HORL Michigan 200: The U-Turn Race
- NR2k2
- Published ()
- Hendrick Online Racing League
HORL Michigan 200: The U-Turn Race
When Great Races Go Bad: Part II
Excellent early on, ended in pitiful finish. Patience is all I can say. Patience...30 to go, yes it is time to start making moves but not at other cars expense. Great race overall but 7 yellows in last 40laps is a big no-no...lets clean up this trash at the end so we can complete an excellent race...
Now that's outta the way.....
HORL outdid itself this week. Pocono was one hell of a race and they made that one look like 2nd class. HORL just keeps having new winners 8th different winner in 14 weeks now. Amazing to say the least.SpclOps82d won the Michigan 200 with his "Special Ops" abilities. He sneaked in to take the win with 6 to go and never looked back. The race had 8yellows but that is not how the race was, the ink on the paper does not show the true sportsmanship of this race. 1 yellow on lap 9, and 7 in closing laps. The end of the race jitters severely vandalized the finish. Excellent race, fabulous race to say the least. Great job by everyone and this league is hitting its stride. WC2 division is on Wednesday also at Michigan. Good luck to those guys see if you can outdo the WC division.
WC2 drivers remember long race guys. Patience ,can't win on the 1st lap, all of you are new with each other and don't know how each other react on the track. Just ride behind someone, learn their braking points and acceleration points before you go passing them. Can't win on the first lap, don't know how many times we can say that. Last but not least HAVEFUN! Green runs are a blast! Race hard, we aren't saying to stay in line all day, you can race hard and still be patient. Good luck guys you'll have a story for you written too.
HORL Newcomer but not new to Online racing; Richard Arthurs takes the pole and his 1st win with pure talent. He is known to be the cleanest online driver around and is always courteous on and off the track. We are proud to have him representing HORL. Excellent run Richard. He didn't win too easily; with 7 to go Nick Morse, Jason Frye, Todd Pitts, and Kyle Morse help put on the show with a great display of racing. Fellas that was a blast, thanks for the hard clean battle. A big thank you goes out to the league on the best race of the year. -JFrye
Practice Session
The drivers hit the track, and hit it hard... realhard. Blazing speeds for 70* weather. 183's in the top 5, high 182's to179'sfor the rest of the field. Everyone came pre-pared for this race, and it was showing. In practice and it would in the race too, the fastest time in practice was set by Tlab5_44 with a speed of 183.398(39.258). Practice had to be halted for 30 min. so that the Michigan Speedway ground crew could repave the surface after Tlab5_44 ripped up all the pavement with his blazing fast lap. 17 fans had to be taken to the Infield Care Center for bleeding of the ears when Tlab5_44broke the sound barrier, they didn't have any ear plugs in at the time. All of the m were treated and released shortly, Tlab5_44 made up for it by signing autographs for them. 2nd fastest today in practice was toddp1 with a speed of183.346(39.270), toddp1 also caused a delay in practice as the grounds crew had to re-patch a couple areas of the track that were torn up by his speed. Rounding out 3rd place in practice was 350stroker with a speed of 183.239(39.292),thankfully everything stayed in place and all the fans were fine after his lap. A few flowers out of turn 2 had to be re-planted but no one was seriously injured.
With all these fast laps and everyone sitting around with nothing to do during the intermissions, the drivers gave back to the fans and started signing autographs. The fans flocked to their favorite driver and everyone was happy. Owners were happy, crew chiefs were happy, drivers were happy, and fans were happy. Wow guess they all reached Karma, great day of practice was in the books, everyone went to their motor-homes and slept soundly and no worries were on anyone's minds....first time that has happened all year....
To See Practice Time Click Here.
Qualifying
When qualifying was over and all the cars were set the pole sitter was SpclOps82d with a speed of 183.067(39.329). He was the only driver to break the 183 mark and earned the pole for the Michigan 200.Outside pole was filled in by DShaver_FLM with a speed of 182.908(39.364) only.159 off the pole. Taking the final podium position was toddp1 with a speed of182.899(39.365), .168 off of the leader and only .001 from hitting a 182.9 flat. The rest of the field for qualifying were 182's thru 177's, and only a few drivers decided to take provisional for tomorrow's race. With qualifying over and the field set, everyone went home and waited for race day.
