2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 26: Talladega

 Stream: https://youtu.be/GcwcaWt9bAM

Closing in on the final few rounds of the season and while Jamie Zolecki has the championship well in hand, there's still plenty of chance for close racing.

Race 1:

Slab pulled it out of the bag and lined up next to Tnadz on the front row where they held close station for the nearly the whole run.

Zolecki tried to improve his position from a mediocre qualy when he got Bowyered.

Gut Slab chose his timing carefully and made an attempt on first in the closing lap.

He was unable to find support from behind for long enough to nudge ahead of Tnadz and settled for an intense 2nd.

Race 2:

The second stint saw The Bear pull up the boot straps for a top 10 grid position.

Jamie had yet another race ruined by some close contact from midfielders as he was side by side with The Bear (The Bear was uninvolved).

It was the Slab and Smith show at the front again.

This attempt was much closer as the two scrapped to stay close together and the results were much closer but the same as before.

Race 3:

The start was similar to R2 but it was getting more crowded at the front as Webster joins the group and Egg made up some places and well within eyeshot of the humans leading the way.

The racing was close, packed and fast paced as swapping about.

Into the fuel window but not quite halfway, the caution was out and it was incredibly close with Slab finally beating Tnadz to the line.

The yellow was from a bit of rubbing gone wrong as Bear spilled his skittles.

he then nearly blew over but surprisingly had little damage and contact with other cars.

The Know You Too 2 were in with a few others while many stayed out.

Back to green and the rest of the cars decided it was time to come in.  Zolecki and Zack scrambled to get out of the way while Egg was in to the back of Hamlin and Tnadz slapped the Woods Bros car.

Tnadz shot to the inside and barely crossed back on to the track without crashing (though a speeding penalty would ruin his chances later) but it was Slab who shot the gap and kept from getting any damage at all.

With a green white checkered bringing them home, Webster and Jamie held the front with Slab desperately trying to get assistance to push up.  But with Egg held up in traffic, Slab had to fight for himself and got entangled with Keselowski.

It was checkers and wreckers as Zack took the win for the main race of the night, Zolecki in tow and Slab with a hard earned but frustrating 3rd.

The final 3 tracks are on deck with the Charlotte Roval next

Race 1

Track: TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY

Date: 08/18/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	96	D Suarez	41.967
2	19	M Truex Jr.	41.973
3	48	J Johnson	41.980
4	3	A Dillon	41.989
5	66	T Hill	42.011
6	2	B Keselowski	42.019
7	13	T Dillon	42.020
8	10	A Almirola	42.031
9	41	C Custer	42.084
10	7	J Bilicki	42.125
11	21	M DiBenedetto	42.146
12	22	J Logano	42.195
13	9	C Elliott	42.196
14	1	K Busch2	42.196
15	15	B Poole	42.218
16	11	D Hamlin	42.256
17	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	42.276
18	20	E Jones	42.283
19	27	G Gaulding	42.302
20	14	C Bowyer	42.360
21	95	C Bell	42.369
22	097	G Slab	42.376
23	34	M McDowell	42.427
24	26	J Zolecki	42.438
25	6	R Newman	42.460
26	4	K Harvick	42.463
27	62	B Gaughan	42.466
28	8	T Reddick	42.476
29	24	W Byron	42.482
30	18	K Busch	42.489
31	43	B Wallace	42.504
32	88	A Bowman	42.548
33	12	R Blaney	42.574
34	52	J Yeley	42.615
35	021	T Bear	42.625
36	013	T Nadz	42.632
37	37	R Preece	42.643
38	00	Q Houff	42.681
39	42	M Kenseth	42.865

