2021-1 NASCAR Cup Series - Round 29: Phoenix

 Stream: https://youtu.be/hss09NxQQ9g

The final round of the Monster Energy Cup 2021 comes to a close in the desert.  And there was some (da) rude sandstorms aplenty.

Race 1:

The first 16 lapper was lead off by Zolecki with Tnadz and Gut Slab in tow.

The Egg was doing his best to get through the field while causing some irregular traffic patterns.

But it was Gut Slab who was forcing the issue.

More than once.

This one threw debris back to The Egg, ending his race.

At the front, Zolecki managed to keep his lead and take the win against a challenging Tnadz.

Race 2:

The second round was similar but Zolecki and Tnadz were alone at the top.

Gut Slab was in the back dive bombing away.

The Bear was nearly caught up in the cacophony.

The Egg, not to be outdone, took out the other 34.

Gut Slab struck back by attacking more of the back markers.

The Egg attempted to one up Slab when he was caught in his own disaster.

Suddenly, Zolecki went straight onto the outside wall on the front stretch for no reason, ending his dominant lead.

Gut Slab was, simultaneously, killing more cars.

His continued reign of destruction brought on more wrecks and penalty points.

One of the cars involved came up to say hello to The Bear.

Thinking he had clear track from Jamie and Ross (two cars above), he threw it in reverse and promptly ended Tnadz's potential win.

It wouldn't have been a complete DNF without Gut Slab sending the 12 into Tnadz's engine block.

Race 3:

The final race of the season was lead off by Tnadz ahead of Know U 2 with the arrival of Webster.

The first caution didn't take long as The Egg sent Stenhouse up the track.

The next one came from Gut Slab who continued his reign of terror.

He didn't have much luck trying to take out the 00.

That caution put the race in the fuel window and everyone was in for tires and petrol.

A rare speeding violation saw Zolecki to the back of the line.

Gut Slab and The Bear touched a bit after Slab lost it, bringing out the next caution.

Unfortunate for The Bear as he got swept around from the field trying to race back to the yellow.

Meanwhile, Webster and Tnadz were crossing swords as they dueled for the lead.

The Egg seemed to have lost it on the backstretch, just in front of Sandy, bringing out the next caution.

It was getting to the end and it was on for Webster and Smith when the 98 cut sharp to the left to block Tnadz's charge.  The chop, took both cars to the inside.

Tnadz received the slightest tap, returning him into traffic and sustaining major damage.

Zolecki also caught a piece of the action with a head on collision with Jimmie Johnson.

The Egg tangled with Kroger and brought out a late race caution.

Webster and Tnadz aggressively dove through traffic trying to gain advantage to the line.

On the restart with only a lap to spare, half the field dove to the pits, causing a major checkup.  Tnadz slapped the back of Zack and a large pileup ensued.

The Egg made a last ditch effort to grab more positions and nearly had Tnadz but was too deep into the final corner to hold the move.

In the end, no humans could take advantage on this race but Zolecki managed the biggest gains from the biggest loses, coming back for 4th and dominating the season.

Next series will be another Pot Luck using the Cup 98 mod.

Race 1

Track: ISM RACEWAY

Date: 09/08/21

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	27.135
2	013	T Nadz	27.490
3	097	G Slab	27.599
4	10	A Almirola	27.675
5	1	K Busch2	27.700
6	9	C Elliott	27.710
7	11	D Hamlin	27.713
8	21	M DiBenedetto	27.715
9	19	M Truex Jr.	27.724
10	12	R Blaney	27.766
11	48	J Johnson	27.784
12	18	K Busch	27.785
13	3	A Dillon	27.804
14	24	W Byron	27.806
15	22	J Logano	27.825
16	15	B Poole	27.825
17	2	B Keselowski	27.830
18	88	A Bowman	27.830
19	4	K Harvick	27.834
20	41	C Custer	27.851
21	17	C Buescher	27.858
22	20	E Jones	27.870
23	62	B Gaughan	27.870
24	42	M Kenseth	27.884
25	021	T Bear	27.885
26	7	J Bilicki	27.890
27	52	J Yeley	27.895
28	6	R Newman	27.902
29	32	C Lajoie	27.909
30	95	C Bell	27.912
31	00	Q Houff	27.918
32	13	T Dillon	27.922
33	8	T Reddick	27.932
34	14	C Bowyer	27.935
35	51	J Gase	27.969
36	43	B Wallace	27.976
37	27	G Gaulding	27.998
38	53	G Smithley	28.011
39	37	R Preece	28.070
40	034	T Egg	47.034

