Nascar Sprint Cup Championship 2014 - 30 Kansas

Happy Birthday, Chad!  I wish you could have gotten a better present than what Kansas gave you.  More on that in a moment.  We've entered the 2nd round of eliminations; the Contender Round.  This first race had a lot of ups and downs, cautions and green flag runs.  And good racing with DNFs.  Who would have thought a cookie cutter would be so interesting?  Qualifying put me up at 2nd with Chad leading the humans further down the field.  Those AI had some rocket booster qualy setups for sure.

Things started off smoothly enough and we settled in for almost a dozen laps.  I got a good jump on the field while my fellow humans stayed out of trouble at the back.

Well, mostly out of trouble.  There were some heads getting knocked around...

But nothing significant to roll out the caution.

Until Chad would have no more of the 98, Josh Wise.

Many AI hit the pit.

After another long stretch of green laps, Chad helped Almirola to the wall, bringing out our second yellow.

On this restart, I got loose into Josh Wise and spun across the infield.  No yellow.

Sandy, thinking Wise was me, slowed up allowing room to rejoin the racing groove.  Upon realizing it wasn't me, he downshifted and torqued his engine into oblivion.  Really got stop tearing up these cars...

The next yellow was almost immediately after the last when Darrel got loose coming out of two and Scot was bumped by Dillon.  Darrel suffered some big damage from the inside wall but kept going.

Scot ended up getting further up the field where he had a brush with Jimmie Johnson.

6-time sent him into the wall where Scot bounced back into traffic.  But there wasn't much damage done...yet.

Pit road was busy again and this would be the one to make it to the end.

On the restart, Chad had taken the lead thanks to some clever strategy and I was working my way up to him.

When I got there, I called out to pass him high coming out of 2.  Little did I know that we had lost some ground to Bowyer and he was charging up the inside.

Assuming Chad was reacting on impulse, he pulled up to avoid contact which nearly always comes from an inside passing computer car.  Try as I might, the wall was as far over as I could get and by the time I realized what was happening it was too late.  Sandy watched on in horror.

Despite our collision in front of the field, little damage was done and we both started going.  However, Chad was still up towards the racing groove and a retarded Jamie MacMurray slammed him hard.

The resulting accident caused much calamity.

A flustered Chad took out his frustrations on an unsuspecting Vickers while under yellow.  This mid-race incident would be the end for Chad.  Really sorry, bud.

But the wreckfest wasn't over yet.  Once we got going again, Scot found himself in traffic once more and let 'em have it.

Upon seeing the smoke and cars ahead, I screwed up my corner and buggered my car some.

While I was coming onto the backstretch and getting myself pointed correctly, Scot continued his siege of the field, turning himself and Kesolowski into a 2-man wrecking ball.

The two did a classic 7-10 split...

And caused a wreck the likes of Talladega or Daytona.

Less than 20 to go and after Scot's engine failed, it was just me and Darrel vs. the field.

After an exciting run, I made it to first with about 4 or 5 to go where I'd go on to take the win and clinch my spot in the next round.

Even Darrel was busting heads with his busted car and earned an unlikely 25th.

Now, there is some debate as to how the points should currently be handled.  We've discovered several sources saying that eliminated Chase contenders should be reset to regular pre-Chase status while others (and seemingly NASCAR) are claiming that eliminated Chasers compete with each other for 5th-16th.  While I certainly think the former is more appropriate, NASCAR seems to believe it won't let Jr. get a good shot at finishing well.  So, because the spirit of the championship is to reflect the actual points race (and simulate it as closely as possible) I will likely be resetting the points to correspond with the Chase.  That is, Scot and Darrel will be moved back into the top 16 to compete with other eliminated Chase contenders.  I won't make this adjustment until we enter the elimination round so as to confirm this is the direction the Chase is taking.  All hale Lord Jr.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	30.854
2	061	D Hamilton	31.213
3	055	C Ferguson	31.451
4	4	K Harvick	31.554
5	99	C Edwards	31.628
6	18	K Busch	31.647
7	88	D Earnhardt Jr	31.689
8	27	P Menard	31.734
9	16	G Biffle	31.759
10	11	D Hamlin	31.862
11	029	M Max	31.881
12	021	T Bear	31.922
13	15	C Bowyer	31.935
14	78	M Truex Jr	31.947
15	14	T Stewart	31.951
16	31	R Newman	31.977
17	2	B Keselowski	31.998
18	24	J Gordon	32.060
19	66	J Burton	32.069
20	22	J Logano	32.085
21	48	J Johnson	32.088
22	34	D Ragan	32.096
23	5	K Kahne	32.103
24	1	J McMurray	32.136
25	9	M Ambrose	32.159
26	41	K Busch2	32.188
27	13	C Mears	32.193
28	47	A Allmendinger	32.200
29	43	A Almirola	32.214
30	32	T Kvapil	32.270
31	40	L Cassill	32.316
32	77	D Blaney	32.335
33	3	A Dillon	32.343
34	98	J Wise	32.356
35	52	B Labonte	32.398
36	35	E McClure	32.406
37	95	M McDowell	32.426
38	38	D Gilliland	32.442
39	55	B Vickers	32.463
40	10	D Patrick	32.478
41	17	R Stenhouse Jr	32.526
42	30	D Stremme	32.687
43	20	M Kenseth	54.711

