2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 14: COTA

 Live stream: https://youtu.be/bV1phgq3M_w

What can be said about COTA other than it caused frustration for most, even those who finished well.  The track was difficult to work tires.  Jamie pulled a hat trick despite hard charges from The Egg.  Gut Slab and The Bear fought hard with traffic with varying results.  Webster had consternation all 3 races.

On to Charlotte

Race 1

Track: Circuit Of The Americas 2019

Date: 05/05/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	2:23.927
2	26	J Zolecki	2:24.470
3	98	Z Webster	2:24.858
4	013	T Nadz	2:26.554
5	1	K Busch2	2:34.112
6	41	C Custer	2:34.542
7	48	J Johnson	2:34.915
8	24	W Byron	2:34.919
9	21	M DiBenedetto	2:35.044
10	2	B Keselowski	2:35.250
11	3	A Dillon	2:35.291
12	10	A Almirola	2:35.355
13	22	J Logano	2:35.423
14	38	J Nemechek	2:35.505
15	11	D Hamlin	2:35.543
16	4	K Harvick	2:35.644
17	12	R Blaney	2:35.739
18	20	E Jones	2:35.821
19	19	M Truex Jr.	2:36.039
20	88	A Bowman	2:36.043
21	32	C Lajoie	2:36.047
22	14	C Bowyer	2:36.146
23	18	K Busch	2:36.227
24	27	G Gaulding	2:36.305
25	95	C Bell	2:36.556
26	9	C Elliott	2:36.569
27	66	T Hill	2:36.650
28	62	B Gaughan	2:36.795
29	13	T Dillon	2:36.823
30	15	B Poole	2:36.826
31	42	M Kenseth	2:36.846
32	53	G Smithley	2:36.994
33	37	R Preece	2:36.996
34	43	B Wallace	2:37.247
35	96	D Suarez	2:37.340
36	17	C Buescher	2:37.613
37	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	2:37.937
38	34	M McDowell	2:37.953
39	6	R Newman	2:38.046
40	021	T Bear	2:44.611

Weather: Cloudy, 103 °F, Southwest 14 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	2:21.656
2	26	J Zolecki	2:23.680
3	013	T Nadz	2:27.601
4	3	A Dillon	2:32.736
5	22	J Logano	2:33.400
6	19	M Truex Jr.	2:33.548
7	18	K Busch	2:33.620
8	21	M DiBenedetto	2:33.643
9	4	K Harvick	2:33.862
10	48	J Johnson	2:33.919
11	14	C Bowyer	2:33.952
12	41	C Custer	2:34.120
13	24	W Byron	2:34.163
14	88	A Bowman	2:34.198
15	1	K Busch2	2:34.318
16	2	B Keselowski	2:34.337
17	12	R Blaney	2:34.382
18	11	D Hamlin	2:34.431
19	10	A Almirola	2:34.613
20	66	T Hill	2:35.740
21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	2:35.977
22	17	C Buescher	2:36.031
23	53	G Smithley	2:36.162
24	42	M Kenseth	2:36.235
25	62	B Gaughan	2:36.292
26	9	C Elliott	2:36.317
27	96	D Suarez	2:36.351
28	15	B Poole	2:36.484
29	37	R Preece	2:36.569
30	38	J Nemechek	2:36.648
31	34	M McDowell	2:36.702
32	43	B Wallace	2:36.705
33	32	C Lajoie	2:36.789
34	27	G Gaulding	2:36.847
35	6	R Newman	2:37.170
36	20	E Jones	2:37.395
37	95	C Bell	2:37.746
38	13	T Dillon	2:37.747
39	8	G Slab	2:40.382
40	98	Z Webster	--
41	021	T Bear	--
42	340	G Slab	--

Weather: Cloudy, 103 °F, Southeast 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	24	W Byron	2:40.346
2	19	M Truex Jr.	2:41.449

