Thursday, August 27, 2015

50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 27-28 Orange County Fairgrounds Raceway

Back in the swing of things on the oldest operating dirt track in America and our 200th post!  This is the 385 version which is much better than the one we started with.  After extensive tweaking of .lp and .ini files, I got the AI to near perfect levels.  At least for this type of dirt track anyway.  A somewhat smaller crowd than normal tonight but still tons of fun.

Race 1:
Humans were at the front in a cluster, though the pole was stolen from us.

Immediately, Darrel and I attacked the poor sap which almost took Darrel out in turn one.

Darrel only backslid a tad and was immediately attacking for 2nd by turn 3.

At that moment, Sandy was doing some attacking himself.

And found himself rocking and rolling.

But quickly recovered and continued on.

Only to be rear ended by Rowdy under caution.

And upside down.

On the restart, Darrel got a jump and took the lead.

As we came around, the 5 was dead out in turn 2 bringing out another yellow.

When we restarted, 4 laps ran by where I was practically glued to Darrel's bumper for some intensely close racing.  Zack was hanging just slightly back anticipating one of us to take the other out.

Darrel almost did that getting hot off the cushion and careening up the track as we approached backmarkers.

Those very backmarkers then caused trouble.  Sandy got bumped wide out of 2 by Trickle.

Hitting the wall and coming back into the 92 caused him to slip sideways and roll.  This one bit it.

Next restart, Darrel and Zack jumped on the restart a little too much and quickly formed one long car.

Darrel nearly took me around but I recovered while he backed off.

Zack didn't waste time to capitalize and shot into second.  But he wasn't clear of Darrel as he came down on him in turn 2.


They both ended up stuck in midair.  Darrel was done while Zack had less damage but had to be towed.  I'm assuming by a crane.

Things were green for a bit until Zack lost it out of 4.

I passed him but allowed him back by both coming to the yellow and shortly after while under green.

Things should have been smooth sailing from there until I got on top of the 93 while putting cars down a lap.


I only fell back to 4th when getting to the yellow but I was mad and tried taking it out on the 42 of Lee Petty.  Due to the sticky nature of the track, I ended up getting thrown into the inside wall.

Not to be discouraged I continued my harassment.

From which I rolled and was towed.

Back under green I was ready to make my fight to the front from the back when Klock and the 92 got tangled.

This Klockblocked the track and brought out the yellow.

With 5 to go, I started my charge with Zack.

I only made it to 19th but it ended in spectacular fashion.

Well, typical fashion.  At least Zack made it out clean.

Race 2:
Another 60 laps and fewer humans at the front for the second round.

A few laps in and Sandy found himself way outside along the wall being forced there from heavy traffic.

He got himself that sticky wall syndrome and swung back into traffic when getting unstuck, causing chaos with Mr. Cole Trickle.

Darrel slung his ride through an ever tightening gap and escaped with minor injuries.

Others did not...

Sandy was going to get a lucky dog but spent too much time on pit road.

Then it was back to green.

About 20+ laps in, Zack was making an inside pass on Sandy and there was a misqueue in communications.  Sandy never saw Zack coming and things got a bit cattywumpus.  By the way, Sandy was managing to stay close to the field with only 3rd gear and a near-nuclear hot engine.

Zack was hurting from this one and would once again be down the order but still running.

About halfway, Darrel did what I could not in Race 1 and took Lee Petty right around.

We were now one and two on the restart.

After lots of clear racing, my car was pushing through the corners and I was having trouble figuring out why.

Darrel approached and this was turning into a mirror image of when Sandy caught me at Cayuga.   Of course, in that scenario, Sandy made the pass and had 7 to go when he scuttled his car into lap traffic. Only about 10 laps left and we were approaching back markers.

It seemed I found my groove again and kept Darrel at arm's length when he got boxed in out of 2 on the white flag lap.

With the race in hand, it became like-father-like-son as I wrecked on Richard Petty.  Seems I bounced the apron a tad and upset my car enough that I glided into the 43.  Like a set of dominoes in the wind, this started a gentle catastrophe as I harpooned the pit wall and flung up the track in front of Darrel.