To see the qualifying order click here.
Warm-up Session
Happy Hour went by rather smoothly. No wrecks, clean driving and perfect weather. Normal times were on top of the leader-board as most of the drivers did not have a drafting partner, therefore, the not so fast times. Maybe none of the guys wanted to push their cars in fear that something might blow up or come loose. Who knows, who cares. Having the fastest time in warm-up was toddp1 with a speed of 182.867(39.372). Toddp1 has been at the top of the leader-board all weekend, he was one of the favorites for the race. 2nd fastest in Happy Hour was Tlab5_44 with a speed of182.681(39.412)... sorry folks no pavement was missing after that run...he let us down....and 3rd fastest during Happy Hour was Carlos012 with a speed of182.575(39.435). Carlos012 appears to have come out of now-where, wasn't top 3in practice or qual. Looks like he got his ducks in a row and is ready to go later today. With the field set and Happy Hour ending the cars were asked to move onto the starting grid and they did. 21 drivers were ready to duke it out for a win in the Michigan 200!
(To the right: DShaver_FLM on the left,SpclOps82d on the right)
To see the lap times for warm-up click here.
Race- 100 Laps
With everything set and all the cars lined up on the grid it was race time. The command was given to start the engines and pit lane roared to life. The temperature was 70* Clear and no wind on the track. As the pace car pulled off pit road all 21 cars followed. After a brief circuit around the track, the pace car dropped in and SpclOps82d led us to the green flag...and we were racing! The green flag flew and the drivers went at it. SpclOps82d led usinto turn 1 with DShaver_FLM following in 2cd place. Toddp1 and BrentC#36 stayed side by side into turn 1 which opened up the opportunity for drivers behind them to catch up and start racing for position. Luv2xLr8 and night prowler decided to lay back and not try to move up at the time while the two Backyard Bunch teammates started their move forward. Ultrasplif and Morse-HCR had gotten pastToddp1 and BrentC#36 and had their sites set on SpclOps82d. Before they got their though Morse-HCR passed Ultrasplif to move into 3rd place.
Coming out of turn 4 Morse-HCR had caught DShaver_FLMand made a move low going into turn 1. As DShaver_FLM tried to stay on the highside he got in the marbles and spun out bringing out the first caution of the day on lap 9. With only 9 green flag laps on the tires nobody decided to pit except for SpclOps82d.
On the restart toddp1 appeared to lose a gear. Morse-HCR dove low to take the lead immediately with Ultrasplif pushing him along. Coming out of thru 2 on lap 11 toddp1 brushed the wall which gave a break-away for the top 2 spots and crunched up the pack behind toddp1. Later onlap 11 coming out of turn 4 Ultrasplif took the lead from his teammate. Morse-HCR and Ultrasplif traded positions back and forth lap after lap for the most part of the race.
Further back in the field BIGROSSI, flackattack, and VIRUS_8 went 3 wide into turn 1. After that the field settled down and was single file for 2 more laps. Going into turn 3 BrentC#36 got loose and got sideways, BrentC#36 made an excellent save keeping the car under him and keeping the field green. He lost 5 spots but kept the car in 1 piece which is most important. BrentC#36 lost another spot to SpclOps82d 2 laps later in the race.
SpclOps82d had been moving thru the field rather smoothly. 5 spots in 4 laps, it appeared that 7 laps extra of fuel and 7 lap newer tires was paying off for him. 2 laps after SpclOps82d got past BrentC#36he passed Jay_Gee_38 going into turn 3. The next person in SpclOps82d sights was402bigblock and 47 Big D. SpclOps82d would catch up to 402bigblock and 47 Big Don lap 20. 402bigblock passes 47 Big D now out of turn 2 feeling the heat from SpclOps82d. SpclOps82d followed 402bigblock past 48 Big D and the #82 car would pass 402bigblock coming out of turn 4 later that lap.
