2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 17: Texas

 Live Stream: https://youtu.be/Z5PALT0_GX8

All was not well in the Lonestar state.  Although there were a few who had a good night.

Race 1:

Race 1 started with Tnadz surprisingly on pole with the rest of the humans far afield.

Darrel kicked things off for the first sprint by stuffing a slowing Zack, who tried to avoid the 17.

He then narrowly avoided Gut Slab who was caught in a collection.

But his rain of terror soon came to an end as the 17 held his line through 2 and booped him up the track.

He did wipe out Gaughn right into Sandy so I guess he wasn't done yet.

And very nearly swiped Tnadz after trying to dive low off the apron, right as Egg was challenging for the lead.

Thanks to a superior setup, Egg passed the flagging Tnadz for the lead.

And won handily.

Race 2:

A warm qualy jinxed some setups and the humans were 20th and back.

GB was the first casualty as the 32 dumped him.

Leading to several more being collected.

Although Webster had a hole open up for him for once during an otherwise crestfallen night.

But it wasn't meant to last as he came into a wreck with the 21 just a few laps later.

The Egg made a last lap pass after slicing through the field, although he also made a controversial crash with Tnadz after taking the checkered.  Stewards are currently in review of the incident.

Race 3:

The finale of the night had Tnadz atop the human pyramid again, but only up to 8th.

Hamilton was the first caution after losing it on his own.

Sadly, Zack wasn't far behind to make it 3 races of frustration.

Darrel then had another big one.

At this point, just enough laps had ticked off to make it on fuel, but it could be close if it was green the whole way.

Little danger of that as Gut Slab caught the back of Egg who was slowed by traffic, collecting Zack and the 17.  The Bear, for once, slipped on by unscathed.

After making some good moves on pit road and coming to the caution, Tnadz now controlled the field.

The Egg was having a conversation with the 95 of Bell about who had the spot at the line.

On the next start and for some number of laps, Jamie and Egg were dancing through the field, even making a daring 4-wide attempt.

The traffic made for a frantic set of laps where Zolecki would get a run but ran out of space as the two would weave in and out of slower cars.

Gut Slab had a small hip check into the 43, but Bubba had hooked onto the 6 and they all accordianed into the wall.

With a one lap shootout, Jamie got loose off of 2 while trying to make one final run at Egg.

Tnadz managed to not screw it up this time (although nearly did in turn 3 and 4 with Harvick) and came home barely in first for the win.

Keeping in the south, on to Nashville after Memorial Day.

Race 1

Track: TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Date: 05/26/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	28.264
2	013	T Nadz	28.384
3	025	G Slab	28.392
4	98	Z Webster	28.530
5	061	D Hamilton	28.680
6	021	T Bear	28.725
7	034	T Egg	28.740
8	95	C Bell	28.774
9	3	A Dillon	28.924
10	2	B Keselowski	28.947
11	32	C Lajoie	28.949
12	48	J Johnson	28.950
13	42	M Kenseth	28.954
14	4	K Harvick	28.962
15	51	J Gase	28.967
16	6	R Newman	28.969
17	96	D Suarez	28.988
18	41	C Custer	28.994
19	10	A Almirola	28.999
20	24	W Byron	29.004
21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	29.006
22	20	E Jones	29.007
23	17	C Buescher	29.009
24	21	M DiBenedetto	29.013
25	66	T Hill	29.018
26	88	A Bowman	29.030
27	9	C Elliott	29.031
28	12	R Blaney	29.037
29	18	K Busch	29.038
30	1	K Busch2	29.039
31	27	G Gaulding	29.051
32	43	B Wallace	29.055
33	19	M Truex Jr.	29.057
34	62	B Gaughan	29.079
35	34	M McDowell	29.090
36	14	C Bowyer	29.097
37	13	T Dillon	29.099
38	22	J Logano	29.106
39	15	B Poole	29.127
40	11	D Hamlin	29.131
41	37	R Preece	29.166
42	38	J Nemechek	29.174

Weather: Cloudy, 77 °F, West 7 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	24	W Byron	27.944
2	013	T Nadz	28.042
3	19	M Truex Jr.	28.053
4	10	A Almirola	28.067
5	48	J Johnson	28.089
6	22	J Logano	28.094
7	2	B Keselowski	28.113
8	21	M DiBenedetto	28.127
9	14	C Bowyer	28.129
10	18	K Busch	28.138
11	4	K Harvick	28.139
12	1	K Busch2	28.162
13	11	D Hamlin	28.162
14	034	T Egg	28.179
15	20	E Jones	28.191
16	26	J Zolecki	28.191
17	12	R Blaney	28.203
18	9	C Elliott	28.245
19	6	R Newman	28.256
20	42	M Kenseth	28.336
21	88	A Bowman	28.346
22	34	M McDowell	28.361
23	66	T Hill	28.381
24	38	J Nemechek	28.383
25	43	B Wallace	28.385
26	3	A Dillon	28.418
27	95	C Bell	28.445
28	32	C Lajoie	28.478
29	41	C Custer	28.483
30	96	D Suarez	28.484
31	27	G Gaulding	28.488
32	51	J Gase	28.495
33	98	Z Webster	28.498
34	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.521
35	37	R Preece	28.534
36	13	T Dillon	28.568
37	15	B Poole	28.615
38	62	B Gaughan	28.617
39	17	C Buescher	28.684
40	061	D Hamilton	29.005
41	021	T Bear	--
42	025	G Slab	--