Our fenders touched and Darrel pulled a 180 right into the 43.

I was dead (and still finishing 4th) but Darrel would manage to bring his car around and finish out the race for the most unlikely win (and his first) of the season yet.

We now get slightly serious as we venture to our second NASCAR track and the largest of the series: Richmond.

Race 1

Session: Practice


P#DRIVERTIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
16B Jordon19.940
234D Hamilton19.946
319T Nadz19.967
423Z Webster19.976
542L Petty20.038
646C Trickle20.038
775D Mulberry20.046
843R Petty20.071
978T McEwen20.086
107J Hampton20.106
1191T Bear20.114
1267B Klock20.130
1351R Burns20.143
1413J Meeks20.168
1518R Wheeler20.175
1692C Sumner20.179
175T Hankins20.180
1895T Mater20.186
19001H Smith20.249
2077R Sweet20.274
2155J Langford20.298
2236P Rozelle20.298
2374J DeWitt20.304
2424M Lester20.328
2540B Ebsen20.347
26003R Holbrook20.354
2717M Downing20.364
281T Daniels20.366
2911M I Bannon20.402
3007R Hutchins20.413
3172A Grant20.430
3232D Roberts20.441
3322M Brings Plenty20.458
343M Benefield20.460
354A Unser20.496
36002T Mender20.506
379S Greenbow20.508
3810E Keene20.513
39102S McBeam20.518
4061D Hudson20.632
4108S Holzheimer20.659
4293R O'Reilly20.679
4398M Joyner20.731

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, West 5 mph


Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME
119T Nadz19.850
291T Bear19.937
323Z Webster20.185
434D Hamilton21.027
57J Hampton21.376
65T Hankins21.415
767B Klock21.614
817M Downing21.681
942L Petty21.697
106B Jordon21.708
1192C Sumner21.749
1277R Sweet21.775
1378T McEwen21.791
1418R Wheeler21.801
1532D Roberts21.818
1636P Rozelle21.852
1751R Burns21.936
1855J Langford21.969
1924M Lester21.983
2095T Mater21.994
2113J Meeks22.000
22003R Holbrook22.004
2343R Petty22.009
2411M I Bannon22.078
2575D Mulberry22.082
2693R O'Reilly22.169
2740B Ebsen22.185
2822M Brings Plenty22.281
29001H Smith22.349
3046C Trickle22.415
3198M Joyner22.473
3274J DeWitt22.617
331T Daniels26.915

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southwest 2 mph


Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
1843R Petty78.3576013180Running
21518R Wheeler-2.15600170Running
3542L Petty-2.73600165Running
41351R Burns-2.91600160Running
516B Jordon-3.13600155Running
6775D Mulberry-3.64600150Running
726003R Holbrook-3.81600146Running
8281T Daniels-4.05600142Running
92540B Ebsen-4.58600138Running
10354A Unser-4.92600134Running
112077R Sweet-5.15600130Running
121895T Mater-5.33600127Running
13107J Hampton-5.36600124Running
143232D Roberts-5.52600121Running
154398M Joyner-5.70600118Running
162155J Langford-5.86600115Running
172236P Rozelle-5.94600112Running
18319T Nadz-6.056037*119Running
192424M Lester-6.08600106Running
2036002T Mender-6.11600103Running
213810E Keene-6.54600100Running
223322M Brings Plenty-6.8360097Running
232717M Downing-6.9660094Running
244108S Holzheimer-7.3660091Running
2539102S McBeam-8.1860088Running
261692C Sumner-8.2760085Running
272911M I Bannon-8.4360082Running
284061D Hudson-8.5860079Running
29646C Trickle-8.6960076Running
303172A Grant-8.8160073Running
31379S Greenbow-9.0560070Running
324293R O'Reilly-1L59067Running
333007R Hutchins-2L58064Running
34423Z Webster-2L58061Running
351267B Klock-7L53058Accident
3619001H Smith-24L36055Running
371191T Bear-29L31052Piston
381413J Meeks-32L28049Running
39234D Hamilton-38L221051Accident
40175T Hankins-52L8043Running
41978T McEwen-54L6040Running
42343M Benefield-55L5037Running
432374J DeWitt-59L1034Running

