2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 19: Pocono

Live Stream: https://youtu.be/-udBGxDRSLM

Pocono had some outrageous restarts (mostly mulligans).  And the racing was very thrilling.

Race 1:

Tnadz lead them off despite Zolecki's very strong race setup.  Although his poor gearing left him vulnerable for early passes by Hamilton and Zack.

Slab opened up the back half of the field with some major wrecking.

Sitting in a comfortable 3rd, Tnadz lost it in three.

Jamie crushed out a win, leading Webster by several seconds.

Race 2:

Race 2 started much the same way.

The wrecking was also grand as The Bear was the first victim.

Darrel was also losing it not far up the track.

Slab was taking drivers out on his way through the field.

As was The Egg of which they both would be penalized.

Such as in this case...

...

Then in a very uncharacteristic spin, Jamie tosses the race out the window and nearly collects Zack in the process.

And then when trying to get back going, he and Almirola collided, dropping the engine out of the 26.

But it was too late as Zack ran away with the win and an Egg too far behind to catch.

Race 3:

The finale put Zolecki barely on the pole with Tnadz and Webster milliseconds behind.

The first caution was a Gut Slab sailing into the back of some slower cars and collecting Hamilton in the process.

Webster had his setup dialed in and was mounting an attack on Zolecki with Tnadz and The Egg close behind.

Slab brought on the second yellow as well, taking out the 41.

And several others, including Darrel.

Then came the critical move of the race.  As all the cars came in while Zolecki and Webster stayed out.  Gas would be incredibly tight to the end for all those pitting, but possible.

Slab nearly brought out a saving yellow for the leaders but Chase saved it.

Poole blew his engine and was also nearly taken out but saved it off the 95.

Thus, with 5 to go, Zolecki was in from first.

And Zack tow laps later.

Miraculously, Jamie was able to catch and just make a last lap pass on The Bear for 4th.  While disappointed, Sandy was still satisfied with a top 5, just barely ahead of Zack.

Slab and The Egg took 3rd and 2nd respectively but didn't have enough to chase down Tnadz who kept it steady and had just enough fuel to the end with the long gear strategy.

On to Road America.

Race 1

Track: POCONO RACEWAY

Date: 06/09/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	51.319
2	013	T Nadz	51.592
3	98	Z Webster	51.888
4	061	D Hamilton	52.373
5	025	G Slab	52.638
6	021	T Bear	52.889
7	42	M Kenseth	53.473
8	2	B Keselowski	53.584
9	14	C Bowyer	53.623
10	1	K Busch2	53.624
11	48	J Johnson	53.680
12	21	M DiBenedetto	53.689
13	22	J Logano	53.694
14	41	C Custer	53.698
15	18	K Busch	53.698
16	10	A Almirola	53.702
17	13	T Dillon	53.703
18	8	T Reddick	53.722
19	12	R Blaney	53.736
20	24	W Byron	53.737
21	11	D Hamlin	53.748
22	19	M Truex Jr.	53.751
23	3	A Dillon	53.751
24	9	C Elliott	53.788
25	52	J Yeley	53.844
26	6	R Newman	53.855
27	37	R Preece	53.866
28	96	D Suarez	53.867
29	38	J Nemechek	53.874
30	88	A Bowman	53.878
31	7	J Bilicki	53.918
32	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	53.919
33	51	J Gase	53.931
34	15	B Poole	53.945
35	62	B Gaughan	53.948
36	00	Q Houff	53.959
37	20	E Jones	53.999
38	43	B Wallace	54.055
39	4	K Harvick	54.065
40	17	C Buescher	54.065
41	95	C Bell	54.112

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, South 9 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	51.528
2	26	J Zolecki	51.743
3	98	Z Webster	51.918
4	061	D Hamilton	52.139
5	025	G Slab	52.503
6	41	C Custer	52.514
7	21	M DiBenedetto	52.532
8	19	M Truex Jr.	52.552
9	24	W Byron	52.558
10	10	A Almirola	52.571
11	1	K Busch2	52.572
12	20	E Jones	52.583
13	22	J Logano	52.616
14	11	D Hamlin	52.640
15	88	A Bowman	52.676
16	18	K Busch	52.677
17	12	R Blaney	52.712
18	48	J Johnson	52.760
19	3	A Dillon	52.782
20	2	B Keselowski	52.815
21	4	K Harvick	52.857
22	15	B Poole	52.860
23	95	C Bell	52.967
24	6	R Newman	53.005
25	42	M Kenseth	53.017
26	00	Q Houff	53.029
27	9	C Elliott	53.036
28	38	J Nemechek	53.102
29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	53.115
30	37	R Preece	53.134
31	43	B Wallace	53.142
32	96	D Suarez	53.148
33	62	B Gaughan	53.153
34	7	J Bilicki	53.166
35	13	T Dillon	53.181
36	021	T Bear	53.185
37	51	J Gase	53.187
38	52	J Yeley	53.262
39	8	T Reddick	53.274
40	034	T Egg	53.284
41	17	C Buescher	53.307
42	14	C Bowyer	53.709