Weather: Clear, 48 °F, East 12 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	27	P Menard	30.875
2	013	T Nadz	30.893
3	78	M Truex Jr	30.901
4	4	K Harvick	30.972
5	1	J McMurray	31.023
6	24	J Gordon	31.063
7	48	J Johnson	31.064
8	99	C Edwards	31.079
9	18	K Busch	31.085
10	16	G Biffle	31.092
11	88	D Earnhardt Jr	31.095
12	31	R Newman	31.121
13	22	J Logano	31.136
14	11	D Hamlin	31.153
15	2	B Keselowski	31.232
16	5	K Kahne	31.254
17	055	C Ferguson	31.267
18	14	T Stewart	31.327
19	15	C Bowyer	31.346
20	9	M Ambrose	31.361
21	47	A Allmendinger	31.383
22	34	D Ragan	31.444
23	66	J Burton	31.448
24	41	K Busch2	31.478
25	43	A Almirola	31.503
26	38	D Gilliland	31.520
27	021	T Bear	31.526
28	20	M Kenseth	31.579
29	55	B Vickers	31.579
30	40	L Cassill	31.591
31	77	D Blaney	31.631
32	52	B Labonte	31.674
33	32	T Kvapil	31.682
34	35	E McClure	31.695
35	17	R Stenhouse Jr	31.969
36	98	J Wise	32.031
37	13	C Mears	32.056
38	95	M McDowell	32.078
39	30	D Stremme	32.099
40	10	D Patrick	32.242
41	029	M Max	32.318
42	3	A Dillon	32.542
43	061	D Hamilton	34.694

Weather: Clear, 48 °F, Northeast 15 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	30.947
2	061	D Hamilton	31.120
3	20	M Kenseth	31.527
4	48	J Johnson	31.606
5	99	C Edwards	31.638
6	021	T Bear	31.650
7	4	K Harvick	31.653
8	14	T Stewart	31.729
9	16	G Biffle	31.756
10	055	C Ferguson	31.812
11	22	J Logano	31.884
12	31	R Newman	31.911
13	24	J Gordon	31.939
14	27	P Menard	31.942
15	029	M Max	31.948
16	5	K Kahne	31.949
17	15	C Bowyer	31.951
18	9	M Ambrose	31.955
19	18	K Busch	31.964
20	2	B Keselowski	31.972
21	35	E McClure	31.982
22	1	J McMurray	31.996
23	13	C Mears	32.024
24	11	D Hamlin	32.049
25	66	J Burton	32.114
26	41	K Busch2	32.117
27	38	D Gilliland	32.123
28	52	B Labonte	32.201
29	78	M Truex Jr	32.223
30	32	T Kvapil	32.240
31	88	D Earnhardt Jr	32.294
32	17	R Stenhouse Jr	32.310
33	47	A Allmendinger	32.318
34	77	D Blaney	32.336
35	43	A Almirola	32.385
36	40	L Cassill	32.421
37	34	D Ragan	32.431
38	30	D Stremme	32.475
39	55	B Vickers	32.521
40	98	J Wise	32.531
41	10	D Patrick	32.545
42	95	M McDowell	32.550
43	3	A Dillon	32.695