Weather: Cloudy, 75 °F, Northeast 6 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	26.825
2	013	T Nadz	27.106
3	097	G Slab	27.576
4	24	W Byron	27.823
5	1	K Busch2	27.853
6	9	C Elliott	27.857
7	21	M DiBenedetto	27.866
8	12	R Blaney	27.885
9	18	K Busch	27.892
10	48	J Johnson	27.893
11	034	T Egg	27.927
12	22	J Logano	27.930
13	19	M Truex Jr.	27.933
14	3	A Dillon	27.940
15	20	E Jones	27.947
16	88	A Bowman	27.952
17	10	A Almirola	27.965
18	2	B Keselowski	27.984
19	11	D Hamlin	27.996
20	4	K Harvick	27.997
21	14	C Bowyer	28.011
22	41	C Custer	28.079
23	42	M Kenseth	28.145
24	62	B Gaughan	28.182
25	37	R Preece	28.235
26	15	B Poole	28.251
27	8	T Reddick	28.261
28	52	J Yeley	28.263
29	13	T Dillon	28.289
30	32	C Lajoie	28.293
31	95	C Bell	28.300
32	53	G Smithley	28.306
33	17	C Buescher	28.337
34	27	G Gaulding	28.419
35	7	J Bilicki	28.457
36	43	B Wallace	28.479
37	00	Q Houff	28.495
38	51	J Gase	28.611
39	6	R Newman	28.774
40	021	T Bear	30.594
41	0		--
42	0		--
43	0		--

Weather: Cloudy, 75 °F, Northeast 9 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	27.489
2	22	J Logano	28.170
3	3	A Dillon	28.209
4	4	K Harvick	28.221
5	11	D Hamlin	28.228
6	12	R Blaney	28.258
7	18	K Busch	28.269
8	24	W Byron	28.304
9	48	J Johnson	28.343
10	2	B Keselowski	28.351
11	62	B Gaughan	28.357
12	17	C Buescher	28.368
13	021	T Bear	28.374
14	20	E Jones	28.377
15	19	M Truex Jr.	28.378
16	14	C Bowyer	28.413
17	32	C Lajoie	28.420
18	42	M Kenseth	28.425
19	88	A Bowman	28.433
20	1	K Busch2	28.444
21	43	B Wallace	28.445
22	15	B Poole	28.474
23	8	T Reddick	28.521
24	00	Q Houff	28.533
25	51	J Gase	28.557
26	10	A Almirola	28.561
27	27	G Gaulding	28.584
28	13	T Dillon	28.636
29	37	R Preece	28.659
30	52	J Yeley	28.676
31	53	G Smithley	28.763
32	21	M DiBenedetto	28.780
33	9	C Elliott	28.784
34	013	T Nadz	28.800
35	034	T Egg	28.817
36	7	J Bilicki	28.865
37	95	C Bell	33.409
38	41	C Custer	34.435
39	6	R Newman	34.891

