2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 24: Michigan

Stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aN3t7pz3YSY

It was a wild afternoon of racing at Michigan.  The humans had the speed to stay towards the front and it was a quick time for the sprints and the main.

Race 1:

The opener saw all 5 participating humans at the front and it was a mad drive to be first.

The mountain men duked it out but it would eventually be The Bear who would prevail initially but his engine would blow just before the finish line, knocking him down to 19th.

It was a good back and forth with Tnadz but Zolecki would manage to hold a stronger setup and pull away for the win.

Race 2:

A similar start, this time with Zolecki at the front from the green flag.

Tnadz got aerowash off the T4 wall and bumped Hamilton, then pulled hard right to avoid The Bear.  The result was a swerve back into the wall.

The resulting crash was worthy of Talladega or Daytona.

Hamilton and The Bear were back to battling and Sandy managed to hold him off for a podium.

Jamie Z had no trouble gapping The Egg for a 2nd win.

Race 3:

The main began with Hamilton further afield due to a spin in qualy and Egg on the pole.

A few laps in and Hamilton was trying for a pass and misjudged distance to the 17, sending them both hard into the wall.

Around the halfway point, everyone was in for greenflag stops: a rarity in the league.

After the pit cycles, The Egg forced the second yellow of the race by taking Chase out, realizing he was too far behind the two leaders.

Unfortunately, it would ruin his own race.

Back under green, Tnadz tried to drag race with Zolecki.

But badly worn tires from an earlier pit stop saw his challenge fall well short and JZ took another hat trick.

A few weeks off and then back for Daytona.

Race 1

Track: MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

Date: 07/14/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	35.672
2	013	T Nadz	35.992
3	061	D Hamilton	36.125
4	034	T Egg	36.140
5	021	T Bear	36.355
6	10	A Almirola	36.975
7	88	A Bowman	36.987
8	48	J Johnson	37.018
9	3	A Dillon	37.056
10	24	W Byron	37.056
11	22	J Logano	37.057
12	20	E Jones	37.068
13	38	J Nemechek	37.080
14	12	R Blaney	37.129
15	21	M DiBenedetto	37.130
16	18	K Busch	37.137
17	4	K Harvick	37.166
18	9	C Elliott	37.177
19	19	M Truex Jr.	37.184
20	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	37.196
21	14	C Bowyer	37.206
22	41	C Custer	37.210
23	11	D Hamlin	37.212
24	34	M McDowell	37.217
25	42	M Kenseth	37.232
26	1	K Busch2	37.238
27	95	C Bell	37.244
28	62	B Gaughan	37.261
29	2	B Keselowski	37.288
30	43	B Wallace	37.308
31	51	J Gase	37.322
32	6	R Newman	37.330
33	00	Q Houff	37.332
34	96	D Suarez	37.341
35	53	G Smithley	37.354
36	8	T Reddick	37.382
37	66	T Hill	37.420
38	13	T Dillon	37.426
39	17	C Buescher	37.456
40	37	R Preece	37.674

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, Northwest 1 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	36.011
2	26	J Zolecki	36.042
3	034	T Egg	36.211
4	061	D Hamilton	36.397
5	021	T Bear	36.519
6	4	K Harvick	37.332
7	3	A Dillon	37.374
8	20	E Jones	37.402
9	2	B Keselowski	37.428
10	14	C Bowyer	37.445
11	88	A Bowman	37.457
12	18	K Busch	37.460
13	24	W Byron	37.463
14	21	M DiBenedetto	37.470
15	41	C Custer	37.476
16	11	D Hamlin	37.494
17	48	J Johnson	37.498
18	10	A Almirola	37.500
19	12	R Blaney	37.533
20	9	C Elliott	37.567
21	19	M Truex Jr.	37.592
22	42	M Kenseth	37.594
23	22	J Logano	37.599
24	66	T Hill	37.684
25	13	T Dillon	37.756
26	34	M McDowell	37.766
27	95	C Bell	37.774
28	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	37.783
29	8	T Reddick	37.795
30	53	G Smithley	37.828
31	38	J Nemechek	37.865
32	62	B Gaughan	37.898
33	51	J Gase	37.898
34	17	C Buescher	37.923
35	6	R Newman	37.994
36	00	Q Houff	37.997
37	96	D Suarez	38.014
38	43	B Wallace	38.017
39	37	R Preece	38.255
40	1	K Busch2	38.890