Weather: Clear, 47 °F, East 12 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	2	013	T Nadz	119.263	67	27*	185	Running
2	19	15	C Bowyer	-4.47	67	19	175	Running
3	3	78	M Truex Jr	-6.04	67	0	165	Running
4	11	88	D Earnhardt Jr	-6.12	67	0	160	Running
5	12	31	R Newman	-6.95	67	0	155	Running
6	13	22	J Logano	-7.45	67	0	150	Running
7	14	11	D Hamlin	-8.33	67	0	146	Running
8	28	20	M Kenseth	-10.47	67	0	142	Running
9	20	9	M Ambrose	-10.73	67	0	138	Running
10	6	24	J Gordon	-12.46	67	0	134	Running
11	31	77	D Blaney	-13.48	67	0	130	Running
12	1	27	P Menard	-15.03	67	12	132	Running
13	37	13	C Mears	-15.91	67	0	124	Running
14	16	5	K Kahne	-16.17	67	0	121	Running
15	24	41	K Busch2	-16.56	67	0	118	Running
16	7	48	J Johnson	-16.64	67	0	115	Running
17	9	18	K Busch	-17.77	67	0	112	Running
18	30	40	L Cassill	-17.96	67	0	109	Running
19	34	35	E McClure	-18.11	67	0	106	Running
20	26	38	D Gilliland	-18.29	67	0	103	Running
21	15	2	B Keselowski	-19.71	67	0	100	Running
22	42	3	A Dillon	-19.91	67	3	102	Running
23	39	30	D Stremme	-20.05	67	0	94	Running
24	33	32	T Kvapil	-20.40	67	0	91	Running
25	43	061	D Hamilton	-26.80	67	0	88	Running
26	10	16	G Biffle	-28.25	67	0	85	Running
27	8	99	C Edwards	-28.52	67	0	82	Running
28	21	47	A Allmendinger	-28.66	67	0	79	Running
29	25	43	A Almirola	-29.03	67	0	76	Running
30	32	52	B Labonte	-29.19	67	0	73	Running
31	40	10	D Patrick	-30.38	67	0	70	Running
32	22	34	D Ragan	-30.80	67	0	67	Running
33	38	95	M McDowell	-1L	66	0	64	Running
34	36	98	J Wise	-1L	66	0	61	Running
35	18	14	T Stewart	-1L	66	0	58	Running
36	4	4	K Harvick	-2L	65	0	55	Running
37	35	17	R Stenhouse Jr	-2L	65	0	52	Running
38	5	1	J McMurray	-16L	51	0	49	Retired
39	41	029	M Max	-16L	51	0	46	Engine
40	23	66	J Burton	-17L	50	0	43	Retired
41	29	55	B Vickers	-22L	45	0	40	Accident
42	17	055	C Ferguson	-22L	45	6	42	Retired
43	27	021	T Bear	-43L	24	0	34	Header

Caution Flags: 8 (29 laps)

Lead Changes: 8 (5 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 46 °F, East 13 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 96%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
32	061	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
39	029	Passing the pacecar	Held for 30 seconds
40	029	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
40	029	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
40	029	Passing the pacecar	Held for 39 seconds
48	061	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
51	029	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line

Nascar Sprint Cup Championship 2014 - 29 Dover

The first round of the Chase has ended and it is official:  Only one human has made it to the Contender Round.  Scot and Darrel both did not receive enough points to clear the 12th place position and were eliminated along with Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton.  It was a tough race for everyone and well fought, regardless.

Good start after a mulligan with me at pole and Darrel and Sandy close behind.

Close racing down the order until, 10 laps in, Scot bumped into some old friends.

While there were minor scuffles and skirmishes on the track, the first tragedy came when Darrel was running around second.  He got shuffled back slightly and then coming out of turn four, Truex Jr. bounced him into the outside wall.

Darrel then proceeded to be steamrolled by Kahne and many others.

The wreck was rather large and was the turning point for Darrel's chase dreams, even though a few other chasers were out.

On the restart, Chad and I led the charge, even though Chad was a little heavy on the gas.

He held onto it nicely and was doing fine until Ryan Newman caught him on the back stretch and took him down.  Well, Chad wasn't out yet...

More bad news about a third of the race in as Scott Hagerty got punished by Mr. Truex Jr.  Truex got caught in the mess and there were a few fatalities from this.  Hagerty could have continued on but after struggling with a damaged, near undrivable car all race, he eventually would park it.

And during this set of cautions, Chad had some trouble getting his crew to work.  Gratuitous boob shot.

Once we were back to racing, we all were finding these restarts to be very torque heavy and difficult to manage.  Stewart got by me and I fought back hard to catch him, nearly taking us both out.

Chad takes out frustrations on the 18!

At roughly the halfway point, Sandy took the lead while almost all of the field pitted.

He even stayed out despite the fact he would be a bit short on fuel.  But he was willing to gamble.  However, fate had different designs for the Microsoft team.  On the restart, some crowding and the slightest bump from Kenseth (plus a lead foot from Sandy) caused a quick spin.

One which I narrowly avoided.

And most of the field did not.

Can you say bottle neck?

Back to racing and the battles were intense all over the track.  Here I was trading paint with Edwards.

Our next yellow came out when Chad forgot which way to turn.

Oh damn!  Looks like two contenders are out for the rest of this one.