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Northeast 12 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	43.725
2	097	G Slab	43.933
3	48	J Johnson	44.164
4	96	D Suarez	44.277
5	13	T Dillon	44.322
6	66	T Hill	44.346
7	42	M Kenseth	44.350
8	95	C Bell	44.405
9	4	K Harvick	44.442
10	20	E Jones	44.445
11	62	B Gaughan	44.457
12	11	D Hamlin	44.463
13	10	A Almirola	44.467
14	19	M Truex Jr.	44.481
15	14	C Bowyer	44.506
16	12	R Blaney	44.506
17	6	R Newman	44.513
18	41	C Custer	44.525
19	2	B Keselowski	44.531
20	22	J Logano	44.535
21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	44.553
22	3	A Dillon	44.562
23	7	J Bilicki	44.580
24	52	J Yeley	44.590
25	37	R Preece	44.614
26	00	Q Houff	44.615
27	27	G Gaulding	44.617
28	26	J Zolecki	44.620
29	9	C Elliott	44.625
30	1	K Busch2	44.638
31	43	B Wallace	44.644
32	34	M McDowell	44.679
33	8	T Reddick	44.702
34	21	M DiBenedetto	44.728
35	18	K Busch	44.753
36	88	A Bowman	44.777
37	24	W Byron	44.802
38	15	B Poole	44.909
39	021	T Bear	45.982
40	0		--
41	0		--
42	0		--
43	0		--

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Northeast 16 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Northeast 13 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	223.348	10	9*	185	Running
2	2	097	G Slab	-0.06	10	1	175	Running
3	33	8	T Reddick	-0.14	10	0	165	Running
4	11	62	B Gaughan	-0.21	10	0	160	Running
5	31	43	B Wallace	-0.27	10	0	155	Running
6	6	66	T Hill	-0.30	10	0	150	Running
7	27	27	G Gaulding	-0.35	10	0	146	Running
8	21	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-0.39	10	0	142	Running
9	13	10	A Almirola	-0.42	10	0	138	Running
10	18	41	C Custer	-0.48	10	0	134	Running
11	23	7	J Bilicki	-0.50	10	0	130	Running
12	26	00	Q Houff	-0.56	10	0	127	Running
13	3	48	J Johnson	-0.57	10	0	124	Running
14	25	37	R Preece	-0.64	10	0	121	Running
15	29	9	C Elliott	-0.72	10	0	118	Running
16	7	42	M Kenseth	-0.73	10	0	115	Running
17	37	24	W Byron	-0.79	10	0	112	Running
18	24	52	J Yeley	-0.81	10	0	109	Running
19	36	88	A Bowman	-0.86	10	0	106	Running
20	20	22	J Logano	-0.94	10	0	103	Running
21	10	20	E Jones	-0.97	10	0	100	Running
22	12	11	D Hamlin	-1.00	10	0	97	Running
23	16	12	R Blaney	-1.06	10	0	94	Running
24	5	13	T Dillon	-1.07	10	0	91	Running
25	8	95	C Bell	-1.16	10	0	88	Running
26	19	2	B Keselowski	-1.17	10	0	85	Running
27	34	21	M DiBenedetto	-1.19	10	0	82	Running
28	35	18	K Busch	-1.37	10	0	79	Running
29	9	4	K Harvick	-2.08	10	0	76	Running
30	32	34	M McDowell	-2.19	10	0	73	Running
31	30	1	K Busch2	-2.69	10	0	70	Running
32	4	96	D Suarez	-2.88	10	0	67	Running
33	22	3	A Dillon	-4.19	10	0	64	Running
34	38	15	B Poole	-4.66	10	0	61	Running
35	14	19	M Truex Jr.	-5.31	10	0	58	Running
36	17	6	R Newman	-5.36	10	0	55	Running
37	39	021	T Bear	-21.23	10	0	52	Running
38	15	14	C Bowyer	-42.13	10	0	49	Running
39	28	26	J Zolecki	-1L	9	0	46	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Southeast 8 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP

