2023 Round 7 Cup Results
Pearson takes another at Richmond!
The unassuming ¾ mile oval at Richmond, Virginia may not get spoken about with the same reverence as Daytona or Talladega, or even evoke the same anticipation for door banging, old style racing as Bristol or Martinsville. For those who have spent time there, for those who know, Richmond is a gem.
Such an old style venue was a fitting place for a veteran of our sport to notch his 300th ANZCAR start, with the popular Matthew Raymond celebrating that particular milestone.
Toby Stent would continue making an impression with pole position, Andrew Dyson sharing the front row with him. The second row was occupied by two “good old boys”, Josh Michelmore and Dave Douglas.
The start would see the majority of the drivers aiming to simply settle in, Stent leading away. There were a handful of squabbles up and down the field but by and large the drivers were only seeking space in which to run and size up their competition. One feature of the race we discovered early on was the difficulty drivers had putting the power down when running low on the exit of the turns. Many a time a driver would appear to have a move all but made, only for the rear to step out and undo all his good work.
Stent would lead until lap 35 when he ceded to last year's champ, Dyson nipping through. Pearson would make a similar move a couple of laps later, nabbing the spot immediately before the caution flew. Tompkins had spun in turn four. Everyone had some adjustments to make, and the field headed in to accomplish that. When they reformed on track, Dyson lead from Pearson, Stent and Martin.
Stent would make a run to the lead early, and would be just coming under pressure from Dyson when the second caution would fly after fifteen laps, McKenzie and Neale making contact leaving the 02 facing the wrong way on the backstretch. Most would head in for service, however Martin, Douglas and Hetterscheid stayed put and assumed the top three spots.
They would restart in that order, their lives made a little easier when Stent and Dyson would have simultaneous moments and make contact, damaging the 189 against the wall. This would check up a portion of the field, however the caution flag stayed out of sight. At least, it would until half a lap later when Griffiths and Neill got together, spinning in the middle of the pack.
Once the race got going those who had stayed out began to suffer, Pearson taking Martin on lap 71, with Douglas also falling back. Dyson and Michelmore would move to second and third, while Foster and Trahair appeared connected by a very short string in fourth and fifth, and they would remain so for most of the remaining running. The green would last until lap 85 when Lobb and Hetterscheid got together, the black 99 harmlessly spinning around but bringing the caution.
Most would head in however Jaie Schultz, never one to shy away from an adventurous strategy call, remained on track and assumed the lead. He would lead briefly however drop quickly to fourth, saved by the caution coming again quickly after and deciding to drop in for some new boots.
The remainder of the race was comprised of short runs, with wrecks at the back resetting the battle at the front. Pearson, leading once more, would lead restart after restart from Dyson, as the fighting raged behind them. One final caution would set the race up for a green/white/chequer in all but name, two frantic green flag laps being enough for Foster to clinch the runner up spot from Dyson, with Michelmore and Trahair having great runs to complete the top five.
None of this would affect Pearson though, as he would take win number two of the season.
The ultimate form reset is up next, with some Ben Hur style racing at Bristol dirt. Do not miss that one.
Incidents
Lap 34 - Noddy Tompkins
Lap 57 - Barry Neale
Lap 64 - Adam Malone
Lap 85 - Daniel Hetterscheid
Lap 91 - Christopher Tomlin
Lap 103 - Barry Neale
Lap 110 - Barry Neale (3rd strike in event - 1 race suspension)
Lap 118 - Tristan Koch
Lap 126 - Tom Neill (protest) Note multiple incidents occurring simultaneously. IRacing recorded the spun 231 as cause of the caution
Lap 136 - Luke Georgeson
Lap 143 - Jamie Nankervis
Lap 149 - Jamie Nankervis (protest)
Restart Infringements
Lap 62 - Parry Anastakis - Lane Change
Lap 148 - Andrew Dyson - Lane Change
Post-Race Tech
Parry Anastakis - no submission - DQ
Luke Georgeson - no submission - DQ
Aiden Schultz - no submission (3rd fail 2 race suspension)
Noddy Tompkins - no submission - DQ
Norman Clark - no submission - DQ
The unassuming ¾ mile oval at Richmond, Virginia may not get spoken about with the same reverence as Daytona or Talladega, or even evoke the same anticipation for door banging, old style racing as Bristol or Martinsville. For those who have spent time there, for those who know, Richmond is a gem.
