2022 Round Cup Results
Dyson notches another one at Darlington!
Rolling into Darlington is always a little jarring for any driver.
It is a track that is massively wide yet extremely narrow, fast yet technical, multi-groove yet single lane. So much history has seeped into the very tarmac, and the modern SAFER barriers visually clash with the traditional red and white colours painted over them. It is the Monaco of NASCAR, standing as both anachronism and centrepiece on the modern calendar.
Where better then to pay homage to the past in the manner of a throwback race? A good portion of the grid did exactly that, giving the grid a familiar yet unfamiliar appearance, and in doing so another perfect contrast at a location already replete with several.
To the racing then, and Neil Pearson would take pole on the track he describes as his favourite, with Jason Martin lining up alongside. The race start would see Pearson jump out to an early lead as the field jostled to single file.
No one wanted to risk collecting a stripe too early. Hetterscheid, Hobson Foster and Dyson would file past Martin in the early laps, the 2018 Cup champion clearly wanting no part of early shenanigans.
By lap thirty the leaders had rearranged themselves only slightly. Pearson still led from Dyson, Hetterscheid held third. Foster, Hobson, Martin, Michelmore and Russell ran in that order behind them.
The expected early caution never materialised, and Hobson became the first of the leaders to run down pit road on lap 66. This kicked off the mid-race pitstops, all passing more or less without incident with the exception of Foster, who coasted down the pitlane out of fuel but was able to make it to his waiting crew.
One lap later the lead DPR duo pitted together, with Dyson managing to pass his teammate on the run in. They would leave in that order too, with Dyson assuming the race lead.
On lap 74 the caution everyone was expecting finally came, with Hetterscheid spinning hard into the turn one wall, collecting Luke Trahair in the process and ending the participation of both drivers.
Dyson lead the restart and the breakaway trio including himself, Pearson and Foster separated themselves from the field. The trio gradually became a duo as Foster began to fall back, with Russell putting him under pressure after moving past both Hobson and Michelmore.
Aside from this, the only notable event as the laps wound down was Pearson adding some red paint to the multitude of colours already scraped along it, by knocking the wall hard with three to go. This made the battle for second appear closer than in was in truth, with Foster taking the chequer on the bumper of the #9.
But the race belonged to Dyson, and we now need to go back to Atlanta in March to find a race not won by either him or Hobson who seem intent on fighting the season out between them. Hobson now leads the points by just one as we move to Kansas next week.
Join us then!
Incidents
Lap 74 – Daniel Hettersheid (5th strike 1 race ban)
Restart Infringements
None
Notes
Thanks to everyone who got into the spirit of the throwback race with some great liveries. Have tried to get a shot of each of you for this report, sorry if I missed anyone.
Rolling into Darlington is always a little jarring for any driver.
It is a track that is massively wide yet extremely narrow, fast yet technical, multi-groove yet single lane. So much history has seeped into the very tarmac, and the modern SAFER barriers visually clash with the traditional red and white colours painted over them. It is the Monaco of NASCAR, standing as both anachronism and centrepiece on the modern calendar.
Where better then to pay homage to the past in the manner of a throwback race? A good portion of the grid did exactly that, giving the grid a familiar yet unfamiliar appearance, and in doing so another perfect contrast at a location already replete with several.
To the racing then, and Neil Pearson would take pole on the track he describes as his favourite, with Jason Martin lining up alongside. The race start would see Pearson jump out to an early lead as the field jostled to single file.
No one wanted to risk collecting a stripe too early. Hetterscheid, Hobson Foster and Dyson would file past Martin in the early laps, the 2018 Cup champion clearly wanting no part of early shenanigans.
By lap thirty the leaders had rearranged themselves only slightly. Pearson still led from Dyson, Hetterscheid held third. Foster, Hobson, Martin, Michelmore and Russell ran in that order behind them.
The expected early caution never materialised, and Hobson became the first of the leaders to run down pit road on lap 66. This kicked off the mid-race pitstops, all passing more or less without incident with the exception of Foster, who coasted down the pitlane out of fuel but was able to make it to his waiting crew.
One lap later the lead DPR duo pitted together, with Dyson managing to pass his teammate on the run in. They would leave in that order too, with Dyson assuming the race lead.
On lap 74 the caution everyone was expecting finally came, with Hetterscheid spinning hard into the turn one wall, collecting Luke Trahair in the process and ending the participation of both drivers.
Dyson lead the restart and the breakaway trio including himself, Pearson and Foster separated themselves from the field. The trio gradually became a duo as Foster began to fall back, with Russell putting him under pressure after moving past both Hobson and Michelmore.
Aside from this, the only notable event as the laps wound down was Pearson adding some red paint to the multitude of colours already scraped along it, by knocking the wall hard with three to go. This made the battle for second appear closer than in was in truth, with Foster taking the chequer on the bumper of the #9.
But the race belonged to Dyson, and we now need to go back to Atlanta in March to find a race not won by either him or Hobson who seem intent on fighting the season out between them. Hobson now leads the points by just one as we move to Kansas next week.
Join us then!
Incidents
Lap 74 – Daniel Hettersheid (5th strike 1 race ban)
Restart Infringements
None
Notes
Thanks to everyone who got into the spirit of the throwback race with some great liveries. Have tried to get a shot of each of you for this report, sorry if I missed anyone.
Race Broadcast