Weather: Clear, 90 °F, North 7 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	021	T Bear	36.521

Weather: Clear, 78 °F, East 2 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	26	J Zolecki	198.326	10	9*	185	Running
2	1	013	T Nadz	-0.37	10	1	175	Running
3	3	034	T Egg	-1.84	10	0	165	Running
4	4	061	D Hamilton	-4.98	10	0	160	Running
5	6	4	K Harvick	-10.89	10	0	155	Running
6	8	20	E Jones	-11.07	10	0	150	Running
7	14	21	M DiBenedetto	-11.18	10	0	146	Running
8	10	14	C Bowyer	-11.45	10	0	142	Running
9	18	10	A Almirola	-11.60	10	0	138	Running
10	20	9	C Elliott	-11.70	10	0	134	Running
11	11	88	A Bowman	-11.75	10	0	130	Running
12	7	3	A Dillon	-11.89	10	0	127	Running
13	9	2	B Keselowski	-12.07	10	0	124	Running
14	16	11	D Hamlin	-12.23	10	0	121	Running
15	17	48	J Johnson	-12.52	10	0	118	Running
16	15	41	C Custer	-12.68	10	0	115	Running
17	22	42	M Kenseth	-13.65	10	0	112	Running
18	12	18	K Busch	-13.75	10	0	109	Running
19	5	021	T Bear	-14.53	10	0	106	Running
20	13	24	W Byron	-14.58	10	0	103	Running
21	24	66	T Hill	-14.80	10	0	100	Running
22	34	17	C Buescher	-14.90	10	0	97	Running
23	21	19	M Truex Jr.	-15.06	10	0	94	Running
24	40	1	K Busch2	-15.16	10	0	91	Running
25	26	34	M McDowell	-15.79	10	0	88	Running
26	23	22	J Logano	-15.79	10	0	85	Running
27	25	13	T Dillon	-15.86	10	0	82	Running
28	30	53	G Smithley	-15.95	10	0	79	Running
29	32	62	B Gaughan	-16.04	10	0	76	Running
30	38	43	B Wallace	-16.40	10	0	73	Running
31	27	95	C Bell	-16.48	10	0	70	Running
32	19	12	R Blaney	-16.56	10	0	67	Running
33	37	96	D Suarez	-17.12	10	0	64	Running
34	33	51	J Gase	-17.56	10	0	61	Running
35	28	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-17.59	10	0	58	Running
36	31	38	J Nemechek	-17.67	10	0	55	Running
37	39	37	R Preece	-17.69	10	0	52	Running
38	35	6	R Newman	-17.89	10	0	49	Running
39	29	8	T Reddick	-18.28	10	0	46	Running
40	36	00	Q Houff	-18.84	10	0	43	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 78 °F, Southeast 2 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 94%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 2

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	35.877
2	034	T Egg	36.010
3	013	T Nadz	36.111
4	061	D Hamilton	36.180
5	021	T Bear	36.598
6	2	B Keselowski	37.242
7	21	M DiBenedetto	37.263
8	14	C Bowyer	37.275
9	18	K Busch	37.301
10	1	K Busch2	37.303
11	22	J Logano	37.313
12	9	C Elliott	37.316
13	19	M Truex Jr.	37.329
14	10	A Almirola	37.334
15	48	J Johnson	37.337
16	24	W Byron	37.354
17	4	K Harvick	37.370
18	12	R Blaney	37.395
19	88	A Bowman	37.406
20	3	A Dillon	37.409
21	41	C Custer	37.418
22	11	D Hamlin	37.419
23	42	M Kenseth	37.450
24	20	E Jones	37.470
25	34	M McDowell	37.619
26	7	J Bilicki	37.628
27	27	G Gaulding	37.683
28	52	J Yeley	37.698
29	53	G Smithley	37.700
30	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	37.702
31	95	C Bell	37.714
32	96	D Suarez	37.748
33	00	Q Houff	37.751
34	17	C Buescher	37.804
35	43	B Wallace	37.827
36	13	T Dillon	37.833
37	8	T Reddick	37.847
38	51	J Gase	37.868
39	32	C Lajoie	38.014
40	37	R Preece	38.135