Such an old style venue was a fitting place for a veteran of our sport to notch his 300th ANZCAR start, with the popular Matthew Raymond celebrating that particular milestone.
Toby Stent would continue making an impression with pole position, Andrew Dyson sharing the front row with him. The second row was occupied by two “good old boys”, Josh Michelmore and Dave Douglas.
The start would see the majority of the drivers aiming to simply settle in, Stent leading away. There were a handful of squabbles up and down the field but by and large the drivers were only seeking space in which to run and size up their competition. One feature of the race we discovered early on was the difficulty drivers had putting the power down when running low on the exit of the turns. Many a time a driver would appear to have a move all but made, only for the rear to step out and undo all his good work.
Stent would lead until lap 35 when he ceded to last year's champ, Dyson nipping through. Pearson would make a similar move a couple of laps later, nabbing the spot immediately before the caution flew. Tompkins had spun in turn four. Everyone had some adjustments to make, and the field headed in to accomplish that. When they reformed on track, Dyson lead from Pearson, Stent and Martin.
Stent would make a run to the lead early, and would be just coming under pressure from Dyson when the second caution would fly after fifteen laps, McKenzie and Neale making contact leaving the 02 facing the wrong way on the backstretch. Most would head in for service, however Martin, Douglas and Hetterscheid stayed put and assumed the top three spots.
They would restart in that order, their lives made a little easier when Stent and Dyson would have simultaneous moments and make contact, damaging the 189 against the wall. This would check up a portion of the field, however the caution flag stayed out of sight. At least, it would until half a lap later when Griffiths and Neill got together, spinning in the middle of the pack.
Once the race got going those who had stayed out began to suffer, Pearson taking Martin on lap 71, with Douglas also falling back. Dyson and Michelmore would move to second and third, while Foster and Trahair appeared connected by a very short string in fourth and fifth, and they would remain so for most of the remaining running. The green would last until lap 85 when Lobb and Hetterscheid got together, the black 99 harmlessly spinning around but bringing the caution.
Most would head in however Jaie Schultz, never one to shy away from an adventurous strategy call, remained on track and assumed the lead. He would lead briefly however drop quickly to fourth, saved by the caution coming again quickly after and deciding to drop in for some new boots.
The remainder of the race was comprised of short runs, with wrecks at the back resetting the battle at the front. Pearson, leading once more, would lead restart after restart from Dyson, as the fighting raged behind them. One final caution would set the race up for a green/white/chequer in all but name, two frantic green flag laps being enough for Foster to clinch the runner up spot from Dyson, with Michelmore and Trahair having great runs to complete the top five.
None of this would affect Pearson though, as he would take win number two of the season.
The ultimate form reset is up next, with some Ben Hur style racing at Bristol dirt. Do not miss that one.
Incidents
Lap 34 - Noddy Tompkins
Lap 57 - Barry Neale
Lap 64 - Adam Malone
Lap 85 - Daniel Hetterscheid
Lap 91 - Christopher Tomlin
Lap 103 - Barry Neale
Lap 110 - Barry Neale (3rd strike in event - 1 race suspension)
Lap 118 - Tristan Koch
Lap 126 - Tom Neill (protest) Note multiple incidents occurring simultaneously. IRacing recorded the spun 231 as cause of the caution
Lap 136 - Luke Georgeson
Lap 143 - Jamie Nankervis
Lap 149 - Jamie Nankervis (protest)
Restart Infringements
Lap 62 - Parry Anastakis - Lane Change
Lap 148 - Andrew Dyson - Lane Change
Post-Race Tech
Parry Anastakis - no submission - DQ
Luke Georgeson - no submission - DQ
Aiden Schultz - no submission (3rd fail 2 race suspension)
Noddy Tompkins - no submission - DQ
Norman Clark - no submission - DQ