Racing to the line and these bone heads tried to make it 5-wide!

But my buddy, the wall, pushed me right back into their formation.

And sent these clowns into the dirt.

They even collected a few more before the end of it.

 But my little victory was short lived.  I guess I had some damage, bad tires, and who knows what else for I simply lost it into turn one.

I didn't suffer much damage, but I guess Scot felt the need to punish the wall?  Actually, he was coming up fast on Sandy and tapped the breaks, sending the car sliding.

Short on laps now, we were getting down to the final 20 and I was pushing my way through the field.

I wasn't the only one.  Scot knocked Cassill well up the track.

While we had a brief caution for Cassill's incident, it was still green after these two got body slammed out wide.

Around the same time (about 5 or 6 to go), I had caught and passed Edwards for the lead.

Good thing too as Scot caught Michael McDowell and fed him to the safer barriers.

The remaining humans celebrated with a majestic dance.  Despite Chad's great efforts, Darrel and Scot could not stay in the Chase.  But they are doing well in their current positions which you can view from the Current Standings link.  Next is Kansas.

Results

Session: Practice

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	22.504
2	061	D Hamilton	22.710
3	029	M Max	22.916
4	20	M Kenseth	22.969
5	055	C Ferguson	23.061
6	16	G Biffle	23.086
7	021	T Bear	23.104
8	48	J Johnson	23.113
9	41	K Busch2	23.119
10	31	R Newman	23.121
11	27	P Menard	23.129
12	1	J McMurray	23.141
13	5	K Kahne	23.142
14	2	B Keselowski	23.165
15	78	M Truex Jr	23.203
16	18	K Busch	23.205
17	11	D Hamlin	23.233
18	88	D Earnhardt Jr	23.233
19	15	C Bowyer	23.247
20	4	K Harvick	23.289
21	22	J Logano	23.293
22	14	T Stewart	23.299
23	66	J Burton	23.324
24	9	M Ambrose	23.326
25	99	C Edwards	23.365
26	47	A Allmendinger	23.371
27	35	E McClure	23.373
28	34	D Ragan	23.384
29	32	T Kvapil	23.384
30	24	J Gordon	23.421
31	43	A Almirola	23.485
32	55	B Vickers	23.497
33	13	C Mears	23.512
34	40	L Cassill	23.523
35	77	D Blaney	23.547
36	30	D Stremme	23.550
37	52	B Labonte	23.553
38	38	D Gilliland	23.554
39	21	T Bayne	23.560
40	95	M McDowell	23.561
41	17	R Stenhouse Jr	23.607
42	98	J Wise	23.643
43	051	S Hagerty	24.974

Weather: Cloudy, 89 °F, Northwest 9 mph

Session: Qualifying

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	22.321
2	14	T Stewart	22.784
3	24	J Gordon	22.808
4	20	M Kenseth	22.827
5	31	R Newman	22.838
6	5	K Kahne	22.850
7	88	D Earnhardt Jr	22.853
8	15	C Bowyer	22.891
9	061	D Hamilton	22.891
10	021	T Bear	22.924
11	78	M Truex Jr	22.943
12	2	B Keselowski	22.957
13	18	K Busch	22.963
14	22	J Logano	22.989
15	16	G Biffle	23.010
16	66	J Burton	23.021
17	11	D Hamlin	23.076
18	35	E McClure	23.092
19	27	P Menard	23.098
20	41	K Busch2	23.129
21	77	D Blaney	23.143
22	13	C Mears	23.176
23	1	J McMurray	23.257
24	4	K Harvick	23.259
25	9	M Ambrose	23.260
26	38	D Gilliland	23.265
27	99	C Edwards	23.279
28	30	D Stremme	23.337
29	47	A Allmendinger	23.346
30	17	R Stenhouse Jr	23.386
31	55	B Vickers	23.399
32	21	T Bayne	23.449
33	34	D Ragan	23.453
34	43	A Almirola	23.488
35	48	J Johnson	23.612
36	95	M McDowell	23.620
37	32	T Kvapil	23.625
38	52	B Labonte	24.039
39	40	L Cassill	24.179
40	98	J Wise	24.340
41	051	S Hagerty	27.216
42	029	M Max	37.343
43	055	C Ferguson	--