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, South 12 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, South 3 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	26	J Zolecki	173.593	10	10*	185	Running
2	3	98	Z Webster	-3.11	10	0	170	Running
3	6	41	C Custer	-21.03	10	0	165	Running
4	8	19	M Truex Jr.	-21.26	10	0	160	Running
5	12	20	E Jones	-21.49	10	0	155	Running
6	10	10	A Almirola	-21.56	10	0	150	Running
7	14	11	D Hamlin	-22.78	10	0	146	Running
8	26	00	Q Houff	-29.75	10	0	142	Running
9	24	6	R Newman	-29.95	10	0	138	Running
10	1	013	T Nadz	-29.95	10	0	134	Running
11	30	37	R Preece	-30.17	10	0	130	Running
12	22	15	B Poole	-30.24	10	0	127	Running
13	28	38	J Nemechek	-30.65	10	0	124	Running
14	32	96	D Suarez	-31.01	10	0	121	Running
15	21	4	K Harvick	-31.76	10	0	118	Running
16	34	7	J Bilicki	-32.15	10	0	115	Running
17	42	14	C Bowyer	-32.37	10	0	112	Running
18	11	1	K Busch2	-32.44	10	0	109	Running
19	17	12	R Blaney	-32.46	10	0	106	Running
20	33	62	B Gaughan	-32.52	10	0	103	Running
21	20	2	B Keselowski	-35.90	10	0	100	Running
22	25	42	M Kenseth	-36.56	10	0	97	Running
23	38	52	J Yeley	-38.27	10	0	94	Running
24	35	13	T Dillon	-38.55	10	0	91	Running
25	23	95	C Bell	-38.93	10	0	88	Running
26	31	43	B Wallace	-39.09	10	0	85	Running
27	7	21	M DiBenedetto	-40.04	10	0	82	Running
28	37	51	J Gase	-40.11	10	0	79	Running
29	27	9	C Elliott	-43.91	10	0	76	Running
30	40	034	T Egg	-51.91	10	0	73	Running
31	15	88	A Bowman	-53.35	10	0	70	Running
32	16	18	K Busch	-1L	9	0	67	Running
33	9	24	W Byron	-1L	9	0	64	Running
34	19	3	A Dillon	-2L	8	0	61	Retired
35	29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-4L	6	0	58	Retired
36	4	061	D Hamilton	-5L	5	0	55	Accident
37	13	22	J Logano	-8L	2	0	52	Retired
38	18	48	J Johnson	-8L	2	0	49	Camshaft
39	41	17	C Buescher	-9L	1	0	46	Retired
40	5	025	G Slab	-9L	1	0	43	Retired
41	39	8	T Reddick	-9L	1	0	40	Accident
42	36	021	T Bear	-9L	1	0	37	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 71 °F, Southeast 1 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	51.762
2	26	J Zolecki	51.799
3	98	Z Webster	51.990
4	061	D Hamilton	52.613
5	24	W Byron	52.634
6	2	B Keselowski	52.684
7	10	A Almirola	52.774
8	21	M DiBenedetto	52.787
9	48	J Johnson	52.808
10	88	A Bowman	52.835
11	021	T Bear	52.857
12	12	R Blaney	52.859
13	4	K Harvick	52.883
14	18	K Busch	52.889
15	11	D Hamlin	52.898
16	19	M Truex Jr.	52.900
17	14	C Bowyer	52.911
18	3	A Dillon	52.912
19	22	J Logano	52.914
20	1	K Busch2	52.994
21	20	E Jones	53.033
22	41	C Custer	53.076
23	9	C Elliott	53.100
24	15	B Poole	53.138
25	95	C Bell	53.149
26	00	Q Houff	53.171
27	13	T Dillon	53.201
28	42	M Kenseth	53.214
29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	53.244
30	38	J Nemechek	53.252
31	6	R Newman	53.302
32	7	J Bilicki	53.302
33	53	G Smithley	53.345
34	37	R Preece	53.365
35	51	J Gase	53.374
36	034	T Egg	53.451
37	34	M McDowell	53.507
38	17	C Buescher	53.509
39	62	B Gaughan	53.511
40	32	C Lajoie	53.585
41	96	D Suarez	53.704
42	025	G Slab	1:07.905
43	0		--

