Nascar - 2018 Race #7 - O'Reilly 500 At Texas

[GA_Boater]

First Texas race weekend for Cup and X-Men. From MRN, the schedule;

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Texas Schedule of Events All Times Eastern (Local Time 1-Hour Behind)

Friday, April 6

Monster Energy Cup Series 1st Practice: 1:00 p.m.-1:55 p.m. (FS1)

Xfinity Series 1st Practice: 2:05 p.m.-2:55 p.m. (FS1)

Xfinity Series Final Practice: 4:05 p.m.-4:55 p.m. (FS1)

Monster Energy Cup Series Qualifying: 5:30 p.m. (PRN/FS1)

Saturday, April 7

Monster Energy Cup Series 2nd Practice: 11:00 a.m.-11:55 a.m. (FS1)

Xfinity Series Qualifying: 12:10 p.m. (FS1)

Monster Energy Cup Series Final Practice: 1:30 p.m.-2:20 p.m. (FS1)

Radio Pre-Race: 2:30 p.m. (PRN) TV Pre-Race: 2:30 p.m. (FOX)
Xfinity Series My Bariatric Solutions 300: 3:00 p.m. (PRN/FOX)

Sunday, April 8

Radio Pre-Race: 1:00 p.m. (PRN) TV Pre-Race: 12:30 p.m. (FS1)
Monster Energy Cup Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 500: 2:00 p.m. (PRN/FS1)

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Saturday may have some rain, but I am not a weatherman. I'm confident there is almost no chance of :smow:. Maybe.
The entry list is at 37, so everybody showing up gets to race.

News and Notes

• Martinsville penalties only for loose nuts - $10K crew chief fines, no biggie.
• Tony Stewart and the Kevin Ward Jr. family have settled the lawsuit stemming from Ward being hit by Smoke during a sprint car race several years ago.
• X-Men Dash 4 Cash program returns, starting with the top four full-time finishing drivers qualifying for the first Dash 4 Cash race next week at Dover.
• Sponsors have been mentioned often in the race updates, but this is the first time it's about a track, Pure Michigan will no long sponsor the August race at MIS. No word on who or if there will be a title sponsor.
• Talking about sponsors - The biggest one hasn't been resolved. Monster and Nascar still have no renewal agreement.
• 2021 may be a year of reckoning for Nascar. There is talk of dropping races from some of the tracks having 2 races and poor attendance. I think this is all tracks with 2 races seeing as how attendance is dropping across the board.
• TV ratings - No numbers for Martinsville, only number of viewers. The rain delayed race only had 1.19M watching compared to last year's on-time 4.0M. Nascar was the 3rd most watched sporting event behind the NCAA Women's Elite 8 games.

iBoats Fantasy Live

• After 2 heart wrenching weeks, sam60 can finally claim the Martinsville iFL crown. Wait, that won't chock a trailer or stop a door, here it is Sam. Sam congrats on your first win this year.
• FlaCowboy is sill the overall leader, with Trackchick stars in 2nd.
• Pole pick locks at 5:40 PM ET on Friday. Lock it in for your chance at 5 bonus points. Good luck.

Humpty_Boater

 

[WIMUSKY]

Not sure if there is any connection being it's at Gulf Shores, AL.... Even tho he wasn't part of the Alabama Gang, it probably has something to do with it. Jr is now an honorary member...

 

[GA_Boater]

Childress was born Winston-Salem, so no idea why the lane is named in his honor. Is there an Intimidator/Dale Sr. lane, road or highway around there?

 

[GA_Boater]

1st and only practice is complete before Cup Qualifying. Top 10 were Busch41, Harvick, Bowyer, The Twerp, Blaney, Hamlin, Elliott, Keso, Almirola and Truex. Mmmm - Fastest 3 were Smoke's drivers.

Pole pick locks at 5:40PM ET.

 

[GA_Boater]

1st Q'ing round complete. Then 🌩before the next round Q'ing cancelled. Field will be set from 1st qualifying round.
Busch41 has the pole.

 

[64osby]

Saturday may have some rain, but I am not a weatherman. I'm confident there is almost no chance of :smow:. Maybe.

Humpty_Boater

Seems like you might be a weatherman. You called for a chance of rain in Texas. We did get "smow" in Michigan.

Nascar needs Humpty!

 

[GA_Boater]

The rain moved in early, was supposed to be overnight. Off by about 6 hours.

Still no :smow: to hinder the racing. LOL

 

[GA_Boater]

Rain is still a factor at Texas today. X-Qualifying only only got in the first round before rain halted the last two sessions - Just like Cup Q'ing yesterday.

A new rule starting today for X-Men and it's expected to carry over to Cup and Trucks. Any car exceeding a "cautious speed" going around safety vehicles under yellow will get a 1 lap penalty. No mention of what a "cautious speed" is and it's a judgement call. Whatev - It took long enough to do something after Juan Pablo hit the jet drier in the Daytona 500 five years ago!

 

[GA_Boater]

It was 34 degrees when the green flag dropped. I better stop saying the S word.

BuschWhacker Ryan Blaney won the X-Race, after taking Heat #1. Brandon Jones took Heat #2 before demolishing his car in a 4 car wreck. Bell, Hemrick, Custer and Preese rounded out the top 5.

Bell, Hemrick, Custer and Preese will run for the 1st round of the Dash 4 Cash in the the next X-Race at Bristol,

You have until 1:55 PM ET tomorrow to lock in your picks for the Cup race.

 

[GA_Boater]

Where did Mikey get that shirt? It ain't normal!


2:05 is the new lock time just in case.

 

[GA_Boater]

And we're green with Harvick passing Busch41 for the lead.

 

[GA_Boater]

Caution for Bowman with ADillon and Menard getting damage as well on 2nd lap. And Suarez too.

 

[GA_Boater]

And Chastain. I think that's it.

A sparse crowd at the track. Maybe 43 degrees and overcast has something to do with it.

 

[GA_Boater]

5 laps left in Heat #1 and a yellow for Truex into the wall from 2nd place. Popped a tire and done for today.

 

[GA_Boater]

Under caution Harvick wins Heat #1.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hamlin was caught speeding on pit road during Heat #1, now an uncontrolled tire while pitting during the mid-heat caution.

 

[GA_Boater]

Green for Heat #2 with The Twerp in front. So far Harvick in 2nd is staying close.

 

[GA_Boater]

Harvick back to the front. 50 laps to go in the heat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Larson hits the wall after blowing a tire.

Harvick used NSFW word when a lugnut got stuck in the jack and he lost 8 spots on pit road. Happy isn't! LOL

The Twerp took the lead with Unhappy falling back.

 

[GA_Boater]

And Big Brother took the lead from Little Brother on the restart.