Weather: Clear, 92 °F, Northwest 9 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	26	J Zolecki	0.053	5	3*	185	Running
2	3	013	T Nadz	-4.67	5	0	170	Running
3	1	034	T Egg	-4.96	5	2	170	Running
4	5	22	J Logano	-58.98	5	0	160	Running
5	4	3	A Dillon	-1:00.23	5	0	155	Running
6	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-1:01.22	5	0	150	Running
7	9	4	K Harvick	-1:06.34	5	0	146	Running
8	19	10	A Almirola	-1:09.98	5	0	142	Running
9	7	18	K Busch	-1:11.79	5	0	138	Running
10	27	96	D Suarez	-1:15.63	5	0	134	Running
11	24	42	M Kenseth	-1:17.06	5	0	130	Running
12	18	11	D Hamlin	-1:17.54	5	0	127	Running
13	30	38	J Nemechek	-1:18.54	5	0	124	Running
14	12	41	C Custer	-1:19.12	5	0	121	Running
15	28	15	B Poole	-1:19.56	5	0	118	Running
16	10	48	J Johnson	-1:20.55	5	0	115	Running
17	13	24	W Byron	-1:21.89	5	0	112	Running
18	15	1	K Busch2	-1:27.11	5	0	109	Running
19	36	20	E Jones	-1:27.84	5	0	106	Running
20	35	6	R Newman	-1:28.72	5	0	103	Running
21	25	62	B Gaughan	-1:29.35	5	0	100	Running
22	16	2	B Keselowski	-1:29.59	5	0	97	Running
23	38	13	T Dillon	-1:29.70	5	0	94	Running
24	32	43	B Wallace	-1:30.81	5	0	91	Running
25	29	37	R Preece	-1:31.24	5	0	88	Running
26	26	9	C Elliott	-1:32.37	5	0	85	Running
27	33	32	C Lajoie	-1:32.48	5	0	82	Running
28	40	98	Z Webster	-1:32.66	5	0	79	Running
29	34	27	G Gaulding	-1:33.32	5	0	76	Running
30	37	95	C Bell	-1:33.42	5	0	73	Running
31	31	34	M McDowell	-1:33.77	5	0	70	Running
32	21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1:34.69	5	0	67	Running
33	41	021	T Bear	-1:57.02	5	0	64	Running
34	22	17	C Buescher	-1:57.93	5	0	61	Running
35	39	8	G Slab	-1L	4	0	58	Running
36	20	66	T Hill	-1L	4	0	55	Running
37	14	88	A Bowman	-1L	4	0	52	Running
38	23	53	G Smithley	-1L	4	0	49	Running
39	6	19	M Truex Jr.	-4L	1	0	46	Piston
40	11	14	C Bowyer	-4L	1	0	43	Piston
41	17	12	R Blaney	-5L	0	0	40	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 91 °F, East 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 86%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
5	8	Cutting the course	Held for 1 seconds

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	2:21.336
2	26	J Zolecki	2:21.871
3	013	T Nadz	2:24.134
4	98	Z Webster	2:25.038
5	88	A Bowman	2:33.218
6	18	K Busch	2:33.412
7	10	A Almirola	2:33.454
8	24	W Byron	2:33.505
9	4	K Harvick	2:33.906
10	2	B Keselowski	2:34.049
11	22	J Logano	2:34.084
12	3	A Dillon	2:34.097
13	21	M DiBenedetto	2:34.104
14	20	E Jones	2:34.170
15	14	C Bowyer	2:34.182
16	12	R Blaney	2:34.228
17	1	K Busch2	2:34.477
18	19	M Truex Jr.	2:34.492
19	48	J Johnson	2:34.590
20	41	C Custer	2:34.660
21	11	D Hamlin	2:34.895
22	52	J Yeley	2:35.221
23	42	M Kenseth	2:35.371
24	00	Q Houff	2:35.569
25	66	T Hill	2:35.938
26	15	B Poole	2:35.990
27	9	C Elliott	2:36.226
28	32	C Lajoie	2:36.234
29	95	C Bell	2:36.501
30	96	D Suarez	2:36.639
31	13	T Dillon	2:36.655
32	38	J Nemechek	2:36.678
33	17	C Buescher	2:36.692
34	43	B Wallace	2:36.746
35	51	J Gase	2:36.970
36	7	J Bilicki	2:37.032
37	53	G Smithley	2:37.092
38	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	2:37.189
39	6	R Newman	2:39.262
40	021	T Bear	2:43.330
41	8	G Slab	--

