54	0	67	Running
33	34	62	B Gaughan	-3L	53	0	64	Running
34	24	34	M McDowell	-3L	53	0	61	Running
35	22	32	C Lajoie	-4L	52	0	58	Running
36	15	88	A Bowman	-6L	50	0	55	Retired
37	12	1	K Busch2	-7L	49	0	52	Accident
38	8	14	C Bowyer	-7L	49	0	49	Accident
39	21	3	A Dillon	-9L	47	0	46	Accident
40	33	96	D Suarez	-21L	35	0	43	Retired
41	6	22	J Logano	-46L	10	0	40	Accident

Caution Flags: 7 (25 laps)

Lead Changes: 6 (5 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 88 °F, South 12 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
12	021	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
17	26	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
24	021	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
40	26	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
40	15	Passing the pacecar	Held for 7 seconds
41	15	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line