#

INFRACTION

PENALTY

Race 2

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	27	G Gaulding	42.236
2	51	J Gase	42.509
3	4	K Harvick	42.562
4	53	G Smithley	42.565
5	20	E Jones	42.587
6	17	C Buescher	42.592
7	10	A Almirola	42.608
8	19	M Truex Jr.	42.717
9	00	Q Houff	42.788
10	52	J Yeley	42.855
11	14	C Bowyer	42.877
12	6	R Newman	42.892
13	95	C Bell	42.894
14	62	B Gaughan	42.909
15	12	R Blaney	42.930
16	88	A Bowman	42.930
17	3	A Dillon	42.978
18	2	B Keselowski	42.983
19	13	T Dillon	42.989
20	32	C Lajoie	43.106
21	41	C Custer	43.111
22	18	K Busch	43.114
23	24	W Byron	43.269
24	21	M DiBenedetto	43.358
25	8	T Reddick	43.416
26	021	T Bear	43.496
27	9	C Elliott	43.509
28	1	K Busch2	43.518
29	48	J Johnson	43.578
30	42	M Kenseth	43.718
31	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	43.772
32	38	J Nemechek	43.826
33	37	R Preece	43.973
34	11	D Hamlin	44.380
35	22	J Logano	44.590
36	15	B Poole	44.694
37	26	J Zolecki	49.965
38	013	T Nadz	52.689

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Northwest 11 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	43.751
2	097	G Slab	43.862
3	95	C Bell	44.244
4	62	B Gaughan	44.268
5	6	R Newman	44.272
6	41	C Custer	44.290
7	021	T Bear	44.299
8	4	K Harvick	44.311
9	52	J Yeley	44.329
10	37	R Preece	44.335
11	00	Q Houff	44.359
12	8	T Reddick	44.411
13	27	G Gaulding	44.419
14	11	D Hamlin	44.430
15	48	J Johnson	44.460
16	12	R Blaney	44.462
17	18	K Busch	44.480
18	32	C Lajoie	44.488
19	26	J Zolecki	44.492
20	10	A Almirola	44.493
21	14	C Bowyer	44.498
22	42	M Kenseth	44.503
23	1	K Busch2	44.505
24	53	G Smithley	44.516
25	15	B Poole	44.521
26	13	T Dillon	44.535
27	21	M DiBenedetto	44.547
28	19	M Truex Jr.	44.549
29	2	B Keselowski	44.554
30	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	44.577
31	20	E Jones	44.579
32	3	A Dillon	44.605
33	22	J Logano	44.638
34	9	C Elliott	44.640
35	88	A Bowman	44.643
36	17	C Buescher	44.672
37	24	W Byron	44.673
38	38	J Nemechek	44.675
39	51	J Gase	44.723
40	034	T Egg	--

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, Southwest 11 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, North 13 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	222.184	10	5*	185	Running
2	2	097	G Slab	-0.03	10	3	175	Running
3	33	22	J Logano	-0.09	10	0	165	Running
4	3	95	C Bell	-0.16	10	2	165	Running
5	39	51	J Gase	-0.17	10	0	155	Running
6	29	2	B Keselowski	-0.27	10	0	150	Running
7	32	3	A Dillon	-0.30	10	0	146	Running
8	5	6	R Newman	-0.92	10	0	142	Running
9	27	21	M DiBenedetto	-1.00	10	0	138	Running
10	37	24	W Byron	-1.08	10	0	134	Running
11	11	00	Q Houff	-1.16	10	0	130	Running
12	23	1	K Busch2	-1.17	10	0	127	Running
13	30	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1.25	10	0	124	Running
14	4	62	B Gaughan	-1.31	10	0	121	Running
15	13	27	G Gaulding	-1.39	10	0	118	Running
16	22	42	M Kenseth	-1.49	10	0	115	Running
17	18	32	C Lajoie	-1.51	10	0	112	Running
18	8	4	K Harvick	-1.57	10	0	109	Running
19	21	14	C Bowyer	-1.62	10	0	106	Running
20	16	12	R Blaney	-1.66	10	0	103	Running
21	6	41	C Custer	-1.73	10	0	100	Running
22	10	37	R Preece	-1.81	10	0	97	Running
23	28	19	M Truex Jr.	-1.92	10	0	94	Running
24	9	52	J Yeley	-3.29	10	0	91	Running
25	26	13	T Dillon	-3.37	10	0	88	Running
26	17	18	K Busch	-3.40	10	0	85	Running
27	31	20	E Jones	-3.48	10	0	82	Running
28	15	48	J Johnson	-3.48	10	0	79	Running
29	20	10	A Almirola	-3.82	10	0	76	Running
30	7	021	T Bear	-3.91	10	0	73	Running
31	14	11	D Hamlin	-3.96	10	0	70	Running
32	12	8	T Reddick	-4.44	10	0	67	Running
33	34	9	C Elliott	-5.39	10	0	64	Running
34	25	15	B Poole	-8.04	10	0	61	Running
35	38	38	J Nemechek	-20.80	10	0	58	Running
36	24	53	G Smithley	-34.30	10	0	55	Running
37	35	88	A Bowman	-35.31	10	0	52	Running
38	36	17	C Buescher	-1L	9	0	49	Running
39	40	034	T Egg	-2L	8	0	46	Running
40	19	26	J Zolecki	-2L	8	0	43	Running