Weather: Cloudy, 97 °F, Southwest 3 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 101 °F, Northeast 5 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	26	J Zolecki	0.054	5	5*	185	Running
2	1	034	T Egg	-8.23	5	0	170	Running
3	3	013	T Nadz	-17.89	5	0	165	Running
4	4	98	Z Webster	-56.13	5	0	160	Running
5	5	88	A Bowman	-1:10.18	5	0	155	Running
6	7	10	A Almirola	-1:13.14	5	0	150	Running
7	13	21	M DiBenedetto	-1:13.66	5	0	146	Running
8	11	22	J Logano	-1:15.88	5	0	142	Running
9	21	11	D Hamlin	-1:15.99	5	0	138	Running
10	15	14	C Bowyer	-1:16.85	5	0	134	Running
11	10	2	B Keselowski	-1:17.07	5	0	130	Running
12	14	20	E Jones	-1:17.71	5	0	127	Running
13	6	18	K Busch	-1:18.85	5	0	124	Running
14	12	3	A Dillon	-1:21.31	5	0	121	Running
15	18	19	M Truex Jr.	-1:21.80	5	0	118	Running
16	8	24	W Byron	-1:22.88	5	0	115	Running
17	16	12	R Blaney	-1:13.84	5	0	112	Running
18	22	52	J Yeley	-1:14.93	5	0	109	Running
19	9	4	K Harvick	-1:15.22	5	0	106	Running
20	26	15	B Poole	-1:16.85	5	0	103	Running
21	25	66	T Hill	-1:17.89	5	0	100	Running
22	29	95	C Bell	-1:20.53	5	0	97	Running
23	24	00	Q Houff	-1:21.32	5	0	94	Running
24	27	9	C Elliott	-1:21.59	5	0	91	Running
25	35	51	J Gase	-1:22.35	5	0	88	Running
26	34	43	B Wallace	-1:22.75	5	0	85	Running
27	28	32	C Lajoie	-1:23.63	5	0	82	Running
28	32	38	J Nemechek	-1:24.11	5	0	79	Running
29	38	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1:24.21	5	0	76	Running
30	39	6	R Newman	-1:25.20	5	0	73	Running
31	36	7	J Bilicki	-1:25.66	5	0	70	Running
32	20	41	C Custer	-1:25.76	5	0	67	Running
33	31	13	T Dillon	-1:26.52	5	0	64	Running
34	40	021	T Bear	-1:38.23	5	0	61	Running
35	30	96	D Suarez	-1:42.97	5	0	58	Running
36	17	1	K Busch2	-1:43.56	5	0	55	Running
37	37	53	G Smithley	-1:44.68	5	0	52	Running
38	19	48	J Johnson	-2L	3	0	49	Retired
39	23	42	M Kenseth	-2L	3	0	46	Piston
40	33	17	C Buescher	-2L	3	0	43	Camshaft
41	41	8	G Slab	-3L	2	0	40	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Cloudy, 101 °F, North 3 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 86%