Caution Flags: 8 (29 laps)

Lead Changes: 3 (3 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, East 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 101%


PENALTIES

LAP#INFRACTIONPENALTY

Race 2

Session: Practice


P#DRIVERTIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
119T Nadz19.814
267B Klock19.951
342L Petty20.010
423Z Webster20.087
510E Keene20.092
692C Sumner20.100
754T Smith20.105
813J Meeks20.110
95T Hankins20.126
1043R Petty20.131
1151R Burns20.152
1245L Carbone20.155
1335J Foss20.174
147J Hampton20.175
1588T Bickle20.180
1636P Rozelle20.183
1775D Mulberry20.194
1891T Bear20.196
1918R Wheeler20.204
2017M Downing20.221
2124M Lester20.244
2277R Sweet20.281
2395T Mater20.288
2434D Hamilton20.299
25002T Mender20.312
26001H Smith20.318
274A Unser20.363
2855J Langford20.370
2911M I Bannon20.378
3072A Grant20.386
3146C Trickle20.402
321T Daniels20.417
3399R Melindez20.432
3440B Ebsen20.446
3574J DeWitt20.457
3627L McQueen20.470
373M Benefield20.508
3822M Brings Plenty20.527
3998M Joyner20.587
40055C McGee20.590
4108S Holzheimer20.728
4293R O'Reilly20.747
4361D Hudson20.930

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, West 4 mph


Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southwest 2 mph


Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
12434D Hamilton91.667601180Running
295T Hankins-4.13600170Running
3342L Petty-6.09600165Running
4119T Nadz-1L5959*170Running
51636P Rozelle-1L590155Running
6267B Klock-1L590150Running
7692C Sumner-1L590146Running
82395T Mater-1L590142Running
91335J Foss-1L590138Running
101918R Wheeler-1L590134Running
111245L Carbone-1L590130Running
121588T Bickle-1L590127Running
131043R Petty-1L590124Running
14754T Smith-1L590121Running
15510E Keene-1L590118Running
16147J Hampton-1L590115Running
172124M Lester-1L590112Running
182911M I Bannon-2L580109Running
1925002T Mender-2L580106Running
202277R Sweet-2L580103Running
21274A Unser-2L580100Running
22373M Benefield-2L58097Running
234361D Hudson-2L58094Running
241775D Mulberry-3L57091Running
251891T Bear-4L56088Running
26813J Meeks-10L50085Retired
27423Z Webster-38L22082Piston
281151R Burns-38L22079Running
294293R O'Reilly-55L5076Running
3040055C McGee-56L4073Running
313627L McQueen-57L3070Retired
323822M Brings Plenty-57L3067Accident
33321T Daniels-57L3064Retired
343998M Joyner-57L3061Accident
353399R Melindez-58L2058Retired
363146C Trickle-58L2055Running
3726001H Smith-58L2052Accident
382017M Downing-58L2049Running
393574J DeWitt-59L1046Accident
402855J Langford-59L1043Accident
413072A Grant-59L1040Accident
424108S Holzheimer-59L1037Accident
433440B Ebsen-59L1034Accident

Caution Flags: 4 (14 laps)

Lead Changes: 1 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 65 °F, Southeast 2 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 101%


PENALTIES

LAP#INFRACTIONPENALTY
2223Smoking EnginePit for repairs



Thursday, August 20, 2015

50's Short Track Classic 2015 - 25-26 Lake Erie Speedway

A few weeks off for traveling and we came back for my own local track, Lake Erie Speedway.  This was also the shortest track we face and it turned out to be one of the zaniest.  Odie also made a come back here for his first time in two years.  We also tried out a dedicated server from our friend Will who let us get a taste and Mark helped with the setup.  Once we finally got things going, the racing was pretty smooth.  By smooth I mean there was little to no lag.

Race 1:
So because we were on a dedicated for the first time, Mark set things up so a few things weren't quite right.  Real weather was off, as was damage and cautions.  Basically a wreckfest for 70 laps.  I'd show pictures but it was basically this the whole time:


Not bad all said and done though.  Odie got a chance to get back into the swing of things and the rest of us got a chance to enjoy another destructive race.  I ended up taking the win at my home track.  I was not beside myself.  It is Erie.