Weather: Cloudy, 89 °F, North 9 mph

Session: Happy Hour

P	#	DRIVER	TIME
1	013	T Nadz	22.495
2	061	D Hamilton	22.877
3	029	M Max	23.036
4	15	C Bowyer	23.063
5	021	T Bear	23.069
6	99	C Edwards	23.069
7	48	J Johnson	23.125
8	78	M Truex Jr	23.129
9	1	J McMurray	23.132
10	20	M Kenseth	23.161
11	16	G Biffle	23.169
12	055	C Ferguson	23.186
13	22	J Logano	23.225
14	41	K Busch2	23.225
15	5	K Kahne	23.243
16	31	R Newman	23.245
17	27	P Menard	23.260
18	11	D Hamlin	23.269
19	24	J Gordon	23.335
20	9	M Ambrose	23.379
21	4	K Harvick	23.385
22	52	B Labonte	23.393
23	14	T Stewart	23.399
24	43	A Almirola	23.430
25	40	L Cassill	23.458
26	34	D Ragan	23.464
27	2	B Keselowski	23.466
28	18	K Busch	23.484
29	30	D Stremme	23.499
30	66	J Burton	23.532
31	32	T Kvapil	23.542
32	13	C Mears	23.567
33	98	J Wise	23.570
34	38	D Gilliland	23.574
35	95	M McDowell	23.587
36	47	A Allmendinger	23.624
37	88	D Earnhardt Jr	23.648
38	77	D Blaney	23.727
39	35	E McClure	23.728
40	55	B Vickers	23.734
41	21	T Bayne	23.788
42	17	R Stenhouse Jr	23.873
43	051	S Hagerty	24.410

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, West 11 mph

Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS

F	S	#	DRIVER	INTERVAL	LAPS	LED	POINTS	STATUS
1	1	013	T Nadz	97.526	80	44*	185	Running
2	27	99	C Edwards	-1.13	80	12	175	Running
3	17	11	D Hamlin	-1.39	80	16	170	Running
4	7	88	D Earnhardt Jr	-1.67	80	0	160	Running
5	15	16	G Biffle	-1.94	80	0	155	Running
6	3	24	J Gordon	-2.25	80	0	150	Running
7	2	14	T Stewart	-2.55	80	5	151	Running
8	20	41	K Busch2	-2.92	80	0	142	Running
9	24	4	K Harvick	-3.21	80	0	138	Running
10	12	2	B Keselowski	-3.52	80	0	134	Running
11	8	15	C Bowyer	-3.83	80	0	130	Running
12	42	029	M Max	-4.84	80	0	127	Running
13	31	55	B Vickers	-7.50	80	0	124	Running
14	23	1	J McMurray	-15.62	80	0	121	Running
15	10	021	T Bear	-24.05	80	3	123	Running
16	34	43	A Almirola	-1L	79	0	115	Running
17	26	38	D Gilliland	-2L	78	0	112	Running
18	36	95	M McDowell	-3L	77	0	109	Running
19	39	40	L Cassill	-3L	77	0	106	Running
20	38	52	B Labonte	-27L	53	0	103	Retired
21	11	78	M Truex Jr	-29L	51	0	100	Retired
22	14	22	J Logano	-30L	50	0	97	Accident
23	5	31	R Newman	-30L	50	0	94	Retired
24	25	9	M Ambrose	-31L	49	0	91	Accident
25	40	98	J Wise	-31L	49	0	88	Retired
26	19	27	P Menard	-31L	49	0	85	Accident
27	32	21	T Bayne	-32L	48	0	82	Accident
28	28	30	D Stremme	-32L	48	0	79	Retired
29	4	20	M Kenseth	-32L	48	0	76	Accident
30	21	77	D Blaney	-34L	46	0	73	DQ
31	43	055	C Ferguson	-36L	44	0	70	Accident
32	29	47	A Allmendinger	-37L	43	0	67	Retired
33	13	18	K Busch	-41L	39	0	64	Retired
34	41	051	S Hagerty	-47L	33	0	61	Retired
35	16	66	J Burton	-64L	16	0	58	Retired
36	6	5	K Kahne	-64L	16	0	55	Accident
37	18	35	E McClure	-64L	16	0	52	Retired
38	9	061	D Hamilton	-65L	15	0	49	Accident
39	35	48	J Johnson	-65L	15	0	46	Accident
40	33	34	D Ragan	-65L	15	0	43	Accident
41	30	17	R Stenhouse Jr	-65L	15	0	40	Accident
42	37	32	T Kvapil	-65L	15	0	37	Accident
43	22	13	C Mears	-65L	15	0	34	Retired

Caution Flags: 9 (32 laps)

Lead Changes: 7 (5 drivers)

Weather: Cloudy, 72 °F, Northwest 16 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 2x

AI Strength: 97%

PENALTIES

LAP	#	INFRACTION	PENALTY
12	021	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
22	051	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
23	055	Unsafe pit exit	Go to end of longest line
46	029	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line
52	029	Speeding in pits	Go to end of longest line