Weather: Cloudy, 77 °F, West 8 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 85 °F, Northwest 9 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	14	034	T Egg	183.646	17	7	180	Running
2	2	013	T Nadz	-4.40	17	9*	180	Running
3	3	19	M Truex Jr.	-6.79	17	0	165	Running
4	5	48	J Johnson	-6.87	17	0	160	Running
5	6	22	J Logano	-9.26	17	0	155	Running
6	1	24	W Byron	-9.33	17	1	155	Running
7	7	2	B Keselowski	-9.45	17	0	146	Running
8	4	10	A Almirola	-9.62	17	0	142	Running
9	15	20	E Jones	-9.65	17	0	138	Running
10	10	18	K Busch	-9.92	17	0	134	Running
11	13	11	D Hamlin	-10.01	17	0	130	Running
12	11	4	K Harvick	-10.20	17	0	127	Running
13	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-10.54	17	0	124	Running
14	12	1	K Busch2	-11.93	17	0	121	Running
15	9	14	C Bowyer	-12.07	17	0	118	Running
16	29	41	C Custer	-13.03	17	0	115	Running
17	19	6	R Newman	-15.16	17	0	112	Running
18	26	3	A Dillon	-15.19	17	0	109	Running
19	20	42	M Kenseth	-15.25	17	0	106	Running
20	18	9	C Elliott	-15.37	17	0	103	Running
21	21	88	A Bowman	-16.83	17	0	100	Running
22	23	66	T Hill	-17.69	17	0	97	Running
23	31	27	G Gaulding	-17.75	17	0	94	Running
24	22	34	M McDowell	-17.97	17	0	91	Running
25	37	15	B Poole	-18.14	17	0	88	Running
26	24	38	J Nemechek	-18.22	17	0	85	Running
27	39	17	C Buescher	-26.09	17	0	82	Running
28	27	95	C Bell	-26.93	17	0	79	Running
29	30	96	D Suarez	-28.76	17	0	76	Running
30	38	62	B Gaughan	-1L	16	0	73	Running
31	33	98	Z Webster	-1L	16	0	70	Running
32	40	061	D Hamilton	-1L	16	0	67	Running
33	35	37	R Preece	-3L	14	0	64	Running
34	32	51	J Gase	-3L	14	0	61	Running
35	34	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-4L	13	0	58	Running
36	41	021	T Bear	-5L	12	0	55	Running
37	17	12	R Blaney	-7L	10	0	52	Accident
38	16	26	J Zolecki	-8L	9	0	49	Accident
39	28	32	C Lajoie	-8L	9	0	46	Accident
40	25	43	B Wallace	-8L	9	0	43	Accident
41	36	13	T Dillon	-8L	9	0	40	Accident
42	42	025	G Slab	-8L	9	0	37	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 85 °F, Northwest 11 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
8	025	Smoking Engine	Pit for repairs

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	24	W Byron	28.178
2	11	D Hamlin	28.272
3	3	A Dillon	28.339
4	48	J Johnson	28.347
5	1	K Busch2	28.361
6	10	A Almirola	28.378
7	22	J Logano	28.382
8	21	M DiBenedetto	28.388
9	14	C Bowyer	28.393
10	41	C Custer	28.398
11	88	A Bowman	28.414
12	12	R Blaney	28.424
13	37	R Preece	28.440
14	4	K Harvick	28.462
15	19	M Truex Jr.	28.462
16	2	B Keselowski	28.465
17	20	E Jones	28.472
18	32	C Lajoie	28.476
19	18	K Busch	28.500
20	26	J Zolecki	28.601
21	53	G Smithley	28.618
22	034	T Egg	28.639
23	96	D Suarez	28.645
24	9	C Elliott	28.651
25	38	J Nemechek	28.655
26	43	B Wallace	28.672
27	025	G Slab	28.683
28	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.684
29	013	T Nadz	28.688
30	42	M Kenseth	28.699
31	34	M McDowell	28.726
32	8	T Reddick	28.739
33	17	C Buescher	28.775
34	6	R Newman	28.783
35	51	J Gase	28.858
36	98	Z Webster	28.866
37	66	T Hill	28.907
38	13	T Dillon	28.913
39	15	B Poole	28.937
40	021	T Bear	29.019
41	061	D Hamilton	29.167
42	00	Q Houff	29.324