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, East 8 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 79 °F, East 4 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	J Zolecki	198.395	10	10*	185	Running
2	2	034	T Egg	-5.11	10	0	170	Running
3	5	021	T Bear	-5.88	10	0	165	Running
4	4	061	D Hamilton	-7.15	10	0	160	Running
5	8	14	C Bowyer	-14.47	10	0	155	Running
6	16	24	W Byron	-15.22	10	0	150	Running
7	10	1	K Busch2	-15.33	10	0	146	Running
8	7	21	M DiBenedetto	-15.76	10	0	142	Running
9	11	22	J Logano	-16.57	10	0	138	Running
10	15	48	J Johnson	-16.64	10	0	134	Running
11	19	88	A Bowman	-16.80	10	0	130	Running
12	12	9	C Elliott	-22.32	10	0	127	Running
13	18	12	R Blaney	-24.28	10	0	124	Running
14	13	19	M Truex Jr.	-27.14	10	0	121	Running
15	36	13	T Dillon	-33.75	10	0	118	Running
16	20	3	A Dillon	-34.59	10	0	115	Running
17	23	42	M Kenseth	-1L	9	0	112	Running
18	22	11	D Hamlin	-1L	9	0	109	Running
19	34	17	C Buescher	-1L	9	0	106	Running
20	21	41	C Custer	-1L	9	0	103	Running
21	30	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-2L	8	0	100	Running
22	3	013	T Nadz	-2L	8	0	97	Running
23	9	18	K Busch	-8L	2	0	94	Retired
24	31	95	C Bell	-9L	1	0	91	Retired
25	25	34	M McDowell	-9L	1	0	88	Retired
26	29	53	G Smithley	-9L	1	0	85	Retired
27	33	00	Q Houff	-9L	1	0	82	Retired
28	35	43	B Wallace	-9L	1	0	79	Accident
29	37	8	T Reddick	-9L	1	0	76	Clutch
30	39	32	C Lajoie	-9L	1	0	73	Camshaft
31	6	2	B Keselowski	-9L	1	0	70	Accident
32	27	27	G Gaulding	-9L	1	0	67	Retired
33	28	52	J Yeley	-9L	1	0	64	Retired
34	24	20	E Jones	-9L	1	0	61	Retired
35	40	37	R Preece	-9L	1	0	58	Retired
36	17	4	K Harvick	-9L	1	0	55	Accident
37	14	10	A Almirola	-9L	1	0	52	Accident
38	26	7	J Bilicki	-9L	1	0	49	Camshaft
39	38	51	J Gase	-9L	1	0	46	Clutch
40	32	96	D Suarez	-9L	1	0	43	Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 79 °F, East 9 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 94%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 3

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	034	T Egg	35.836
2	013	T Nadz	35.880
3	26	J Zolecki	35.990
4	021	T Bear	36.501
5	88	A Bowman	36.979
6	21	M DiBenedetto	36.993
7	12	R Blaney	37.001
8	22	J Logano	37.049
9	3	A Dillon	37.074
10	11	D Hamlin	37.078
11	14	C Bowyer	37.083
12	20	E Jones	37.094
13	4	K Harvick	37.111
14	1	K Busch2	37.117
15	41	C Custer	37.130
16	9	C Elliott	37.145
17	24	W Byron	37.151
18	18	K Busch	37.180
19	48	J Johnson	37.183
20	2	B Keselowski	37.194
21	19	M Truex Jr.	37.221
22	10	A Almirola	37.307
23	96	D Suarez	37.325
24	42	M Kenseth	37.335
25	17	C Buescher	37.351
26	53	G Smithley	37.354
27	66	T Hill	37.358
28	7	J Bilicki	37.360
29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	37.399
30	34	M McDowell	37.410
31	43	B Wallace	37.416
32	15	B Poole	37.435
33	62	B Gaughan	37.451
34	13	T Dillon	37.496
35	37	R Preece	37.513
36	51	J Gase	37.552
37	95	C Bell	37.604
38	38	J Nemechek	37.651
39	52	J Yeley	38.319
40	0		--
41	0		--
42	0		--
43	061	D Hamilton	--