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Southeast 12 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 83 °F, Southeast 12 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	98	Z Webster	172.680	10	5*	185	Running
2	36	034	T Egg	-18.28	10	0	170	Running
3	8	21	M DiBenedetto	-27.44	10	0	165	Running
4	20	1	K Busch2	-27.95	10	0	160	Running
5	9	48	J Johnson	-28.21	10	0	155	Running
6	24	15	B Poole	-31.14	10	0	150	Running
7	12	12	R Blaney	-31.44	10	0	146	Running
8	23	9	C Elliott	-31.61	10	0	142	Running
9	17	14	C Bowyer	-31.72	10	0	138	Running
10	26	00	Q Houff	-34.57	10	0	134	Running
11	33	53	G Smithley	-34.66	10	0	130	Running
12	42	025	G Slab	-36.78	10	0	127	Running
13	6	2	B Keselowski	-39.38	10	0	124	Running
14	18	3	A Dillon	-39.83	10	0	121	Running
15	22	41	C Custer	-41.35	10	0	118	Running
16	41	96	D Suarez	-41.52	10	0	115	Running
17	40	32	C Lajoie	-41.64	10	0	112	Running
18	29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-42.89	10	0	109	Running
19	16	19	M Truex Jr.	-42.98	10	0	106	Running
20	28	42	M Kenseth	-43.06	10	0	103	Running
21	37	34	M McDowell	-43.97	10	0	100	Running
22	30	38	J Nemechek	-45.89	10	0	97	Running
23	34	37	R Preece	-46.24	10	0	94	Running
24	21	20	E Jones	-46.55	10	0	91	Running
25	13	4	K Harvick	-46.78	10	0	88	Running
26	27	13	T Dillon	-51.17	10	0	85	Running
27	32	7	J Bilicki	-1L	9	0	82	Running
28	11	021	T Bear	-1L	9	0	79	Running
29	2	26	J Zolecki	-1L	9	5*	86	Running
30	15	11	D Hamlin	-2L	8	0	73	Running
31	14	18	K Busch	-2L	8	0	70	Running
32	7	10	A Almirola	-3L	7	0	67	Retired
33	19	22	J Logano	-4L	6	0	64	Retired
34	10	88	A Bowman	-4L	6	0	61	Accident
35	1	013	T Nadz	-5L	5	0	58	Accident
36	25	95	C Bell	-8L	2	0	55	Retired
37	5	24	W Byron	-8L	2	0	52	Retired
38	4	061	D Hamilton	-9L	1	0	49	Accident
39	31	6	R Newman	-10L	0	0	46	Accident
40	35	51	J Gase	-10L	0	0	43	Accident
41	38	17	C Buescher	-10L	0	0	40	Accident
42	39	62	B Gaughan	-10L	0	0	37	Ignition

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, Southeast 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	51.823
2	013	T Nadz	51.829
3	98	Z Webster	51.837
4	034	T Egg	52.765
5	27	G Gaulding	52.789
6	8	T Reddick	52.792
7	11	D Hamlin	52.822
8	14	C Bowyer	52.823
9	22	J Logano	52.859
10	10	A Almirola	52.861
11	21	M DiBenedetto	52.874
12	3	A Dillon	52.939
13	18	K Busch	52.981
14	20	E Jones	52.988
15	061	D Hamilton	53.028
16	2	B Keselowski	53.033
17	12	R Blaney	53.042
18	41	C Custer	53.049
19	42	M Kenseth	53.053
20	00	Q Houff	53.064
21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	53.091
22	4	K Harvick	53.093
23	025	G Slab	53.127
24	95	C Bell	53.133
25	96	D Suarez	53.135
26	1	K Busch2	53.141
27	15	B Poole	53.174
28	43	B Wallace	53.197
29	9	C Elliott	53.226
30	62	B Gaughan	53.243
31	7	J Bilicki	53.252
32	13	T Dillon	53.281
33	38	J Nemechek	53.331
34	34	M McDowell	53.372
35	51	J Gase	53.415
36	48	J Johnson	53.612
37	24	W Byron	53.722
38	88	A Bowman	53.734
39	19	M Truex Jr.	53.826
40	52	J Yeley	53.915
41	6	R Newman	54.062
42	021	T Bear	57.743