Weather: Clear, 85 °F, Northeast 9 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, West 17 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	22	034	T Egg	183.715	17	1	180	Running
2	1	24	W Byron	-0.35	17	14*	180	Running
3	3	3	A Dillon	-0.48	17	0	165	Running
4	6	10	A Almirola	-0.62	17	2	165	Running
5	2	11	D Hamlin	-0.74	17	0	155	Running
6	9	14	C Bowyer	-0.88	17	0	150	Running
7	7	22	J Logano	-1.09	17	0	146	Running
8	4	48	J Johnson	-1.24	17	0	142	Running
9	12	12	R Blaney	-1.59	17	0	138	Running
10	11	88	A Bowman	-1.80	17	0	134	Running
11	17	20	E Jones	-2.11	17	0	130	Running
12	16	2	B Keselowski	-2.27	17	0	127	Running
13	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-2.60	17	0	124	Running
14	5	1	K Busch2	-3.44	17	0	121	Running
15	13	37	R Preece	-6.43	17	0	118	Running
16	10	41	C Custer	-6.56	17	0	115	Running
17	15	19	M Truex Jr.	-7.11	17	0	112	Running
18	14	4	K Harvick	-7.21	17	0	109	Running
19	23	96	D Suarez	-11.20	17	0	106	Running
20	21	53	G Smithley	-11.49	17	0	103	Running
21	26	43	B Wallace	-15.07	17	0	100	Running
22	31	34	M McDowell	-15.60	17	0	97	Running
23	32	8	T Reddick	-15.77	17	0	94	Running
24	38	13	T Dillon	-17.15	17	0	91	Running
25	37	66	T Hill	-17.33	17	0	88	Running
26	25	38	J Nemechek	-1L	16	0	85	Running
27	42	00	Q Houff	-1L	16	0	82	Running
28	29	013	T Nadz	-1L	16	0	79	Running
29	41	061	D Hamilton	-2L	15	0	76	Running
30	20	26	J Zolecki	-3L	14	0	73	Running
31	30	42	M Kenseth	-4L	13	0	70	Running
32	35	51	J Gase	-7L	10	0	67	Retired
33	28	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-8L	9	0	64	Accident
34	34	6	R Newman	-8L	9	0	61	Accident
35	24	9	C Elliott	-8L	9	0	58	Accident
36	36	98	Z Webster	-9L	8	0	55	Valve
37	27	025	G Slab	-10L	7	0	52	Accident
38	19	18	K Busch	-11L	6	0	49	Retired
39	40	021	T Bear	-13L	4	0	46	Accident
40	39	15	B Poole	-13L	4	0	43	Retired
41	18	32	C Lajoie	-14L	3	0	40	Accident
42	33	17	C Buescher	-15L	2	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 68 °F, Northwest 10 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
7	26	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
11	98	Unsafe pit entrance	Held for 30 seconds

Race 3

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	53	G Smithley	42.033
2	17	C Buescher	42.397
3	9	C Elliott	43.689

Weather: Clear, 71 °F, Northwest 4 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	3	A Dillon	28.131
2	11	D Hamlin	28.262
3	41	C Custer	28.267
4	18	K Busch	28.269
5	19	M Truex Jr.	28.279
6	7	J Bilicki	28.290
7	1	K Busch2	28.314
8	013	T Nadz	28.332
9	12	R Blaney	28.353
10	48	J Johnson	28.364
11	2	B Keselowski	28.367
12	14	C Bowyer	28.367
13	21	M DiBenedetto	28.385
14	20	E Jones	28.386
15	24	W Byron	28.393
16	10	A Almirola	28.396
17	88	A Bowman	28.397
18	22	J Logano	28.419
19	26	J Zolecki	28.434
20	034	T Egg	28.495
21	025	G Slab	28.496
22	17	C Buescher	28.499
23	4	K Harvick	28.513
24	43	B Wallace	28.601
25	37	R Preece	28.602
26	13	T Dillon	28.615
27	021	T Bear	28.621
28	98	Z Webster	28.663
29	27	G Gaulding	28.676
30	95	C Bell	28.728
31	96	D Suarez	28.735
32	62	B Gaughan	28.749
33	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.759
34	42	M Kenseth	28.778
35	34	M McDowell	28.829
36	6	R Newman	28.864
37	9	C Elliott	28.871
38	53	G Smithley	29.024
39	061	D Hamilton	29.049
40	51	J Gase	29.364
41	8	T Reddick	29.466
42	38	J Nemechek	29.505