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, North 5 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
8	26	Dropping Debris	Pit for repairs

Race 3

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	95	C Bell	41.965
2	66	T Hill	42.042
3	19	M Truex Jr.	42.088
4	38	J Nemechek	42.104
5	21	M DiBenedetto	42.105
6	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	42.105
7	96	D Suarez	42.223
8	13	T Dillon	42.263
9	42	M Kenseth	42.267
10	41	C Custer	42.405
11	1	K Busch2	42.419
12	34	M McDowell	42.443
13	14	C Bowyer	42.508
14	4	K Harvick	42.533
15	10	A Almirola	42.553
16	27	G Gaulding	42.636
17	24	W Byron	42.659
18	3	A Dillon	42.842
19	20	E Jones	42.847
20	53	G Smithley	42.848
21	8	T Reddick	42.848
22	48	J Johnson	42.858
23	43	B Wallace	42.867
24	6	R Newman	42.897
25	88	A Bowman	42.899
26	17	C Buescher	42.950
27	18	K Busch	43.020
28	021	T Bear	43.027
29	2	B Keselowski	43.035
30	98	Z Webster	43.037
31	22	J Logano	43.063
32	32	C Lajoie	43.099
33	37	R Preece	43.182
34	12	R Blaney	43.206
35	013	T Nadz	43.225
36	9	C Elliott	43.226
37	52	J Yeley	43.317
38	034	T Egg	43.340
39	11	D Hamlin	43.401
40	26	J Zolecki	7:33.804

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, North 7 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	43.815
2	097	G Slab	43.875
3	98	Z Webster	44.143
4	66	T Hill	44.146
5	021	T Bear	44.189
6	14	C Bowyer	44.271
7	53	G Smithley	44.288
8	1	K Busch2	44.296
9	26	J Zolecki	44.350
10	24	W Byron	44.350
11	95	C Bell	44.353
12	88	A Bowman	44.402
13	41	C Custer	44.404
14	22	J Logano	44.436
15	27	G Gaulding	44.444
16	17	C Buescher	44.446
17	20	E Jones	44.454
18	19	M Truex Jr.	44.464
19	9	C Elliott	44.469
20	96	D Suarez	44.477
21	42	M Kenseth	44.479
22	034	T Egg	44.488
23	32	C Lajoie	44.497
24	34	M McDowell	44.497
25	10	A Almirola	44.514
26	37	R Preece	44.515
27	21	M DiBenedetto	44.525
28	38	J Nemechek	44.531
29	3	A Dillon	44.534
30	48	J Johnson	44.536
31	43	B Wallace	44.553
32	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	44.568
33	2	B Keselowski	44.582
34	12	R Blaney	44.583
35	8	T Reddick	44.606
36	13	T Dillon	44.641
37	6	R Newman	44.653
38	18	K Busch	44.658
39	4	K Harvick	44.672
40	52	J Yeley	44.759
41	11	D Hamlin	44.836

