NASCAR is continuing the September 11 2001 20th anniversary remembrances with their own look back. It has been a long day of remembering a tragic event. I have to say I would prefer if they kept it short, at this point. Kyle Larson (5) was scheduled to start on the pole, but due to inspection failures will start at the back of the field. There are only 37 cars in the field. A competition caution is scheduled for lap 30. The stages for tonight’s race are 80-155-160.
The Bandit Flight Team fly-over was very cool with what appeared to be sparklers from each wing and also a trail of seemingly colored smoke from the rear center. Very cool. The chick singing ‘God Bless America’ was horrifying. I have no idea why they’ve started adding that to the pre-race ceremonies, but I wish they would can it.
Martin ‘MTJ’ Truex Jr (19) will start in the pole position next to teammate ‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11).
MTJ (19) is getting penalized for a start violation for MTJ. He will have to serve a pass-thru penalty.
Competition caution.
Kurt ‘KuBu’ Busch (1) wins the race off pit road with his cobbled-together crew. Four members of KuBu’s usual crew are out of action due to covid-19 protocol. He has his usual gas-man along with members of teammate Ross Chastain’s (42) pit crew.
Restarting on lap 36 of 400 with KuBu up front.
Kyle ‘KyBu’ Busch (18) busted for equipment interference so he will have to start from the back.
‘Desperate’ (11) gets the early lead after a little door-to-door racing for the lead.
Caution on lap 40 of 400. KuBu hits the wall n the driver’s side after spinning. He loses a left tire. Bubba Wallace hit the tire carcass.
Restarting on lap 47 of 400 front with ‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11) up.
Ryan Blaney (12) shoved Hamlin to the early lead.
‘Desperate’ (11) wins the stage 4.55 seconds ahead of second position.
So far this event seems longer than the Xfinity series race and just as boring, if not more so.
‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11), Chase Elliott (9), Joey Logano (22), and Kyle Larson (5) win the race off pit road.
Restarting on lap 88 of 400.
Hamlin gets the early lead.
Chase Elliott (9) passes Hamlin for the lead on lap 39 of 400.
Green flag pit stops are underway on lap 129 of 400.
‘Desperate’ Denny Hamlin (11) passes Chase Elliott (9) on lap 136 of 400.
Chase Elliott (9) passes Hamlin for the lead on lap 161 of 400.
Hamlin challenged Chase Elliott for the lead before making a green flag pit stop on lap 178 of 400.
Chase Elliott had trouble on pit road on his green flag pit stop. MRN reports his jack broke underneath the car. The team had to get a replacement jack for the car resulting in a long pit stop. nascar.com reports Chase slid through the box and backed up after the car was on the jack, breaking the jack and dropping the car onto the ground, without tires.
Chase Elliott (9) unlapped himself the old-fashioned way, according to MRN, by passing leader Denny Hamlin (11).
MRN’s Steve Post reports that the car moved forward and fell on the jack after it was jacked up. MRN’s Rusty Wallace said he’s done that a time or two, taken his foot off the brake and moved the car.
‘Desperate’ laps Chase on lap 217 of 400.
Total snoozer. I’m so bored. MRN is calling it pretty accurately, but it just isn’t engaging viewing overall. Richmond has never been one of my favorite tracks. It reminds me of watching a washing machine.
Chase Elliott (9) follows leader Denny Hamlin (11) in an attempt to gain the free pass at the next caution.
Stage two is finally over. He was only 2.274 seconds ahead of second position this time.
Teammates Hamlin, MTJ, and KyBu win the race off pit road followed by Larson (5), Christopher Bell (20), and Joey Logano (22).
Restarting on lap 245 of 400.
Hamlin gets the early lead.
On lap 247 of 400 JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) is running first through fourth positions.
Caution on lap 249 of 400 for Darrell ‘Bubba’ Wallace (23) who tagged the wall and lost a right front tire.
Restarting on lap 254 of 400 with ‘Desperate’ and MTJ up front followed by the rest of JGR.
Truex (19) passes teammate Hamlin (11) on lap 267 of 400.
Green flag pit stops are underway on lap 292 of 400.
Ross Chastain (42) inherits the lead and Kyle Busch (18) passes him on lap 304 of 400.
On lap 322 of 400 MRN reports there are 13 cars on the lead lap.
Green flag pit stops underway again on lap 340 of 400.
KyBu (18) will have to serve a pass-thru penalty for speeding on pit road.
MTJ inherits the lead on lap 352 of 400 from teammate KyBu and has an 8.4 second lead over second position.
<!-2255–>MTJ wins.
I managed to stay awake to lap 370 of 400 and sleep got me through the last 30 laps of the event; very boring.
Kyle Larson (5) gained a spot in round two of the playoffs on points.
Martin Truex Jr said Hamlin stuck a nose out ahead of him on the start, then spun his tires and he didn’t know what he was supposed to do under those circumstances [stop in front of the field]. So he disagrees with the call.
Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, boring, boring with an okay finish.
Motorsport News:
- Formula 1 qualifying results: Starting grid for 2021 Italian Grand Prix.
- MDG Karting & HRT Driver Development Announce Merger for Remainder of 2021 Karting Season.
- Pedregon tops qualifying in NHRA playoff opener.
- ‘Not fish, not meat’ – F1 risks prioritising quantity over quality with sprint qualifying format.
- Maxwell Root Wins WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca 120 Pole.
- Noah Gragson wins Xfinity Series Race at Richmond; Second Consecutive Victory.
- Larson and Custer to the rear for start of Richmond race.
- Sad News – Harry Jefferson.
- Dale Jr. cherishes time with family in lone Xfinity start at Richmond.