Weather: Clear, 87 °F, Northwest 11 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	35.982
2	061	D Hamilton	36.205
3	013	T Nadz	36.303
4	22	J Logano	36.707
5	21	M DiBenedetto	36.710
6	4	K Harvick	36.753
7	12	R Blaney	36.764
8	021	T Bear	36.766
9	20	E Jones	36.810
10	19	M Truex Jr.	36.818
11	11	D Hamlin	36.844
12	18	K Busch	36.857
13	24	W Byron	36.876
14	41	C Custer	36.877
15	3	A Dillon	36.889
16	10	A Almirola	36.969
17	13	T Dillon	37.025
18	2	B Keselowski	37.029
19	1	K Busch2	37.087
20	88	A Bowman	37.095
21	14	C Bowyer	37.096
22	17	C Buescher	37.129
23	52	J Yeley	37.129
24	95	C Bell	37.180
25	9	C Elliott	37.202
26	43	B Wallace	37.230
27	42	M Kenseth	37.240
28	37	R Preece	37.302
29	62	B Gaughan	37.312
30	15	B Poole	37.317
31	51	J Gase	37.324
32	38	J Nemechek	37.438
33	34	M McDowell	37.479
34	66	T Hill	37.493
35	96	D Suarez	37.507
36	53	G Smithley	37.510
37	7	J Bilicki	37.540
38	48	J Johnson	37.552
39	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	38.107

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, North 8 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	26	J Zolecki	151.238	30	30*	185	Running
2	2	013	T Nadz	-2.31	30	0	170	Running
3	6	21	M DiBenedetto	-3.37	30	0	165	Running
4	11	14	C Bowyer	-3.72	30	0	160	Running
5	9	3	A Dillon	-4.03	30	0	155	Running
6	14	1	K Busch2	-4.15	30	0	150	Running
7	5	88	A Bowman	-4.16	30	0	146	Running
8	10	11	D Hamlin	-4.34	30	0	142	Running
9	18	18	K Busch	-4.38	30	0	138	Running
10	22	10	A Almirola	-4.56	30	0	134	Running
11	34	13	T Dillon	-4.68	30	0	130	Running
12	13	4	K Harvick	-4.76	30	0	127	Running
13	21	19	M Truex Jr.	-5.05	30	0	124	Running
14	27	66	T Hill	-5.19	30	0	121	Running
15	23	96	D Suarez	-5.59	30	0	118	Running
16	30	34	M McDowell	-5.82	30	0	115	Running
17	39	52	J Yeley	-6.05	30	0	112	Running
18	1	034	T Egg	-6.16	30	0	109	Running
19	26	53	G Smithley	-6.42	30	0	106	Running
20	33	62	B Gaughan	-6.98	30	0	103	Running
21	24	42	M Kenseth	-7.05	30	0	100	Running
22	17	24	W Byron	-7.09	30	0	97	Running
23	12	20	E Jones	-7.35	30	0	94	Running
24	36	51	J Gase	-7.37	30	0	91	Running
25	19	48	J Johnson	-7.44	30	0	88	Running
26	35	37	R Preece	-7.56	30	0	85	Running
27	38	38	J Nemechek	-7.67	30	0	82	Running
28	43	061	D Hamilton	-7.81	30	0	79	Running
29	4	021	T Bear	-7.90	30	0	76	Running
30	28	7	J Bilicki	-8.06	30	0	73	Running
31	37	95	C Bell	-8.17	30	0	70	Running
32	25	17	C Buescher	-8.22	30	0	67	Running
33	8	22	J Logano	-8.36	30	0	64	Running
34	32	15	B Poole	-8.55	30	0	61	Running
35	31	43	B Wallace	-8.83	30	0	58	Running
36	29	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-8.96	30	0	55	Running
37	16	9	C Elliott	-9L	21	0	52	Retired
38	20	2	B Keselowski	-10L	20	0	49	Accident
39	7	12	R Blaney	-10L	20	0	46	Accident
40	15	41	C Custer	-10L	20	0	43	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (7 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, Northeast 2 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
4	061	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
5	061	Passing the pacecar	Held for 34 seconds