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, North 1 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	26	J Zolecki	138.149	16	16*	185	Running
2	2	013	T Nadz	-0.47	16	0	170	Running
3	7	21	M DiBenedetto	-5.44	16	0	165	Running
4	6	9	C Elliott	-5.59	16	0	160	Running
5	4	24	W Byron	-5.86	16	0	155	Running
6	12	22	J Logano	-6.37	16	0	150	Running
7	5	1	K Busch2	-7.28	16	0	146	Running
8	8	12	R Blaney	-7.42	16	0	142	Running
9	9	18	K Busch	-7.67	16	0	138	Running
10	17	10	A Almirola	-7.85	16	0	134	Running
11	18	2	B Keselowski	-8.09	16	0	130	Running
12	16	88	A Bowman	-8.23	16	0	127	Running
13	19	11	D Hamlin	-9.40	16	0	124	Running
14	20	4	K Harvick	-11.43	16	0	121	Running
15	22	41	C Custer	-11.77	16	0	118	Running
16	10	48	J Johnson	-13.89	16	0	115	Running
17	28	52	J Yeley	-14.53	16	0	112	Running
18	35	7	J Bilicki	-16.14	16	0	109	Running
19	27	8	T Reddick	-16.82	16	0	106	Running
20	26	15	B Poole	-17.99	16	0	103	Running
21	31	95	C Bell	-18.36	16	0	100	Running
22	14	3	A Dillon	-19.37	16	0	97	Running
23	38	51	J Gase	-19.94	16	0	94	Running
24	36	43	B Wallace	-20.10	16	0	91	Running
25	32	53	G Smithley	-21.15	16	0	88	Running
26	29	13	T Dillon	-28.64	16	0	85	Running
27	23	42	M Kenseth	-1L	15	0	82	Running
28	25	37	R Preece	-1L	15	0	79	Running
29	37	00	Q Houff	-1L	15	0	76	Running
30	13	19	M Truex Jr.	-1L	15	0	73	Running
31	21	14	C Bowyer	-3L	13	0	70	Running
32	33	17	C Buescher	-3L	13	0	67	Running
33	40	021	T Bear	-6L	10	0	64	Running
34	3	097	G Slab	-11L	5	0	61	Accident
35	39	6	R Newman	-12L	4	0	58	Retired
36	34	27	G Gaulding	-12L	4	0	55	Retired
37	30	32	C Lajoie	-12L	4	0	52	Retired
38	15	20	E Jones	-12L	4	0	49	Clutch
39	11	034	T Egg	-13L	3	0	46	Accident
40	24	62	B Gaughan	-13L	3	0	43	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 0 (1 driver)

Weather: Clear, 84 °F, West 9 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
11	021	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane

Race 2

Session: Practice

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Northeast 11 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	27.431
2	013	T Nadz	27.465
3	1	K Busch2	28.210
4	19	M Truex Jr.	28.235
5	18	K Busch	28.238
6	24	W Byron	28.240
7	22	J Logano	28.243
8	14	C Bowyer	28.253
9	10	A Almirola	28.257
10	48	J Johnson	28.262
11	4	K Harvick	28.268
12	21	M DiBenedetto	28.268
13	12	R Blaney	28.278
14	88	A Bowman	28.285
15	11	D Hamlin	28.286
16	9	C Elliott	28.289
17	2	B Keselowski	28.289
18	3	A Dillon	28.303
19	41	C Custer	28.380
20	20	E Jones	28.410
21	37	R Preece	28.428
22	13	T Dillon	28.477
23	15	B Poole	28.494
24	021	T Bear	28.504
25	34	M McDowell	28.539
26	53	G Smithley	28.589
27	6	R Newman	28.601
28	43	B Wallace	28.631
29	27	G Gaulding	28.635
30	52	J Yeley	28.657
31	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.658
32	51	J Gase	28.673
33	32	C Lajoie	28.746
34	17	C Buescher	28.940
35	66	T Hill	28.970
36	42	M Kenseth	29.003
37	38	J Nemechek	29.098
38	8	T Reddick	29.123
39	097	G Slab	40.018
40	034	T Egg	--

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, North 15 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P

#

DRIVER

TIME

Weather: Cloudy, 80 °F, North 3 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	3	1	K Busch2	138.258	16	6	180	Running
2	5	18	K Busch	-0.76	16	0	170	Running
3	7	22	J Logano	-1.42	16	0	165	Running
4	9	10	A Almirola	-1.63	16	0	160	Running
5	6	24	W Byron	-3.15	16	0	155	Running
6	8	14	C Bowyer	-3.44	16	0	150	Running
7	11	4	K Harvick	-3.62	16	0	146	Running
8	12	21	M DiBenedetto	-4.90	16	0	142	Running
9	17	2	B Keselowski	-5.09	16	0	138	Running
10	15	11	D Hamlin	-6.03	16	0	134	Running
11	14	88	A Bowman	-6.23	16	0	130	Running
12	16	9	C Elliott	-6.39	16	0	127	Running
13	20	20	E Jones	-6.63	16	0	124	Running
14	10	48	J Johnson	-7.07	16	0	121	Running
15	4	19	M Truex Jr.	-9.22	16	0	118	Running
16	21	37	R Preece	-10.48	16	0	115	Running
17	23	15	B Poole	-11.05	16	0	112	Running
18	33	32	C Lajoie	-11.69	16	0	109	Running
19	28	43	B Wallace	-13.55	16	0	106	Running
20	35	66	T Hill	-20.88	16	0	103	Running
21	1	26	J Zolecki	-1L	15	9*	110	Running
22	37	38	J Nemechek	-1L	15	0	97	Running
23	32	51	J Gase	-2L	14	0	94	Running
24	13	12	R Blaney	-3L	13	0	91	Running
25	31	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-3L	13	0	88	Running
26	39	097	G Slab	-5L	11	0	85	Running
27	24	021	T Bear	-5L	11	0	82	Running
28	2	013	T Nadz	-6L	10	1	84	Accident
29	36	42	M Kenseth	-7L	9	0	76	Camshaft
30	27	6	R Newman	-7L	9	0	73	Retired
31	18	3	A Dillon	-7L	9	0	70	Piston
32	19	41	C Custer	-8L	8	0	67	Accident
33	30	52	J Yeley	-8L	8	0	64	Accident
34	40	034	T Egg	-9L	7	0	61	Accident
35	22	13	T Dillon	-12L	4	0	58	Retired
36	29	27	G Gaulding	-13L	3	0	55	Retired
37	25	34	M McDowell	-14L	2	0	52	Accident
38	26	53	G Smithley	-14L	2	0	49	DQ
39	34	17	C Buescher	-15L	1	0	46	Accident
40	38	8	T Reddick	-15L	1	0	43	Accident

