2022 Round 28 Cup Results
Foster pulls one back to draw level at the top!
“The Last Great Colosseum”, “The World's Fastest Half Mile” or simply just “Bristol Baby”, Bristol has become famous for providing an almost battleground type experience, the assembled masses screaming for twisted metal the way ancient crowds would bay for blood. Only twenty drivers elected to drop themselves into the concrete, high speed bowl for the latest round of the Cup Series, such is its love/hate relationship with those taking part.
It would be Neil Pearson on pole with Josh Michelmore sat on his outside. Edward Foster and Steven Williams would comprise the second row. Pearson would lead away with Foster nipping into second place, having a brief look at the lead before settling in behind the 9. Dave Douglas and Jason Martin would slot in ahead of Michelmore to run third and fourth in the early running. As the laps wound on Pearson began to open up a lead, however the racing gods would eventually remember that this was the 2022 Chase and as such the 9 car was punted by an out of control Noddy Tompkins to bring out the first caution of the night.
The field would pit with the exception of Douglas who would stay out with forty lap old tyres. The next green would not last long as Foster and Martin got together while disputing second place, the 53 spinning, straightening, and continuing on with nothing more than a nudge from Hobson for his troubles. Douglas would again lead away at the green with Scurlock making use of his fresh rubber to nick the lead shortly after, with Martin, Williams and Foster following him through. On lap seventy-nine Martin would chase down and pass Scurlock for the lead, with the caution immediately flying again a couple of laps later when Russell and Williams would come together on the back stretch.
Scurlock would lead away again from Martin for another long green flag run. This would last until lap 117 when Urquijo's right rear suspension would fail following contact with the wall. With over eighty laps to go and only one set of fresh tyres left in the pits, most drivers elected to stay out and save them for later. Foster and Dyson would elect to run down the pitlane to take the last of their tyres, it would prove to be an inspired move.
On the restart Scurlock would lead away again with Martin and Michelmore slotting into second and third. Behind them, Rosella (in only his second Cup Series start) and Hobson would fight with Hetterscheid and Jones for the top ten places. Foster and Dyson would make good headway on their new tyres and Foster would move to the lead on lap 130, Dyson quickly assuming second place.
The pair would run nose to tail, Dyson seeming to have better pace and moving to the lead ten laps into the run, Foster would retake the lead for good eight laps later. With the race running green until it's conclusion, the leading pair would lap the field with Foster taking the chequer two seconds clear of Dyson. Martin would be a lonely third after pulling away from those on the same strategy. Michelmore and Hobson would complete the top five with Rosella, Jones, Hetterscheid, Raymond and Phelps completing the top ten.
Next week sees the series move to the wide open expanses of the Texas Motor Speedway. With Foster and Dyson level on points and seemingly the ones to beat, will it be pistol duel between the two or will the chasing posse intervene? Find out next week.
Incidents
Lap 35 - Noddy Tompkins
Lap 41 - Edward Foster
Lap 116 - Lachlan Urquijo
Restart Infringements
N/A
No Further Action
Lap 81 - Jaiden Russell/Steven Williams - Netcode
“The Last Great Colosseum”, “The World's Fastest Half Mile” or simply just “Bristol Baby”, Bristol has become famous for providing an almost battleground type experience, the assembled masses screaming for twisted metal the way ancient crowds would bay for blood. Only twenty drivers elected to drop themselves into the concrete, high speed bowl for the latest round of the Cup Series, such is its love/hate relationship with those taking part.
It would be Neil Pearson on pole with Josh Michelmore sat on his outside. Edward Foster and Steven Williams would comprise the second row. Pearson would lead away with Foster nipping into second place, having a brief look at the lead before settling in behind the 9. Dave Douglas and Jason Martin would slot in ahead of Michelmore to run third and fourth in the early running. As the laps wound on Pearson began to open up a lead, however the racing gods would eventually remember that this was the 2022 Chase and as such the 9 car was punted by an out of control Noddy Tompkins to bring out the first caution of the night.
The field would pit with the exception of Douglas who would stay out with forty lap old tyres. The next green would not last long as Foster and Martin got together while disputing second place, the 53 spinning, straightening, and continuing on with nothing more than a nudge from Hobson for his troubles. Douglas would again lead away at the green with Scurlock making use of his fresh rubber to nick the lead shortly after, with Martin, Williams and Foster following him through. On lap seventy-nine Martin would chase down and pass Scurlock for the lead, with the caution immediately flying again a couple of laps later when Russell and Williams would come together on the back stretch.
Scurlock would lead away again from Martin for another long green flag run. This would last until lap 117 when Urquijo's right rear suspension would fail following contact with the wall. With over eighty laps to go and only one set of fresh tyres left in the pits, most drivers elected to stay out and save them for later. Foster and Dyson would elect to run down the pitlane to take the last of their tyres, it would prove to be an inspired move.
On the restart Scurlock would lead away again with Martin and Michelmore slotting into second and third. Behind them, Rosella (in only his second Cup Series start) and Hobson would fight with Hetterscheid and Jones for the top ten places. Foster and Dyson would make good headway on their new tyres and Foster would move to the lead on lap 130, Dyson quickly assuming second place.
The pair would run nose to tail, Dyson seeming to have better pace and moving to the lead ten laps into the run, Foster would retake the lead for good eight laps later. With the race running green until it's conclusion, the leading pair would lap the field with Foster taking the chequer two seconds clear of Dyson. Martin would be a lonely third after pulling away from those on the same strategy. Michelmore and Hobson would complete the top five with Rosella, Jones, Hetterscheid, Raymond and Phelps completing the top ten.
Next week sees the series move to the wide open expanses of the Texas Motor Speedway. With Foster and Dyson level on points and seemingly the ones to beat, will it be pistol duel between the two or will the chasing posse intervene? Find out next week.
Incidents
Lap 35 - Noddy Tompkins
Lap 41 - Edward Foster
Lap 116 - Lachlan Urquijo
Restart Infringements
N/A
No Further Action
Lap 81 - Jaiden Russell/Steven Williams - Netcode
