PLAYOFF STANDINGS
1st #5 Ryder (1 WIN)
2nd #24 Arrby +45
3rd #45 Everest +30
4th #17 Rory +27
5th #11 Marshall +27
6th #19 Liberty +25
7th #8 Rocky +20
8th #6 Shade +18
9th #12 Ella +16
10th #1 Sweetie +13
11th #22 Rubble +3
12th #20 Skye +1
—-
13th #23 Claw -1
14th #4 Zuma -2
15th #47 Wheeler -4
16th #34 Hubcap -19
Location: Kansas Speedway, Kansas
Track type: Oval Race
Race two of round one is here and we're back at Kansas. Ryder clinched his spot in the round of 12 already and has nothing to worry about for the next two races. Who will be the next driver to possibly lock their spot into the next round?
SATURDAY (PRACTICE)
Rick: A car is going slowly on the front stretch, and it's Rocky! He must have hit the wall off of turn 4, and it'll be interesting to see if they can still qualify.
Jeff: Seems like the tire went down when we went into turn 4.
#8 Radio: How bad is it Rocky?
"It's killed. Backup car for sure." Rocky replied.
10 minutes later, another car would meet the same fate.
Dale Jr.: Someone's hit the wall in turn 2! It's Coral, and her hopes of a great qualifying result have vanished!
"Tire just went down on me." Coral said on the radio.
#54 Radio: Take it to the garage.
QUALIFYING
Dale Jr.: Ryder is the last guy to qualify, can he knock Skye off the top spot? Rick: Across the line- No he can't! He's on the front row, and Skye has back to back poles in the Round of 16!
#20 Radio: That's another pole position!
"Haha! I could get used to this." Skye laughed.
SUNDAY (RACE DAY)
STARTING LINEUP
1. #20 2. #5 3. #19 4. #9 5. #45 6. #1 7. #34 8. #3
9. #24 10. #23 11. #22 12. #6 13. #17 14. #11 15. #99 16. #47
17. #12 18. #2 19. #43 20. #4 21. #42 22. #16 23. #48 24. #7
25. #10 26. #14 27. #51 28. #41 29. #21 30. #41 31. #15 32. #38
33 #77 34. #78 35. #8 36. #54
STAGES: 80/85/102
#20 Radio: Skye, have fun and go bring us a win.
Rick: Who is gonna lock a spot into the Round of 12?! We're about to find out! The green flag waves and we're underway at Kansas!
GREEN FLAG
Jeff: Skye gets a great restart with the help from Liberty on the inside and gets clear into turn 1!
#20 Radio: #5 and #19 battling for second, good by three
LAP 3/267 Leader: Skye
Dale Jr: Liberty is losing spots in a hurry, there's definitely something up with her car!
"What the hell is going on?! Why am I so slow?!" Liberty demanded.
#19 Radio: We're trying to figure it out.
LAP 4/267 Leader: Skye
Liberty was already outside the top 10 after starting 3rd, and she kept losing positions in turns 1 and 2.
Jeff: We'll have to continue to monitor her, but there is definitely something wrong with her car as she comes out of turn 2.
"I feel like it's a flat tire- OH SHIT!" Liberty exclaimed as her car went up the track.
Rick: OH, LIBERTY IS IN THE WALL IN TURN 3! SHE SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HER DAY IS OVER!
CAUTION
Dale Jr.: That is huge because she entered this race 25 points above the cut line, and now there's an actual possibility of her being eliminated! The right front tire was seriously bent and there was zero chance they were going to fix it. #19 Radio: Climb out of the car, we're done. "MY FUCKING GOD! THESE TIRES SUCK!" Liberty shouted and threw her steering wheel. "What happened with Liberty?" Skye inquired. #20 Radio: She had a tire go down. We don't know the reason. "That's strange." The cockapoo told herself.
LAP 10/267 Leader: Skye
GREEN FLAG
Rick: We're back under the green flag at Kansas.
Jeff: Skye chose the inside lane, but look at Ryder on the high side into turn 1, and he takes the lead away from Skye!
#5 Radio: Drive away, get into a rhythm.
LAP 23/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: Claw challenging Skye for second, into turn 3, and clears her out of turn 4! This #23 looks amazing!
#23 Radio: Go chase down that #5.
"With pleasure." Claw replied.
LAP 40/267 Leader: Ryder
#5 Radio: Pit this time Ryder #23 Radio: Follow the #5.
Rick: Here come the 2 leaders and Claw is saying the car feels fine, just needs more long run speed and he's away.