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, North 17 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	1	K Busch2	42.354
2	42	M Kenseth	42.433
3	88	A Bowman	42.508
4	17	C Buescher	42.560
5	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	42.567
6	9	C Elliott	42.568
7	48	J Johnson	42.631
8	21	M DiBenedetto	42.691
9	12	R Blaney	42.810
10	95	C Bell	42.836
11	20	E Jones	42.871
12	38	J Nemechek	42.921
13	2	B Keselowski	42.997
14	3	A Dillon	43.019
15	4	K Harvick	43.091
16	10	A Almirola	43.134
17	19	M Truex Jr.	43.187
18	32	C Lajoie	43.311
19	41	C Custer	43.354
20	13	T Dillon	43.399
21	11	D Hamlin	43.587
22	34	M McDowell	43.638
23	24	W Byron	43.644
24	27	G Gaulding	43.779
25	52	J Yeley	43.826
26	22	J Logano	43.840
27	18	K Busch	43.857
28	66	T Hill	43.951
29	43	B Wallace	44.034
30	6	R Newman	44.062
31	8	T Reddick	44.155
32	14	C Bowyer	44.200
33	53	G Smithley	44.865
34	37	R Preece	44.871
35	96	D Suarez	44.876
36	034	T Egg	51.894
37	013	T Nadz	52.674
38	26	J Zolecki	1:18.820
39	98	Z Webster	1:27.118

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, East 14 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	98	Z Webster	152.328	19	7*	185	Running
2	9	26	J Zolecki	-0.15	19	0	170	Running
3	2	097	G Slab	-0.41	19	5	170	Running
4	32	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-0.60	19	0	160	Running
5	34	12	R Blaney	-0.65	19	0	155	Running
6	17	20	E Jones	-0.76	19	0	150	Running
7	33	2	B Keselowski	-0.82	19	0	146	Running
8	15	27	G Gaulding	-0.91	19	0	142	Running
9	22	034	T Egg	-0.94	19	0	138	Running
10	24	34	M McDowell	-0.99	19	0	134	Running
11	12	88	A Bowman	-1.00	19	0	130	Running
12	16	17	C Buescher	-1.10	19	0	127	Running
13	10	24	W Byron	-1.12	19	4	129	Running
14	19	9	C Elliott	-1.21	19	0	121	Running
15	8	1	K Busch2	-1.27	19	0	118	Running
16	26	37	R Preece	-1.36	19	0	115	Running
17	38	18	K Busch	-1.45	19	0	112	Running
18	30	48	J Johnson	-1.45	19	0	109	Running
19	13	41	C Custer	-1.54	19	0	106	Running
20	35	8	T Reddick	-1.55	19	0	103	Running
21	21	42	M Kenseth	-1.62	19	0	100	Running
22	1	013	T Nadz	-2.31	19	3	102	Running
23	37	6	R Newman	-2.43	19	0	94	Running
24	39	4	K Harvick	-2.52	19	0	91	Running
25	4	66	T Hill	-2.59	19	0	88	Running
26	25	10	A Almirola	-2.68	19	0	85	Running
27	23	32	C Lajoie	-2.83	19	0	82	Running
28	7	53	G Smithley	-3.01	19	0	79	Running
29	18	19	M Truex Jr.	-3.32	19	0	76	Running
30	40	52	J Yeley	-3.36	19	0	73	Running
31	29	3	A Dillon	-3.81	19	0	70	Running
32	20	96	D Suarez	-5.08	19	0	67	Running
33	28	38	J Nemechek	-5.31	19	0	64	Running
34	6	14	C Bowyer	-5.45	19	0	61	Running
35	36	13	T Dillon	-5.97	19	0	58	Running
36	11	95	C Bell	-6.07	19	0	55	Running
37	5	021	T Bear	-10.30	19	0	52	Running
38	27	21	M DiBenedetto	-36.89	19	0	49	Running
39	14	22	J Logano	-1L	18	0	46	Running
40	41	11	D Hamlin	-7L	12	0	43	Accident
41	31	43	B Wallace	-7L	12	0	40	Accident

Caution Flags: 3 (8 laps)

Lead Changes: 4 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 64 °F, South 10 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
8	021	Entering closed pits	Go to end of longest line
14	013	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line