Race 2:
We shortened the laps to 40 due to time and made sure damage, weather and cautions were on.  Which meant most of the race looked like this:
I was able to get another win but it was not easy.  Scot was right there for quite a bit of it.  I'm sure Mark would have also been there had he not wrecked out.  He was also DQed from qualifying in the first race.  It sucks because he was most likely to win over everyone with the times he had.  Certainly not a track intended for 43 cars at once.

We now move onto Orange County for a ride on the dirt side.

Race 1

Session: Practice


P#DRIVERTIME
101M Max16.420
219T Nadz16.561
31M Riggleman Jr17.384
423Z Webster17.653
57J Hampton17.737
643R Petty17.755
778T McEwen17.756
842L Petty17.764
992C Sumner17.797
1067B Klock17.837
1174J DeWitt17.858
1218R Wheeler17.862
1351R Burns17.888
1466D Monroe17.888
1513J Meeks17.901
1691T Bear17.937
174A Unser17.961
1811M I Bannon17.973
19003R Holbrook17.975
2077R Sweet17.991
2146C Trickle18.067
2298M Joyner18.078
2388T Bickle18.107
24001H Smith18.162
2555J Langford18.185
26002T Mender18.187
2740B Ebsen18.193
2859B Paulsen18.193
2935J Foss18.304
3061D Hudson18.318
3112M A Bannon18.319
3210E Keene18.342
3363O Gilbert18.355
3427L McQueen18.393
3575D Mulberry18.411
3641R Farmer18.453
373M Benefield18.510
3895T Mater18.649
3982K Rodriguez18.669
4022M Brings Plenty18.669
4193R O'Reilly18.707
4208S Holzheimer18.715

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
119T Nadz16.334
201M Max16.861
31M Riggleman Jr17.581
443R Petty17.671
551R Burns17.679
623Z Webster17.720
742L Petty17.729
892C Sumner17.793
978T McEwen17.884
107J Hampton17.888
1166D Monroe17.907
1213J Meeks18.032
1377R Sweet18.083
1463O Gilbert18.100
15001H Smith18.111
1691T Bear18.124
1711M I Bannon18.137
1888T Bickle18.167
19002T Mender18.223
2040B Ebsen18.227
21003R Holbrook18.235
224A Unser18.291
2318R Wheeler18.295
2475D Mulberry18.354
2574J DeWitt18.404
2667B Klock18.452
2712M A Bannon18.472
2810E Keene18.541
2946C Trickle18.553
3095T Mater18.631
3135J Foss18.631
3261D Hudson18.635
3398M Joyner18.639
3459B Paulsen18.643
353M Benefield18.670
3627L McQueen18.678
3755J Langford18.730
3841R Farmer18.755
3922M Brings Plenty18.763
4008S Holzheimer18.901
4182K Rodriguez19.133
4293R O'Reilly20.036

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Happy Hour


P#DRIVERTIME

Weather: Clear, 32 °F, North 0 mph


Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
1119T Nadz71.6657059*185Running
2551R Burns-1L691175Running
32318R Wheeler-1L690165Running
41166D Monroe-1L691165Running
5107J Hampton-1L690155Running
62574J DeWitt-2L680150Running
7978T McEwen-2L680146Running
8201M Max-2L688147Running
9892C Sumner-2L680138Running
101377R Sweet-2L680134Running
112667B Klock-2L680130Running
1215001H Smith-2L680127Running
131213J Meeks-2L680124Running
142946C Trickle-2L680121Running
151888T Bickle-2L680118Running
162810E Keene-2L680115Running
172040B Ebsen-3L670112Running
181711M I Bannon-3L670109Running
1921003R Holbrook-3L670106Running
20742L Petty-3L670103Running
21443R Petty-3L671105Running
223135J Foss-4L66097Running
233627L McQueen-4L66094Running
243841R Farmer-4L66091Running
2519002T Mender-4L66088Running
26224A Unser-4L66085Running
273398M Joyner-4L66082Running
283261D Hudson-4L66079Running
292712M A Bannon-4L66076Running
303459B Paulsen-4L66073Running
31353M Benefield-5L65070Running
324293R O'Reilly-5L65067Running
333095T Mater-5L65064Running
342475D Mulberry-5L65061Running
353755J Langford-5L65058Running
364008S Holzheimer-5L65055Running
374182K Rodriguez-5L65052Running
383922M Brings Plenty-6L64049Running
391691T Bear-8L62046Running
40623Z Webster-19L51043Retired
411463O Gilbert-23L47040Running
4231M Riggleman Jr-45L25037Retired