Jeff: Ryder's crew has to hurry, he's away and he'll keep the lead over Claw!
LAP 63/267 Leader: Ryder
Dale Jr.: Got a car going slow on the track, the #3 of Harold Humdinger! Something is wrong with his car but we stay green.
#3 Radio: No caution, come to the pits.
Rick: We got a car spinning off of turn 2! Arrby has lost it on his own! He doesn't hit anything, but this time the caution comes out. Jeff: That sucks because Arrby was running 4th, and now he's gonna be in the back.
CAUTION
#24 Radio: Tires still up?
"Yeah. The car feels fine sir." The pirate pup replied.
LAP 65/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: And here comes everyone to pit road! Ryder leads Claw, Everest, Skye, and others to the pits. Claw pulls into his stall and his crew is working fast!
Dale Jr.: Claw is away in 9 seconds! Ryder's crew took 10 seconds, and Claw wins the race off pit road! New leader, the #23.
"Wow. Great job team. I'll take it from here." The Doberman said.
LAP 70/267 Leader: Claw
GREEN FLAG
Rick: 11 laps remain in stage 1 and we're back under the green flag!
Jeff: Claw leads into turn 1, but Ryder sends it and gets the lead back off of turn 2!
#5 Radio: Clear of the #23. #20 now putting pressure on him. Drive away.
LAP 80/267 Leader: Ryder #5 Radio: #23 way back, get to the line. Rick: So far the dominant car of the day is Ryder, and he'll win stage 1.
LAP 81/267 Leader: Ryder
CAUTION
#5 Radio: That's the stage win. Good job.
"Good job guys. Keep this up." Ryder said
LAP 83/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: Once again, everyone comes to pit road, and where will everyone come out?
Jeff: Ryder keeps the lead, followed by Claw, Sweetie, Chase, and Everest! Dale Jr.: Chase's crew had a great stop and got the #9 car from 9th to 4th!
LAP 88/267 Leader: Ryder
GREEN FLAG Rick: Let's get stage 2 underway at Kansas. Dale Jr.: Ryder with another great restart with the help from Chase and hems challenging Claw for second!
Jeff: Into turn 3 they go, and Chase clears Claw! At the moment, it's a Hendrick 1-2. "Am I allowed to try and chase down Ryder?" Chase asked.
#9 Radio: Chase after him Chase.
LAP 90/267 Leader: Ryder
Dale Jr.: Claw wants second place back, and on the inside in turn 2, Claw is back in front of Chase!
Jeff: And dives it into turn 3, clears Chase for second!
#23 Radio: Drive away. Set focus on the #5.
LAP 101/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: Meanwhile, battle for 5th heating up between Sweetie and Marshall. Rivals last year, let's see how this goes as Marshall goes to the high side into turn 3!
Dale Jr.: Huge run for the #11 off of turn 4, and clears Sweetie!
#11 Radio: Nice pass.
LAP 108/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: Car in the wall in turn 1! It's Claw! A driver who needed a great day is in the wall! Running second, and all the hard work has been undone!
CAUTION
#23 Radio: How's the car?
"It feels bad. NOOOOOOO!" Claw screamed.
#23 Radio: We'll try and salvage any points we can.
LAP 110/267 Leader: Ryder
Rick: Again, everyone comes to the pits for service and Ryder and Chase stay 1-2, but it's Shade who climbs up to 3rd!
"Guys, good job on the pit stops all day. Keep it up" Ryder told his team.
#5 Radio: Just keep giving them hell Ryder.
LAP 114/267 Leader: Ryder
GREEN FLAG
Rick: We go back racing, and Ryder gets a decent start on the outside, but Chase is holding his own on the inside!
Dale Jr.: Off of turn 2, they're still side by side down the backstretch and into turn 3.
Jeff: Neither one seems to quit as they both come off of turn 4!
LAP 115/267 Leader: Ryder
Jeff: Everest has a huge run on the Chevys and she goes to the inside for the lead! Rick: What a run by Everest, makes it three wide going into turn 1! And he's cleared both of them! Jeff: Everest goes up to block Ryder which will allow Chase to-
Dale Jr.: We got a spin off of turn 2! Tuck has gone around and the caution comes back out!
CAUTION
#2 Radio: #34 just wrecked us.
"Ughh….." Tuck groaned as he fired his car back "Was that on me or what?" Hubcap inquired.
#34 Radio: I think you sent it a little deep and hit him.
Despite Everest making the wonderful move before the caution came out, she was not the race leader.
NASCAR Officials: THE RUNNING ORDER IS #9, #45, #5.