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (3 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 80 °F, East 6 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
9	097	Speeding in pits	Drive through pit lane
11	021	Unsafe pit entrance	Held for 30 seconds

Race 3

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	26	J Zolecki	27.428
2	98	Z Webster	27.845
3	013	T Nadz	27.973
4	097	G Slab	28.019
5	034	T Egg	28.138
6	021	T Bear	28.215
7	1	K Busch2	28.277
8	11	D Hamlin	28.316
9	19	M Truex Jr.	28.320
10	18	K Busch	28.330
11	20	E Jones	28.340
12	88	A Bowman	28.354
13	9	C Elliott	28.370
14	3	A Dillon	28.376
15	41	C Custer	28.382
16	21	M DiBenedetto	28.404
17	4	K Harvick	28.407
18	37	R Preece	28.437
19	95	C Bell	28.438
20	14	C Bowyer	28.444
21	2	B Keselowski	28.447
22	96	D Suarez	28.455
23	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.460
24	52	J Yeley	28.465
25	22	J Logano	28.467
26	43	B Wallace	28.479
27	17	C Buescher	28.479
28	53	G Smithley	28.497
29	48	J Johnson	28.506
30	12	R Blaney	28.506
31	15	B Poole	28.506
32	42	M Kenseth	28.521
33	8	T Reddick	28.525
34	7	J Bilicki	28.567
35	10	A Almirola	28.569
36	6	R Newman	28.572
37	66	T Hill	28.578
38	24	W Byron	28.592
39	00	Q Houff	28.621
40	13	T Dillon	28.625
41	38	J Nemechek	29.410

Weather: Clear, 75 °F, East 5 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	27.335
2	26	J Zolecki	27.479
3	98	Z Webster	27.782
4	22	J Logano	28.196
5	3	A Dillon	28.214
6	9	C Elliott	28.229
7	12	R Blaney	28.241
8	097	G Slab	28.249
9	18	K Busch	28.274
10	19	M Truex Jr.	28.274
11	20	E Jones	28.295
12	42	M Kenseth	28.295
13	11	D Hamlin	28.297
14	48	J Johnson	28.305
15	4	K Harvick	28.333
16	1	K Busch2	28.338
17	21	M DiBenedetto	28.340
18	88	A Bowman	28.365
19	10	A Almirola	28.366
20	2	B Keselowski	28.369
21	53	G Smithley	28.411
22	24	W Byron	28.412
23	17	C Buescher	28.507
24	95	C Bell	28.514
25	38	J Nemechek	28.518
26	43	B Wallace	28.567
27	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.616
28	034	T Egg	28.617
29	14	C Bowyer	28.624
30	37	R Preece	28.629
31	66	T Hill	28.629
32	7	J Bilicki	28.685
33	00	Q Houff	28.694
34	52	J Yeley	28.714
35	13	T Dillon	28.755
36	6	R Newman	28.874
37	8	T Reddick	28.913
38	41	C Custer	29.060
39	96	D Suarez	29.213
40	15	B Poole	29.720
41	021	T Bear	--