Weather: Clear, 71 °F, Northwest 5 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	98	Z Webster	28.472
2	061	D Hamilton	28.773
3	26	J Zolecki	28.787
4	034	T Egg	28.837
5	013	T Nadz	28.863
6	11	D Hamlin	28.916
7	48	J Johnson	28.943
8	62	B Gaughan	28.973
9	19	M Truex Jr.	29.007
10	3	A Dillon	29.020
11	14	C Bowyer	29.034
12	12	R Blaney	29.063
13	1	K Busch2	29.068
14	6	R Newman	29.083
15	37	R Preece	29.087
16	43	B Wallace	29.135
17	88	A Bowman	29.148
18	9	C Elliott	29.155
19	51	J Gase	29.171
20	41	C Custer	29.183
21	20	E Jones	29.196
22	95	C Bell	29.236
23	021	T Bear	29.239
24	10	A Almirola	29.252
25	8	T Reddick	29.274
26	27	G Gaulding	29.294
27	38	J Nemechek	29.309
28	42	M Kenseth	29.310
29	22	J Logano	29.319
30	13	T Dillon	29.345
31	34	M McDowell	29.351
32	24	W Byron	29.416
33	7	J Bilicki	29.451
34	4	K Harvick	29.519
35	17	C Buescher	29.593
36	21	M DiBenedetto	29.707
37	18	K Busch	29.902
38	96	D Suarez	41.525
39	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	42.384
40	53	G Smithley	52.973
41	2	B Keselowski	54.925

Weather: Cloudy, 80 °F, Southeast 12 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	8	013	T Nadz	108.069	34	18*	185	Running
2	5	19	M Truex Jr.	-0.28	34	0	170	Running
3	23	4	K Harvick	-0.34	34	0	165	Running
4	18	22	J Logano	-0.41	34	0	160	Running
5	1	3	A Dillon	-0.50	34	13	160	Running
6	16	10	A Almirola	-0.58	34	0	150	Running
7	9	12	R Blaney	-0.77	34	0	146	Running
8	11	2	B Keselowski	-0.80	34	0	142	Running
9	17	88	A Bowman	-0.86	34	0	138	Running
10	26	13	T Dillon	-1.19	34	0	134	Running
11	38	53	G Smithley	-1.27	34	0	130	Running
12	2	11	D Hamlin	-1.49	34	0	127	Running
13	32	62	B Gaughan	-1.60	34	0	124	Running
14	4	18	K Busch	-1.70	34	0	121	Running
15	25	37	R Preece	-1.79	34	0	118	Running
16	20	034	T Egg	-1.90	34	0	115	Running
17	10	48	J Johnson	-2.53	34	0	112	Running
18	37	9	C Elliott	-2.78	34	0	109	Running
19	14	20	E Jones	-2.85	34	0	106	Running
20	34	42	M Kenseth	-2.94	34	0	103	Running
21	29	27	G Gaulding	-3.10	34	0	100	Running
22	31	96	D Suarez	-3.18	34	0	97	Running
23	40	51	J Gase	-3.26	34	0	94	Running
24	13	21	M DiBenedetto	-3.35	34	0	91	Running
25	33	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-3.53	34	0	88	Running
26	41	8	T Reddick	-3.60	34	0	85	Running
27	42	38	J Nemechek	-3.71	34	0	82	Running
28	22	17	C Buescher	-6.25	34	0	79	Running
29	7	1	K Busch2	-7.23	34	0	76	Running
30	19	26	J Zolecki	-7.31	34	0	73	Running
31	36	6	R Newman	-7.72	34	0	70	Running
32	21	025	G Slab	-8.90	34	0	67	Running
33	30	95	C Bell	-21.07	34	0	64	Running
34	27	021	T Bear	-24.99	34	0	61	Running
35	3	41	C Custer	-1L	33	3	63	Running
36	35	34	M McDowell	-4L	30	0	55	Running
37	24	43	B Wallace	-6L	28	0	52	Accident
38	28	98	Z Webster	-8L	26	0	49	Retired
39	39	061	D Hamilton	-19L	15	0	46	Retired
40	6	7	J Bilicki	-23L	11	0	43	Accident
41	15	24	W Byron	-25L	9	0	40	Clutch
42	12	14	C Bowyer	-31L	3	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 6 (18 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 79 °F, South 13 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 95%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
4	061	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
7	021	Unsafe pit exit	Stop and go
10	061	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
11	034	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
11	025	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
11	98	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
11	061	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
19	98	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
19	025	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
19	025	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
22	025	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
23	025	Unsafe pit entrance	Go to end of longest line
33	025	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
33	025	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line