#9 Radio: Chase, we're being scored as the race leader, she'll give you the place back.
"Okay." The German Shepherd replied.
#45 Radio: Everest, we have to drop back behind the #9.
"What?! I passed him! There's no way!" Everest replied.
#45 Radio: Please Everest. We can't afford to get a penalty.
Everest would surrender the lead to Chase so we could go back racing.
LAP 120/267 Leader: Chase
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Chase leads them to the line, back underway at Kansas! #9 Radio: #5 fighting with the #45. He's clear of her. Just focus on yourself
LAP 127/267 Leader: Chase
Rick: Someone is going very slow on the front stretch! It's the Cheetah and she's going very slow! "I've lost power! AHHHH!" The Cheetah growled.
CAUTION
LAP 129/267 Leader: Chase
#9 Radio: Stay out, stay out.
#5 Radio: Stay out Ryder.
#45 Radio: Pit this time Everest. Nine cars ended up staying out while Everest led the majority of the field to the pits.
"Are you sure this is the right call?" Chase inquired.
#9 Radio: We believe so.
LAP 133/267 Leader: Chase
GREEN FLAG Rick: Back to racing at Kansas! Ryder gets the jump on Chase, but Sweetie pushes Chase clear of Ryder into turn 1!
Dale Jr.: Ella on the outside passes Ryder for second! And Rory from 5th to 3rd on the restart! Ryder falling down to 4th Look at Zuma going by Ryder now! He started outside the top 10 on this restart, and he's up to 4th! This is incredible!
LAP 134/267 Leader: Chase
#5 Radio: Get back in your rhythm.
"Doesn't matter! We've lost all track position!" Ryder furiously told his team.
LAP 135/267 Leader: Chase
It would not get better for Ryder as he would continue to lose places and was already outside of the top 10 within 2 laps.
#9 Radio: #4 is the first car with fresh tires, .9 seconds behind. 30 laps to go next time by.
"Keep me updated on him." The German Shepherd told his team.
LAP 137/267 Leader: Chase
#12 Radio: #4 has a run, just run your line. Make him work for it.
#4 Radio: Charge Zuma, you have the fresher tires.
Rick: Zuma goes to the inside of Ella off of turn 4! Side by side down the front stretch!
LAP 138/267 Leader: Chase
Jeff: Into turn 1, he's cleared Shade, and now Zuma will set his sight on the race leader!
#4 Radio: Go chase down Chase.
"Haha. Will do." Zuma laughed.
LAP 150/267 Leader: Chase
Zuma would not be able to try and track down Chase because Shade had caught up to him.
#6 Radio: #4 has used up his tires. Get around him quickly.
Rick: Zuma has not been able to catch the leader, and Shade has a huge run in turns 3 and 4! She'll clear Zuma and will now be after Chase!
#6 Radio: Next car is the #9. "Yep. I'm on it." The feline replied.
LAP 162/267 Leader: Chase
With less than 4 laps to go in the stage, Shade was right on the bumper on Chase with Marshall close behind.
Rick: 4 laps to go in the stage and Shade is only a car length behind Chase right now off of turn 2!
Dale Jr:: Through turns 3 and 4! Side by side for the race lead! Three laps to go in stage 2!
LAP 163/267 Leader: Chase
Jeff: Shade drives it into turn 1 and she will clear Chase!
#6 Radio: Clear of the #9. #11 is the next car with fresh tires.
LAP 164/267 Leader: Shade
Rick: Chase is still trying to put the pressure on Shade, but with much older tires, I don't think he can do it.
#11 Radio: Get around the #9.
Jeff: And Shade will start the final lap in stage 2 with a three car length lead over Chase.
LAP 165/267 Leader: Shade
Dale Jr.: Into turns 1 and 2, Marshall has a huge run, and takes second place away from Chase!
#6 Radio: #11 got past the #9. No pressure.
Rick: As she comes out of turn 4, Shade will win stage 2!
LAP 166/267 Leader: Shade
CAUTION
#6 Radio: Well done Shade. You fought hard for that stage win.
"Woo! Let's end this our way." Shade replied.
LAP 168/267 Leader: Shade
Shade would lead everyone to pit road and she would come out first ahead of Marshall, Zuma, Rex, and Everest.
LAP 172/267 Leader: Shade
GREEN FLAG
Rick: The final stage is underway at Kansas.
Dale Jr.: Marshall did a great job hanging with Shade and they're side by side off of turn 2! And they would continue this battle going into the next lap.