Caution Flags: 0 (0 laps)

Lead Changes: 8 (5 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 70 °F, North 0 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 93%


PENALTIES

LAP#INFRACTIONPENALTY

Race 2

Session: Qualifying


P#DRIVERTIME
119T Nadz16.757
201M Max16.990
3001H Smith17.629
451R Burns17.685
566D Monroe17.764
67J Hampton17.766
746C Trickle17.797
842L Petty17.843
978T McEwen17.852
1036P Rozelle17.913
1123Z Webster17.937
1218R Wheeler17.957
1374J DeWitt17.971
1491T Bear18.060
1567B Klock18.088
1610E Keene18.124
1777R Sweet18.167
18003R Holbrook18.185
1913J Meeks18.186
2011M I Bannon18.190
21002T Mender18.200
2245L Carbone18.203
2340B Ebsen18.267
2443R Petty18.272
25055C McGee18.273
2632D Roberts18.278
274A Unser18.297
2835J Foss18.359
2975D Mulberry18.413
3054T Smith18.418
3172A Grant18.470
3255J Langford18.495
3361D Hudson18.548
3459B Paulsen18.571
3563O Gilbert18.639
363M Benefield18.643
3712M A Bannon18.648
3827L McQueen18.660
3995T Mater18.760
4041R Farmer18.883
4182K Rodriguez18.936
421M Riggleman Jr--

Weather: Clear, 72 °F, Southeast 6 mph


Session: Race

OFFICIAL STANDINGS


FS#DRIVERINTERVALLAPSLEDPOINTSSTATUS
1119T Nadz48.6974039*185Running
2451R Burns-4.99400170Running
31218R Wheeler-5.19400165Running
4978T McEwen-5.45400160Running
5746C Trickle-6.33400155Running
6842L Petty-7.49400150Running
7566D Monroe-7.94400146Running
867J Hampton-8.21400142Running
91036P Rozelle-9.16400138Running
1025055C McGee-9.25400134Running
11201M Max-9.53401135Running
121777R Sweet-9.58400127Running
131913J Meeks-10.82400124Running
141610E Keene-11.04400121Running
152632D Roberts-13.67400118Running
163255J Langford-14.42400115Running
173001H Smith-15.13400112Running
182245L Carbone-15.95400109Running
191374J DeWitt-16.89400106Running
2021002T Mender-18.30400103Running
213172A Grant-1L390100Running
222835J Foss-1L39097Running
233459B Paulsen-1L39094Running
243361D Hudson-1L39091Running
251123Z Webster-1L39088Running
263054T Smith-1L39085Running
27274A Unser-1L39082Running
283712M A Bannon-1L39079Running
291491T Bear-1L39076Running
301567B Klock-1L39073Running
314041R Farmer-1L39070Running
323827L McQueen-1L39067Running
332011M I Bannon-3L37064Running
343563O Gilbert-6L34061Running
352443R Petty-24L16058No Fuel
3618003R Holbrook-25L15055Retired
372975D Mulberry-25L15052Accident
38421M Riggleman Jr-32L8049Accident
39363M Benefield-37L3046Retired
404182K Rodriguez-38L2043Retired
412340B Ebsen-38L2040Accident
423995T Mater-39L1037Retired

Caution Flags: 6 (25 laps)

Lead Changes: 2 (2 drivers)

Weather: Clear, 71 °F, East 4 mph

Pitstop Frequency: 1x

AI Strength: 93%


PENALTIES

LAP#INFRACTIONPENALTY
2263Entering closed pitsGo to end of longest line