2022 Round 17 Cup Results
Martin rocks it in Music City!
The 247 ANZCAR Cup rolled into Nashville for its visit to the track with the most misleading name of them all. The 1 & 1/3 mile concrete tri-oval was considered to be a superspeedway in the days when anything over a mile could claim such a moniker. Times and definitions have changed in the intervening years however the Nashville track, much like the city itself, resolutely clings to its roots and retains a throwback charm amidst its modern status.
So then to the race itself, Hobson would line up on pole with Barry Neale alongside, Hobson leading into turn one as the Cup Series utilised the new starting zone for the first time. Dyson would slot into second making a good start from inside row two, however Neale would relieve him of that place on the tenth lap. Neale would move to the lead on lap fourteen as Hobson began to fall down the field.
The cars ran mainly line astern and the reasons why soon became clear. With a normal fuel run being 66-68 laps, and half distance being 70, a pit stop could be saved with some judicious use of the throttle. Fighting for position became unproductive as management rather than combat became the most effective way to the end. A three car breakaway of Neale, Dyson and Foster had formed, with Michelmore having worked his way to fourth from a row five start.
As the critical lap 70 approached, Dyson and Neale fell victim to their fast pace and could go no further than lap 67. Foster was clutching madly to eek out extra laps and fell behind both Michelmore and Martin who appeared to have judged their runs perfectly. Martin came to the lane end of lap 70 with both Michelmore and Foster heading in a lap later.
Once everyone was back on track, Neale led again from Dyson and Michelmore. Neil Pearson had been running a quiet race until this point, and managed to get 72 laps out of his tank, setting him up well for the end.
This left Neale and Dyson in fuel saving mode, and they were run down with forty laps to go as Michelmore went back into the lead. With twenty laps to go, Martin had closed Michelmore down and the fight was on between the teammates for the win. Martin scythed by his teammate with ten to go and set his sights on the chequered flag.
All the while Foster had been ranging up onto the pair of them, and with five laps left took a dive under Michelmore when he was slightly wrongfooted by a lapped car. The two cars touched, sending Michelmore rubbing along the fenceline.
In the end Martin would take the flag by 0.7 seconds from Foster. Michelmore would be third with Dyson managing to make his fuel last for fourth. Hetterscheid, Pearson, Douglas, Trahair, Jackson and Lobb would complete the top ten in a race without a single caution flag. Barry Neale was unable to make his fuel last and had to come in for a splash, finishing a promising race a lap down in 21st place.
After a quiet start Mitch appears to be re-emerging as a force once more, with Michelmore stating “we are coming” post-race. Who could argue with him?
Join us again as we head to Road America this week. Will we get the Hobson/Dyson clash we have all been waiting for?
Stewards Report
No cautions, no protests lodged
The 247 ANZCAR Cup rolled into Nashville for its visit to the track with the most misleading name of them all. The 1 & 1/3 mile concrete tri-oval was considered to be a superspeedway in the days when anything over a mile could claim such a moniker. Times and definitions have changed in the intervening years however the Nashville track, much like the city itself, resolutely clings to its roots and retains a throwback charm amidst its modern status.
So then to the race itself, Hobson would line up on pole with Barry Neale alongside, Hobson leading into turn one as the Cup Series utilised the new starting zone for the first time. Dyson would slot into second making a good start from inside row two, however Neale would relieve him of that place on the tenth lap. Neale would move to the lead on lap fourteen as Hobson began to fall down the field.
The cars ran mainly line astern and the reasons why soon became clear. With a normal fuel run being 66-68 laps, and half distance being 70, a pit stop could be saved with some judicious use of the throttle. Fighting for position became unproductive as management rather than combat became the most effective way to the end. A three car breakaway of Neale, Dyson and Foster had formed, with Michelmore having worked his way to fourth from a row five start.
As the critical lap 70 approached, Dyson and Neale fell victim to their fast pace and could go no further than lap 67. Foster was clutching madly to eek out extra laps and fell behind both Michelmore and Martin who appeared to have judged their runs perfectly. Martin came to the lane end of lap 70 with both Michelmore and Foster heading in a lap later.
Once everyone was back on track, Neale led again from Dyson and Michelmore. Neil Pearson had been running a quiet race until this point, and managed to get 72 laps out of his tank, setting him up well for the end.
This left Neale and Dyson in fuel saving mode, and they were run down with forty laps to go as Michelmore went back into the lead. With twenty laps to go, Martin had closed Michelmore down and the fight was on between the teammates for the win. Martin scythed by his teammate with ten to go and set his sights on the chequered flag.
All the while Foster had been ranging up onto the pair of them, and with five laps left took a dive under Michelmore when he was slightly wrongfooted by a lapped car. The two cars touched, sending Michelmore rubbing along the fenceline.
In the end Martin would take the flag by 0.7 seconds from Foster. Michelmore would be third with Dyson managing to make his fuel last for fourth. Hetterscheid, Pearson, Douglas, Trahair, Jackson and Lobb would complete the top ten in a race without a single caution flag. Barry Neale was unable to make his fuel last and had to come in for a splash, finishing a promising race a lap down in 21st place.
After a quiet start Mitch appears to be re-emerging as a force once more, with Michelmore stating “we are coming” post-race. Who could argue with him?
Join us again as we head to Road America this week. Will we get the Hobson/Dyson clash we have all been waiting for?
Stewards Report
No cautions, no protests lodged