LAP 173/267 Leader: Marshall
Jeff: Marshall leads at that time, but Shade has the inside and drives it in there! She's gonna clear Marshall as they come off of turn 2!
Dale Jr.: Meanwhile Everest has climbed her way up to 3rd passing Rex on the outside!
LAP 174/267 Leader: Shade
Rick: We got a car in the wall in turn 3! Dwayne's car is up against the wall, and brings it to pit road, and that will put us back under caution.
CAUTION
Jeff: It looks like when they came off of turn 2, Ben made contact with Dwayne and it cut down the tire on the #21 car.
#21 Radio: I assume we're done?
"Yep. Thank you #42." Dwayne scoffed.
LAP 180/267 Leader: Shade
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Green flag back out, and this time Shade gets the better restart and clears Marshall going into turn 1!
Jeff: Behind her, Rex is challenging Marshall for the second position, but Marshall holds onto it for the time being!
LAP 186/267 Leader: Shade
In just a few laps, Marshall showed he had the fastest race car, and had caught up to Shade for the race lead.
Rick: Here comes the #11! He dives it into turn 3! Can he get to the rear quarter panel of the #6?! Yes he can! Side by side down the front stretch!
LAP 187/267 Leader: Shade
Jeff: He'll dive into turn 1! Marshall gets the lead! Now, Shade is under pressure from Everest! And in just two corners, Shade has gone from the lead, down to third!
"I'm so sorry. These Toyotas are just way too fast." Shade said.
#6 Radio: Just try and get the best finish you can. That's all we ask from you.
LAP 214/267 Leader: Marshall
#45 Radio: Pit this time. We're gonna try the undercut.
#11 Radio: #45 pitted behind. Pit next time by.
Jeff: Everest slows her car to come to pit road, and her crew looks to be on it. Dale Jr.: Oh they're a little slow on the right side, as they go to the left side. 10.5 second pit stop for Everest. Let's see how Marshall will respond.
LAP 215/267 Leader: Marshall
#11 Radio: We're ready for you.
Rick: And here comes the race leader pulling into his pit stall and his crew is working fast! Nearly perfect on the right side, left side with no issues! 9.7 seconds, and he'll come out comfortably ahead of Everest!
"YEAH! Nice job crew!" Marshall exclaimed.
LAP 248/267 Leader: Marshall
Marshall's car was just too fast for Everest to chase down as he extended his lead to just over two seconds as he crossed the line with 20 laps to go.
#45 Radio: Everest, if there's any more pace in that Camry, now's the time to use it to chase down the #11.
"I don't think I can do it. Marshall's car is just too fast. If anything I'm almost as good as he is." The husky told her team.
LAP 261/267 Leader: Marshall
Marshall was maintaining his lead over Everest, and with seven laps to go, everything was looking perfect for Marshall.
Rick: Seven laps to go for Marshall. He's been the dominant car in the second half of this race, and looking for his third win-
Dale Jr.: OH! We got a car in the wall in turn 1! The #17 of Rory has a flat tire and she;s trying to get her car to pit road! She was running 12th, and the caution comes out!
CAUTION
#17 Radio: Is the car okay? "Yeah. Tire just went down on the front stretch.
#11 Radio: God dang it.
"Well, we're gonna have to do this the hard way." Marshall said.
LAP 263/267 Leader: Marshall
Rick: Marshall had this race won, and this changes everything. What is gonna happen now?
#11 Radio: What do you want for this pit stop?
"I think four tires is the right call." Marshall answered.
#45 Radio: No debate. We're pitting.
"I agree. Put four tires on it." Everest told her team.
Everyone on the lead lap except one car would pit, but Marshall would not be the race leader. Three cars had decided to take only right side tires: Rex, Rocky, and Rubble. Marshall, Ryder, and Everest would follow behind.
"So we're the leader right?!" Rex happily asked.
#43 Radio: Negative. One car ended up staying out.
"What?! Who?" Rex asked in shock.
Turns out Tracker had decided to stay out on his very old tires. He was running 20th at the time the caution came out, so his team decided to take a big gamble, and go for the race win.
#99 Radio: You can do this Tracker. Three cars behind you have two tires, the rest have four.
"Entiendo. Let's steal this win!" Tracker exclaimed.
#43 Radio: #99 stayed out. Just beat him on the restart.
The order would be this: Tracker and Rex were on the front row, Rubble and Rocky were behind them, both with fresh right sides, Everest starting 5th and Marshall in 6th both on 4 fresh tires, and Chase and Ryder behind also with four fresh tires.
#11 Radio: Here we go. Don't let them take this win away from you Marshall.