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	2:22.001
2	034	T Egg	2:22.735
3	013	T Nadz	2:25.606
4	24	W Byron	2:32.792
5	22	J Logano	2:33.135
6	20	E Jones	2:33.335
7	4	K Harvick	2:33.423
8	21	M DiBenedetto	2:33.465
9	98	Z Webster	2:33.480
10	48	J Johnson	2:33.701
11	1	K Busch2	2:33.706
12	41	C Custer	2:33.724
13	18	K Busch	2:33.803
14	11	D Hamlin	2:33.825
15	2	B Keselowski	2:33.895
16	3	A Dillon	2:33.923
17	88	A Bowman	2:34.240
18	10	A Almirola	2:34.260
19	19	M Truex Jr.	2:34.401
20	14	C Bowyer	2:34.605
21	12	R Blaney	2:34.919
22	061	G Slab	2:35.123
23	15	B Poole	2:35.554
24	13	T Dillon	2:35.618
25	96	D Suarez	2:36.008
26	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	2:36.184
27	38	J Nemechek	2:36.199
28	62	B Gaughan	2:36.213
29	9	C Elliott	2:36.328
30	37	R Preece	2:36.352
31	17	C Buescher	2:36.367
32	27	G Gaulding	2:36.449
33	42	M Kenseth	2:36.455
34	7	J Bilicki	2:36.518
35	95	C Bell	2:36.533
36	00	Q Houff	2:36.700
37	43	B Wallace	2:36.739
38	8	T Reddick	2:37.005
39	34	M McDowell	2:37.209
40	6	R Newman	2:37.701
41	021	T Bear	2:46.047

Weather: Clear, 89 °F, Northwest 10 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	1	K Busch2	2:41.308
2	22	J Logano	2:41.808
3	10	A Almirola	2:41.893
4	48	J Johnson	2:42.369
5	3	A Dillon	2:42.493
6	62	B Gaughan	2:43.564
7	8	T Reddick	2:45.910
8	061	G Slab	2:58.112

Weather: Cloudy, 97 °F, East 10 mph

Session: Race

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	J Zolecki	0.052	10	9*	185	Running
2	2	034	T Egg	-22.52	10	0	170	Running
3	3	013	T Nadz	-30.00	10	1	170	Running
4	9	98	Z Webster	-1:23.31	10	0	160	Running
5	15	2	B Keselowski	-2:18.14	10	0	155	Running
6	7	4	K Harvick	-2:22.99	10	0	150	Running
7	11	1	K Busch2	-1L	9	0	146	Running
8	12	41	C Custer	-1L	9	0	142	Running
9	4	24	W Byron	-1L	9	0	138	Running
10	18	10	A Almirola	-1L	9	0	134	Running
11	14	11	D Hamlin	-1L	9	0	130	Running
12	19	19	M Truex Jr.	-1L	9	0	127	Running
13	13	18	K Busch	-1L	9	0	124	Running
14	6	20	E Jones	-1L	9	0	121	Running
15	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-1L	9	0	118	Running
16	21	12	R Blaney	-1L	9	0	115	Running
17	29	9	C Elliott	-1L	9	0	112	Running
18	20	14	C Bowyer	-1L	9	0	109	Running
19	39	34	M McDowell	-1L	9	0	106	Running
20	33	42	M Kenseth	-1L	9	0	103	Running
21	10	48	J Johnson	-1L	9	0	100	Running
22	27	38	J Nemechek	-1L	9	0	97	Running
23	17	88	A Bowman	-1L	9	0	94	Running
24	22	061	G Slab	-1L	9	0	91	Running
25	23	15	B Poole	-1L	9	0	88	Running
26	30	37	R Preece	-1L	9	0	85	Running
27	26	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1L	9	0	82	Running
28	25	96	D Suarez	-1L	9	0	79	Running
29	31	17	C Buescher	-1L	9	0	76	Running
30	34	7	J Bilicki	-1L	9	0	73	Running
31	40	6	R Newman	-1L	9	0	70	Running
32	36	00	Q Houff	-1L	9	0	67	Running
33	32	27	G Gaulding	-1L	9	0	64	Running
34	38	8	T Reddick	-1L	9	0	61	Running
35	24	13	T Dillon	-1L	9	0	58	Running
36	35	95	C Bell	-1L	9	0	55	Running
37	37	43	B Wallace	-1L	9	0	52	Running
38	41	021	T Bear	-1L	9	0	49	Running
39	28	62	B Gaughan	-1L	9	0	46	Running
40	16	3	A Dillon	-1L	9	0	43	Running
41	5	22	J Logano	-1L	9	0	40	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 97 °F, Northeast 3 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 86%