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Southeast 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	061	D Hamilton	53.329
2	98	Z Webster	53.381
3	034	T Egg	53.719
4	88	A Bowman	53.995
5	18	K Busch	54.012
6	96	D Suarez	54.030
7	52	J Yeley	54.140
8	13	T Dillon	54.160
9	9	C Elliott	54.188
10	1	K Busch2	54.215
11	38	J Nemechek	54.252
12	22	J Logano	54.298
13	15	B Poole	54.305
14	14	C Bowyer	54.338
15	95	C Bell	54.357
16	21	M DiBenedetto	54.490
17	12	R Blaney	54.516
18	11	D Hamlin	54.520
19	10	A Almirola	54.534
20	20	E Jones	54.579
21	4	K Harvick	54.657
22	43	B Wallace	54.667
23	27	G Gaulding	54.697
24	34	M McDowell	54.707
25	8	T Reddick	54.713
26	7	J Bilicki	54.728
27	00	Q Houff	54.760
28	24	W Byron	54.779
29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	54.779
30	62	B Gaughan	54.804
31	6	R Newman	54.985
32	19	M Truex Jr.	55.093
33	013	T Nadz	55.555
34	42	M Kenseth	56.537
35	48	J Johnson	1:01.904
36	025	G Slab	1:02.469
37	51	J Gase	1:02.503

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, East 6 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	013	T Nadz	138.307	20	5	180	Running
2	4	034	T Egg	-5.63	20	0	170	Running
3	23	025	G Slab	-20.47	20	0	165	Running
4	1	26	J Zolecki	-23.50	20	14*	170	Running
5	42	021	T Bear	-24.01	20	0	155	Running
6	3	98	Z Webster	-26.15	20	1	155	Running
7	17	12	R Blaney	-37.23	20	0	146	Running
8	7	11	D Hamlin	-37.71	20	0	142	Running
9	10	10	A Almirola	-38.27	20	0	138	Running
10	26	1	K Busch2	-41.40	20	0	134	Running
11	8	14	C Bowyer	-42.54	20	0	130	Running
12	5	27	G Gaulding	-42.74	20	0	127	Running
13	38	88	A Bowman	-42.78	20	0	124	Running
14	22	4	K Harvick	-43.61	20	0	121	Running
15	37	24	W Byron	-44.93	20	0	118	Running
16	35	51	J Gase	-45.53	20	0	115	Running
17	30	62	B Gaughan	-46.85	20	0	112	Running
18	16	2	B Keselowski	-47.19	20	0	109	Running
19	40	52	J Yeley	-47.31	20	0	106	Running
20	31	7	J Bilicki	-47.74	20	0	103	Running
21	6	8	T Reddick	-47.86	20	0	100	Running
22	9	22	J Logano	-49.79	20	0	97	Running
23	13	18	K Busch	-50.43	20	0	94	Running
24	32	13	T Dillon	-51.13	20	0	91	Running
25	41	6	R Newman	-52.63	20	0	88	Running
26	28	43	B Wallace	-52.66	20	0	85	Running
27	29	9	C Elliott	-53.58	20	0	82	Running
28	34	34	M McDowell	-55.50	20	0	79	Running
29	33	38	J Nemechek	-1L	19	0	76	Running
30	14	20	E Jones	-1L	19	0	73	Running
31	24	95	C Bell	-1L	19	0	70	Running
32	12	3	A Dillon	-1L	19	0	67	Running
33	25	96	D Suarez	-1L	19	0	64	Running
34	21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1L	19	0	61	Running
35	39	19	M Truex Jr.	-1L	19	0	58	Running
36	11	21	M DiBenedetto	-1L	19	0	55	Running
37	36	48	J Johnson	-1L	19	0	52	Running
38	27	15	B Poole	-7L	13	0	49	Valve
39	18	41	C Custer	-7L	13	0	46	No Fuel
40	19	42	M Kenseth	-7L	13	0	43	No Fuel
41	20	00	Q Houff	-9L	11	0	40	DQ
42	15	061	D Hamilton	-17L	3	0	37	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (7 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 83 °F, Southeast 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
0	061	Passing on the inside	Stop and go