Meanwhile in the front toddp1 and 35Luv2xLr8had caught the leaders. Morse-HCR saw 2 cars in his mirror and went for the pass on Ultrasplif. Morse-HCR and Ultrasplif went side by side for 5 laps which allowed350stroker to catch up also. The lead pack was now 5 cars now. Toddp1 looked low on Morse-HCR out of turn 4 and made the pass, toddp1 then cut in front of Morse-HCR to try and keep Morse-HCR behind him.
Morse-HCR turned the tables though by playing musical chairs and cut back under toddp1 going into turn 1 getting his spot back. With Morse-HCR getting back to 2nd place toddp1 slid up the track and scraped the wall out of turn 2. Luv2xLr8 saw an opening and passed toddp1 going into turn 3. Luv2xLr8 then went low to pass Morse-HCR into turn 1 the next lapbut Morse-HCR was able to hold him off on the outside.
With the lead pack all single file on lap24 toddp1 drove too hard into turn 1 and got sideways and gave up the 4th place position to 350stroke. On lap 25 Morse-HCR looked low on Ultrasplif into turn 1but the #94 car of Ultrasplif was able to hold him off and retain his lead position. There were now 4 packs of cars on the track. The lead pack with 3 cars, the 2nd pack with 4 cars, the 3rd pack with 4 cars, and the 4th pack with 6 cars at the back of the field. Coming out of turn 2 on lap27 Morse-HCR tried to pass Ultrasplif for the lead again. Morse-HCR was successful and took the lead on the backstretch.
On lap 27 SpclOps82d had caught toddp1 and passed him coming out of turn 4. A few cars ahead Ultrasplif went to pass Morse-HCR for the lead on lap 28 going into turn 3. Morse-HCR got on the brakes hard and slid right in behind the #94 and right in front of the #35. On lap 30 on the front stretchSpclOps82d made a move on 350stroker, and SpclOps82d was now in the lead pack. On lap 31 Morse-HCR passed Ultrasplif again going into turn 1 and took the lead.
On lap 32 SpclOps82d went low on Luv2xLr8 into turn 1 and moved up to 3rd place on the leader-board. Going into turn 3 on the same lap Ultrasplif passed Morse-HCR again and Ultrasplif regained the lead, it would be short lived though. On the next lap SpclOps82d passed Morse-HCR going into turn 1 and took the lead away from Ultrasplif going into turn 3 on the same lap. On lap 35 350stroker passed Luv2xLr8 into turn 1 taking over the 4th place position.
The field would stay single file until lap 42when SpclOps82d would start to catch lapped cars. The first victim was DShaver_FLM. SpclOps82d would pass the outside pole sitter going into turn 3 and put him a lap down. SpclOps82d would then pass BIGROSSI on the next lap coming out of turn 2.
The first green flag pit stop all year would be the #26 car of night prowler on lap 44.
The #94 and the #3 cars would not catch DShaver_FLM until lap 46 and would move bye him in turns 1&2. The next carto pits was the #11 car of 402bigblock on lap 45.
Ultrasplif would get past the #5 car of BIGROSSIgoing into turn 1 on lap 49 but Morse-HCR had more trouble passing the #5 car. Morse didn't get past the #5 car until the next lap and having to pass the #5car on the outside out of turn 2.
Jay_Gee_38 would be the next car into the pits onlap 49 of 100. On lap 51 SpclOps82d would catch the #16 car of JROZ and put him a lap down.
Morse-HCR would be the next car to pit, Morse-HCRpitted on lap 52 of 100. Carlos012 would also pit on lap 52 taking four tires and fuel and head back out onto the track. Next to pit would be the #94 car of Ultrasplif on lap 53 of 100 along with BrentC#36.
As green flag pit stops were cycling thru the unthinkable happened. Going into turn 1 on lap 55 Tlab5_44 went to pass DShaver_FLM into turn 1. DShaver_FLM got into the marbles and spun across the track bringing out the yellow, catching over half the field a lap down.
