A frustrating night for some, an astounding night for others. A mixed bag is the best way I can describe last night's Daytona 125, as tempers flared and emotions swelled. I'll do my best to break it down for you right here.
The race started off pretty clean. I qualified 3rd, and after the outside line sort of fell apart we went single file on the inside. The first caution flew on lap 15 when Christian Pitmann and Preston Perlmutter got together off Turn 4.
The next caution flew just laps later, as Christopher Demeritt got turned out of third position, right in front of the pack. This turned into the night's sole 'big one', collecting eight cars. One fast repair was issued for the night and so each of the drivers were able to continue.
A lap 35 restart kicked off a long green flag run, and driver's just outside the fuel window began to formulate strategies to try to make the fuel last to the end. Those plans were all dashed, however, when the caution flew again 25 laps later on lap 61. With the fuel worries over, it was time for some racing.
...Or pacing as the last 15 laps of the race would have a lot of that. Several cars stayed out, others pit, and everything seemed to go fine on the restart. That is, at least, until a lap later when Chandler Hoyle turned Daniel Archer up into me. Thanks to iRacing's amazing damage model, after just a tag in the left rear and a spin through the grass, I need three minutes of repair and my truck was crabwalking. Race over for me. But the field had one more restart left in it, and Ty McWhirter was leading the way.
As the green flag let them loose again, nine cars took the green for the final restart on lap 71. Ty got quickly separated from his race-long partner Trevor Perry, while Ryan Lowe and Drew Carroll looked to be in great position to capitalize. However, coming off Turn 2 a lap later, Drew bumper-hooked on Ryan's rear end and slid across the track into Chris Demeritt's nose. Drew went around, pulling the last caution of the night. As all that happened behind them, Ty and Ryan had a drag race going down the backstretch. When the caution flew, Ty edged Lowe out and was able to pick up his first career ARC Truck Series victory.
"It was a great race," Ty said after the victory "It was a really close race with Ryan and I'm really glad to have taken home my first ARC victory." When asked about the new points format and how this affects his mindset going forward, Ty responded "It's going to be a lot more relaxing for me personally. I'll just be able to dial myself in for the Chase." We now move on to a double header at Phoenix and Martinsville next week. Until then, I'll be trying to get over this less-than-stellar performance.
The race started off pretty clean. I qualified 3rd, and after the outside line sort of fell apart we went single file on the inside. The first caution flew on lap 15 when Christian Pitmann and Preston Perlmutter got together off Turn 4.
The next caution flew just laps later, as Christopher Demeritt got turned out of third position, right in front of the pack. This turned into the night's sole 'big one', collecting eight cars. One fast repair was issued for the night and so each of the drivers were able to continue.
A lap 35 restart kicked off a long green flag run, and driver's just outside the fuel window began to formulate strategies to try to make the fuel last to the end. Those plans were all dashed, however, when the caution flew again 25 laps later on lap 61. With the fuel worries over, it was time for some racing.
...Or pacing as the last 15 laps of the race would have a lot of that. Several cars stayed out, others pit, and everything seemed to go fine on the restart. That is, at least, until a lap later when Chandler Hoyle turned Daniel Archer up into me. Thanks to iRacing's amazing damage model, after just a tag in the left rear and a spin through the grass, I need three minutes of repair and my truck was crabwalking. Race over for me. But the field had one more restart left in it, and Ty McWhirter was leading the way.
As the green flag let them loose again, nine cars took the green for the final restart on lap 71. Ty got quickly separated from his race-long partner Trevor Perry, while Ryan Lowe and Drew Carroll looked to be in great position to capitalize. However, coming off Turn 2 a lap later, Drew bumper-hooked on Ryan's rear end and slid across the track into Chris Demeritt's nose. Drew went around, pulling the last caution of the night. As all that happened behind them, Ty and Ryan had a drag race going down the backstretch. When the caution flew, Ty edged Lowe out and was able to pick up his first career ARC Truck Series victory.
"It was a great race," Ty said after the victory "It was a really close race with Ryan and I'm really glad to have taken home my first ARC victory." When asked about the new points format and how this affects his mindset going forward, Ty responded "It's going to be a lot more relaxing for me personally. I'll just be able to dial myself in for the Chase." We now move on to a double header at Phoenix and Martinsville next week. Until then, I'll be trying to get over this less-than-stellar performance.