Weather: Clear, 75 °F, East 6 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	98	Z Webster	27.819
2	013	T Nadz	27.910
3	21	M DiBenedetto	28.279
4	19	M Truex Jr.	28.361
5	12	R Blaney	28.369
6	42	M Kenseth	28.380
7	24	W Byron	28.388
8	66	T Hill	28.411
9	10	A Almirola	28.449
10	14	C Bowyer	28.450
11	1	K Busch2	28.454
12	48	J Johnson	28.458
13	4	K Harvick	28.483
14	22	J Logano	28.486
15	9	C Elliott	28.507
16	20	E Jones	28.521
17	00	Q Houff	28.564
18	8	T Reddick	28.566
19	18	K Busch	28.570
20	88	A Bowman	28.575
21	3	A Dillon	28.592
22	17	C Buescher	28.592
23	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	28.613
24	7	J Bilicki	28.622
25	034	T Egg	28.639
26	13	T Dillon	28.646
27	2	B Keselowski	28.680
28	43	B Wallace	28.681
29	38	J Nemechek	28.682
30	52	J Yeley	28.685
31	15	B Poole	28.719
32	6	R Newman	28.771
33	53	G Smithley	28.869
34	11	D Hamlin	28.952
35	96	D Suarez	28.953
36	26	J Zolecki	28.954
37	95	C Bell	29.481
38	41	C Custer	33.606
39	37	R Preece	34.607
40	097	G Slab	36.837
41	021	T Bear	42.494

Weather: Clear, 82 °F, Northwest 13 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	7	12	R Blaney	76.920	47	25*	185	Running
2	5	3	A Dillon	-0.46	47	0	170	Running
3	6	9	C Elliott	-0.92	47	0	165	Running
4	2	26	J Zolecki	-1.25	47	12	165	Running
5	15	4	K Harvick	-1.73	47	0	155	Running
6	16	1	K Busch2	-2.20	47	0	150	Running
7	18	88	A Bowman	-2.67	47	0	146	Running
8	19	10	A Almirola	-3.13	47	0	142	Running
9	1	013	T Nadz	-3.36	47	7	143	Running
10	28	034	T Egg	-3.54	47	0	134	Running
11	41	021	T Bear	-5.52	47	0	130	Running
12	17	21	M DiBenedetto	-6.72	47	0	127	Running
13	3	98	Z Webster	-7.66	47	0	124	Running
14	9	18	K Busch	-8.30	47	0	121	Running
15	37	8	T Reddick	-9.00	47	0	118	Running
16	11	20	E Jones	-9.48	47	0	115	Running
17	25	38	J Nemechek	-10.12	47	0	112	Running
18	34	52	J Yeley	-11.08	47	0	109	Running
19	13	11	D Hamlin	-11.42	47	0	106	Running
20	14	48	J Johnson	-12.08	47	0	103	Running
21	24	95	C Bell	-12.20	47	0	100	Running
22	35	13	T Dillon	-12.87	47	0	97	Running
23	29	14	C Bowyer	-13.10	47	0	94	Running
24	30	37	R Preece	-13.24	47	0	91	Running
25	20	2	B Keselowski	-13.51	47	0	88	Running
26	36	6	R Newman	-15.84	47	0	85	Running
27	40	15	B Poole	-17.88	47	0	82	Running
28	39	96	D Suarez	-19.46	47	0	79	Running
29	8	097	G Slab	-1L	46	3	81	Running
30	23	17	C Buescher	-1L	46	0	73	Running
31	21	53	G Smithley	-1L	46	0	70	Running
32	31	66	T Hill	-1L	46	0	67	Running
33	38	41	C Custer	-1L	46	0	64	Running
34	12	42	M Kenseth	-1L	46	0	61	Running
35	26	43	B Wallace	-1L	46	0	58	Running
36	33	00	Q Houff	-1L	46	0	55	Running
37	27	47	R Stenhouse Jr.	-1L	46	0	52	Running
38	10	19	M Truex Jr.	-1L	46	0	49	Running
39	32	7	J Bilicki	-1L	46	0	46	Running
40	22	24	W Byron	-2L	45	0	43	Running
41	4	22	J Logano	-27L	20	0	40	Clutch

Caution Flags: 8 (27 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (4 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 81 °F, Northwest 13 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 3x

AI Strength: 90%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
20	26	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
26	097	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
37	013	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
47	097	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
48	097	Passing under yellow	Held for 14 seconds