2022 Round 34 Cup Results
Foster sets up desert showdown with Martinsville win!
With Phoenix having served as the title “decider” for the recent past, it has in fact been Martinsville that has effectively put the full stop on the title battle the last two years. The tight little paperclip, a much loved leftover from days gone by, is famous for smaller fields but big moves in recent title fights.
In fact it didn't even take until the first turn for us to see one of the more curious occurrences in ANZCAR history, as the entire front row ran afoul of iRacing's new(ish) start rules and attracting penalties. Pearson and Dyson had the front row to themselves, but both had to tour down the pit lane and lose any advantage.
This left Foster and Carroll-Walden first and second, with Worley, Hetterscheid and Douglas chasing behind. This would only last until the ninth lap, when Lobb clipped the inside curb and spun, crucially Dyson would get his lap back courtesy of the lucky dog.
The restart would see Foster continue to lead from Carroll-Walden with Worley and Hetterscheid disputing third. The two would make contact and hit the outside wall, deranging the front ends of both cars and sending the 035 in for lengthy repairs. The race would stay green with Douglas and Martin inheriting third and fourth.
This would produce one of the rarest of things for a Martinsville race, a long green flag run. The yellow flag would stay rolled up until lap seventy-eight, by which time Dyson had worked his way back to second place. Paul Jackson would have a solo spin, but recover and continue. This sent the entire field down pit road for fresh tyres, with the exception of Dyson who would stay out to collect a bonus point for leading a lap, as well as Worley.
On the restart the caution would fly again quickly, as Michelmore would spin while lighting up his tyres while exiting turn two narrow, a result of Worley and Douglas getting physical over fourth place.
The restart would see Foster attack Dyson immediately, retaking the lead after a little short track push and shove. Douglas would make the same move a handful of laps later but the field would be immediately under caution again as Raymond would spin on the backstretch. Dyson would finally take tyres and Pearson would move back onto the lead lap.
The restart would have Foster still leading from Carroll-Walden, Douglas and Urquijo, however the fresh-tyred 41 was now cutting his way through. The following laps were punctuated by cautions however the winner looked most likely to come from Foster, Dyson or Douglas, with Pearson also inserting himself into the conversation late on.
After a restart with under twenty to go, Dyson did everything but climb over Foster as he looked for a way past. This would resolve with five to go when Dyson became the latest to light up his rears, spinning into the outside wall while trying to make a run for the lead. He would restart in sixth for the green/white/chequer.
At the green Foster would sprint away with Pearson going side by side with Douglas into turn one. Dyson would go full send under the pair of them into turn three, regaining second place. On the final turn both Foster and Pearson would get loose but recover, Foster nicking the win with Dyson second, Douglas third and Michelmore beating Pearson to the line for fourth. Nankervis, Urquijo, Raymond, Carroll-Walden and Lobb would complete the top ten.
This sets up a title showdown at Phoenix with only three points separating the main protagonists it is sure to be a thrilling finale to the season.
Incidents
Lap 9 - Darryn Lobb
Lap 78 - Paul Jackson
Lap 84 - Josh Michelmore
Lap 95 - Matthew Raymond
Lap 107 - Daniel Hetterscheid
Lap 128 - Phillip Worley
Lap 145 - Andrew Dyson
Restart Infringements
N/A
No Further Action
Lap 135 - Urquijo/Williams - Unable to tell if the 42 spun because of contact from the 98 or if it was incidental
With Phoenix having served as the title “decider” for the recent past, it has in fact been Martinsville that has effectively put the full stop on the title battle the last two years. The tight little paperclip, a much loved leftover from days gone by, is famous for smaller fields but big moves in recent title fights.
In fact it didn't even take until the first turn for us to see one of the more curious occurrences in ANZCAR history, as the entire front row ran afoul of iRacing's new(ish) start rules and attracting penalties. Pearson and Dyson had the front row to themselves, but both had to tour down the pit lane and lose any advantage.
This left Foster and Carroll-Walden first and second, with Worley, Hetterscheid and Douglas chasing behind. This would only last until the ninth lap, when Lobb clipped the inside curb and spun, crucially Dyson would get his lap back courtesy of the lucky dog.
The restart would see Foster continue to lead from Carroll-Walden with Worley and Hetterscheid disputing third. The two would make contact and hit the outside wall, deranging the front ends of both cars and sending the 035 in for lengthy repairs. The race would stay green with Douglas and Martin inheriting third and fourth.
This would produce one of the rarest of things for a Martinsville race, a long green flag run. The yellow flag would stay rolled up until lap seventy-eight, by which time Dyson had worked his way back to second place. Paul Jackson would have a solo spin, but recover and continue. This sent the entire field down pit road for fresh tyres, with the exception of Dyson who would stay out to collect a bonus point for leading a lap, as well as Worley.
On the restart the caution would fly again quickly, as Michelmore would spin while lighting up his tyres while exiting turn two narrow, a result of Worley and Douglas getting physical over fourth place.
The restart would see Foster attack Dyson immediately, retaking the lead after a little short track push and shove. Douglas would make the same move a handful of laps later but the field would be immediately under caution again as Raymond would spin on the backstretch. Dyson would finally take tyres and Pearson would move back onto the lead lap.
The restart would have Foster still leading from Carroll-Walden, Douglas and Urquijo, however the fresh-tyred 41 was now cutting his way through. The following laps were punctuated by cautions however the winner looked most likely to come from Foster, Dyson or Douglas, with Pearson also inserting himself into the conversation late on.
After a restart with under twenty to go, Dyson did everything but climb over Foster as he looked for a way past. This would resolve with five to go when Dyson became the latest to light up his rears, spinning into the outside wall while trying to make a run for the lead. He would restart in sixth for the green/white/chequer.
At the green Foster would sprint away with Pearson going side by side with Douglas into turn one. Dyson would go full send under the pair of them into turn three, regaining second place. On the final turn both Foster and Pearson would get loose but recover, Foster nicking the win with Dyson second, Douglas third and Michelmore beating Pearson to the line for fourth. Nankervis, Urquijo, Raymond, Carroll-Walden and Lobb would complete the top ten.
This sets up a title showdown at Phoenix with only three points separating the main protagonists it is sure to be a thrilling finale to the season.
Incidents
Lap 9 - Darryn Lobb
Lap 78 - Paul Jackson
Lap 84 - Josh Michelmore
Lap 95 - Matthew Raymond
Lap 107 - Daniel Hetterscheid
Lap 128 - Phillip Worley
Lap 145 - Andrew Dyson
Restart Infringements
N/A
No Further Action
Lap 135 - Urquijo/Williams - Unable to tell if the 42 spun because of contact from the 98 or if it was incidental