#45 Radio: Give it all you got Everest.
GWC ATTEMPT #1 Leader: Tracker
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Tracker and Rex hoping for a miracle! Here we go!
Dale Jr.: Rubble makes it three wide into turn 1! Tracker is falling back like a rock on those old tires! Side by side still as they come off of turn 2!
Jeff: Look at Everest on her four fresh tires! She passed Marshall and is challenging Rocky for third! Still side by side for the leaders down the backstretch!
#43 Radio: Two wide behind you. Do not let that #22 clear you. Side draft.
Dale Jr.: Rex and Rubble side by side still, but Everest has cleared Rocky and is right there behind the leaders as they enter turn 3!
Jeff: Oh! Marshall and Ryder make contact in the turn! Those two seem like they cannot get away from each other!
#5 Radio: #11 just slid into us.
#45 Radio: You've got a run, go ahead and take it.
Rick: Off of turn 4, still side by side- EVEREST GOES THREE WIDE TO THE INSIDE AND SHE TAKES THE LEAD AT THE LINE!
WHITE FLAG
Dale Jr.: Everest with a phenomenal move to take the lead, and she's gonna drive away now!
#45 Radio: #43 is fading, #11 is five back.
Rick: Down the backstretch for the final time! The battle for second is on! Marshall trying to get around Rex!
#45 Radio: Girl, we're going back to victory lane!
Rick: OUT OF 4, EVEREST STEALS THE WIN AT KANSAS!
"AWOOOOOOO! LET'S GO BABY!" Everest said as she let out a howl.
#45 Radio: WHAT A MOVE EVEREST! THAT'S HOW IT'S DONE!
#11 Radio: That's runner up.
"Aughhhhh….. I'm sorry guys. That's on me." The Dalmatian apologized.
Marshall drove up to Everest's car and just waved, trying to smile, but deep down, he was heartbroken that he lost that race.
#11 Radio: Marshall, I know it sucks. But, it was out of our control. Sometimes things don't go the way they want to.
"Yeah I know. That's just a part of racing." The Dalmatian said.
"Marshall, don't let this get to you. You have a major points gap on the cutoff. Just focus on Bristol." Cinder told her brother.
Everest did her burnouts right on the start/finish line, and she couldn't have been more happier in getting her second win of the season, and continuing her quest in the playoffs.
Reporter: Everest with an incredible move to steal the win right at the end. Everest, congratulations on your second win of the season. What was going through your mind on that final restart?
"I just wanted to get the best finish I could. When I cleared Marshall on the restart, my immediate thought was "We can actually win this race." We got lucky with that caution because Marshall was too fast for us today. It sucks that he couldn't bring it home because he deserved that win, but I was gonna do whatever it took to get the lead. When I saw Rex and Rubble in front of me, I knew I had to make my move, and it worked! Thank you Kansas fans, I hope you enjoyed that finish!" Everest exclaimed as she waved to the crowd.
RESULTS
1st #45 Everest
2nd #11 Marshall
3rd #43 Rex
4th #5 Ryder
5th #22 Rubble
6th #9 Chase
7th #8 Rocky
8th #20 Skye
9th #6 Shade
10th #48 Mayor Humdinger
11th #4 Zuma
12th #12 Ella
13th #1 Sweetie
14th #54 Coral
15th #24 Arrby
16th #99 Tracker
17th #10 Duke of Flappington
18th #41 Gasket
19th #14 The Cheetah
20th #42 Ben Allen
21st #31 Leo
22nd #7 Alex
23rd #47 Wheeler
24th #51 Charger (-1)
25th #38 Al (-1)
26th #34 Hubcap (-1)
27th #17 Rory (-1)
28th #77 Copycat (-1)
29th #78 Ladybird (-2)
30th #16 Wildcat (-2)
31st #2 Tuck (-2)
32nd #23 Claw (-4)
33rd #3 Harold Humdinger (-9)
34th #15 Mix (DNF)
35th #21 Dwayne (DNF)
36th #19 Liberty (DNF)
POINTS STANDINGS
1st #5 Ryder (1 WIN)
2nd #45 Everest (1 WIN)
3rd #11 Marshall +49
4th #24 Arrby +41
5th #6 Shade +33
6th #12 Ella +25
7th #8 Rocky +24
8th #1 Sweetie +18
9th #17 Rory +13
10th #20 Skye +13
11th #22 Rubble +12
12th #4 Zuma +7
—
13th #19 Liberty -7
14th #23 Claw -19
15th #47 Wheeler -22
16th #34 Hubcap -40