With the 2nd yellow of the day out on lap 57 the cars that weren't a lap down decided to pit. Morse-HCR was able to pit and wasn't penalized for pitting with the leaders. NASCAR had no comment on the incident. During the yellow Morse-HCR gave 47 Big D a tap and it would send 47Big D in the grass. Morse-HCR was obviously upset with 47 Big D over something that happened during that long green flag run.
After 4 pace laps the field was bunched up again and the green flag flew on lap 60 of 100. Coming out of turn 4 on lap 60Morse-HCR went low on the #98 car of roaddoggy but the #98 didn't want to giveup the position and blocked Morse-HCR into the grass. Morse-HCR went slidingthru the grass and dropped to last place.
Up in the pack side by side racing was taking place until the #8 car of VIRUS_8 drove into turn 1 too hard spinning and causing a 5 wide situation with cars trying to dodge him. The yellow flew on lap64 of 100 and all the lapped cars pitted on lap 66 of 100 since they had nothing to lose.
Onlap 69 we went green again with 18 cars left out of the 21 who started the race. In the lead on lap 69 was the #02 car of flackattack, followed by Luv2xLr8 and the #27 car of RJ_Letourneau. Then one lap later another caution flew when toddp1 and Jay_Gee_38 day was done with only 30laps to go. While roaddoggy was avoiding the wreck he got in the grass and slid up on the track in front of TLab5_44. TLab5_44 hit roaddoggy hard and both of them went flipping. Roaddoggy's day was also ended but Tlab5_44 was able to continue.
On lap 77 we went green again with the #35 car ofLuv2xLr8 in the lead followed by the #94 car of Ultrasplif and the #27 car of RJin 3rd place. The next yellow was on lap 78 when the #16 car of JROZ got loose and spun. JROZ was fine and able to continue the race.
We went green again on lap 84. The green flag run was short lived when out of turn 2 the #82 car of SpclOps82d spun the #02 car of flackattack bringing out the yellow 1 lap after the green flag flew. The next restart was on lap 89 with 11 to go. Luv2xLr8 was in the lead with Ultrasplifand Morse-HCR behind him.
On lap 89 coming out of turn 2 Ultrasplif hit thewall and Morse-HCR went low moving into 2cd place. Then on lap 90 going into turn 1 Morse-HCR went low on the #35 car and made the move for the lead! Later that lap coming into turn 3 Morse-HCR got loose and wiggled in front of the #35car. The 35 car tried to check up but couldn't and tapped the #3 car. Morse-HCRwas able to control his car but Luv2xLr8 went nose first into the wall. The#35's day was over and only 10 laps short of the finish. The #35 car had a strong car all day, tough break for Luv2xLr8.
On lap 94 we went green again for the last time. Ultrasplif held the lead until lap 96 when SpclOps82d passed him low going intoturn 1. Morse-HCR tried to pass Ultrasplif coming out of turn 4 later that lapbut was unable to complete the pass. On the last lap Morse-HCR was able to pass Ultrasplif coming out of turn 2. Ultrasplif would lose 4 more positions on the last lap because he was hung out to dry on the high side.
Morse-HCR tried to catch SpclOps82d but wasunable to and SpclOps82d crossed the line to win his first HORL race. Congrats to SpclOps82d and see you all next week at Sears Point!
To see the final results click here.
Editors Note
That was the best race I have been involved within HORL. Amazing guys, awesome heads up driving by everyone. Only 1 more thing to work on, late yellows!!! C'mon, we had a 2-3 caution race until we had 7 in the last 40 laps. That is uncalled for, now it says 8 yellows when we really only had 3 legit yellows. Great run guys, congrats to Richard hell of a job. Next week we turn right, yea the wheels do turn that way. Off to Sears Point and the Sonoma 250. Long race....very long race now that I think about it....so be patient. Driving the track is enough for me, will keep me entertained. Lets try and go caution free, might sound weird but Sears Point can be a caution free event. Space out, drive the track and it'll be over before you know it. See you all next week at Sears Point. Get those practice laps in, you'll need em.
Nicholas Morse