Location: Richmond Raceway, Virginia
Track type: Short track
SATURDAY (PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING)
It was a rainy morning in Richmond and practice and qualifying were canceled because of the rain, meaning Mayor Humdinger would start on the pole. There were a few stories heading into this race. The Whoosh would be making his first two starts this season and race at Bristol next week. Also, every Hendrick driver's 100 points were given back after Hendrick Motorsports won their appeal for modifying a part of the car. Leo and Marshall both made appeals to their penalties but they would wait until next week to hear about them.
Meanwhile Gasket was watching last week's finish at COTA in her hauler and wasn't exactly in the best mood.
Commentary (on the TV): OUT OF TURN 20, SHE HAS GONE THROUGH HELL, BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT! EVEREST HAS DOMINATED THIS RACE AND SHE WILL WIN AT CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS!
Gasket paused the TV and groaned in frustration and looked at Everest on the TV knowing she could be the pup winning a race. She knew she had the speed to get good finishes, but she just had terrible luck. Every time she got a bad finish, it was almost never her fault.
"Gasket, are you ok?" A voice said.
The Alaskan Malamute turned around to see her Ruff-Ruff pack teammate and friend Dwayne.
"Hey Dwayne. I'm fine." Gasket replied.
"Look, I know how you feel. I suck almost every week, but you deserve better Gasket. You deserve great finishes in that #41 car you drive!" Dwayne exclaimed.
Gasket smiled at that comment until another pup came in and ruined the mood.
[]
"Hey losers! Coping about your poor finishes?" A French bulldog gloated. "Really Hubcap? Now is not the time. Leave Dwayne and I alone." Gasket hissed.
"Dwayne is just a talentless bitch who can't keep the car clean to save his life!" Hubcap shouted.
Dwayne's ears drooped as he knew he wasn't getting the best finishes so far this season.
"Can't accept the fact that you just suck? I bet you won't get a top 20 tomorrow." Hubcap said to Gasket's face.
Gasket then looked into Hubcap's eyes with a look to kill.
"You're on… mutt." Gasket whispered in a sinister tone. Suddenly she spit into the French bulldog's face, and Hubcap was absolutely fuming.
"COME ON DWAYNE! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE! Hubcap roared as he left Gasket's hauler
"Thanks for sticking up for me Gasket." Dwayne said to the Malamute.
"DWAYNE NOW!" Hubcap hollered
Dwayne ran out of the hauler leaving Gasket alone, planning how to go into the race tomorrow.
SUNDAY (RACE DAY)
STARTING LINEUP
1. #48 2. #8 3. #24 4. #1 5. #45 6. #2 7. #17 8. #47 9. #5 10. #4
11. #11 12. #19 13. #38 14. #54 15. #34 16. #7 17. #12 18. #22 19. #14 20. #99
21. #20 22. #43 23. #42 24. #6 25. #16 26. #21 27. #3 28. #23 29. #31 30. #9
31. #52 32. #10 33. #41 34. #15 35. #78 36. #77 37. #13
STAGES: 70/160170
#48 Radio: You control the start 3…2…1… green flag!
GREEN FLAG
Humdinger got away and had a good lead over the pack. Arrby was able to get by Rocky to take second place away
LAP 10/400 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
Arrby who was in 2nd was already challenging the mayor for the lead
#24 Radio: Dive inside here!
Commentary: What a pass! Arrby now leads at Richmond.
"Good stuff there, crew chief sir!" Arrby exclaimed
LAP 31/400 Leader: Arrby
CAUTION NASCAR
Officials: This is the competition caution for the rain yesterday
Everyone came to pit road where Sweetie would take the lead from Arrby. However, one pup got caught speeding.
#11 Radio: #11 too fast on pit road
"Dang it!" Marshall said to himself
Also, Wheeler who was running 5th at the time witnessed his race get ruined
"NO! NO! Something's happening!" Wheeler panicked.
#47 Radio: It's a fluid leak. Engine failure. Take it to the garage.
LAP 39/400 Leader: Sweetie
Sweetie was able to drive away and get a comfortable lead over the pack.
LAP 45/400 Leader: Sweetie
Commentary: Trouble turn 1! MARSHALL JUST DUMPED THE #15 OF MIX!
CAUTION
#15 Radio: Oh my God the #11 just wrecked us.
"Yep. Just got run over." Mix angrily replied
#11 Radio: Marshall, you gotta chill. That wasn't cool.
"Sorry. Just ticked off about that speeding penalty." The Dalmatian replied.
LAP 51/400 Leader: Sweetie
GREEN FLAG
Sweetie got a horrendous restart which allowed Arrby to take back the lead
LAP 70/400 Leader: Arrby
Arrby would not look back as he would win stage 1.
#24 Radio: And that's the green checkered. Good job.
"I wanna win again sir!" The pirate pup said
LAP 75/400 Leader: Arrby
CAUTION
Everyone came down pit road and this time, two cars got caught speeding.
#16 Radio: Wild, you were speeding buddy. Sorry.
"Sorry guys." The feline replied
#12 Radio: #12, too fast on pit road
"No! Dang it!" Ella groaned to herself.
LAP 80/400 Leader: Arrby
GREEN FLAG Arrby drove away, but Sweetie was already being challenged for 2nd by Ryder.
#1 Radio: Come on Sweetie. Back him up here. "No way I'm letting Ryder pass me." The terrier said.
LAP 95/400 Leader: Arrby
Commentary: We got one car around in turn 4! It's the #9 of Ben Allen!
CAUTION
#9 Radio: Ben, are you good?
"I'm fine. Who ran over me?" Ben inquired as he got the car back running
#9 Radio: It was the #12.
"I don't think I did anything wrong. I thought he was going slow in the corner." Ella protested. #12 Radio: You're good Ella. Just keep focus.
LAP 102/400 Leader: Arrby
GREEN FLAG
Arrby would drive away with Ryder on his bumper for the time being.
LAP 120/400 Leader: Arrby
Ryder would get to the outside of Arrby. They would be side by side for a few laps and on lap 124, Ryder passed Arrby for the race lead.
LAP 155/400 Leader: Ryder
Cars would start to come to pit road to change tires and that led almost everyone to come to pit road except one driver who stayed out.
LAP 165/400 Leader: Marshall
Marshall would be the last driver to come to pit road. While he lost time to the leaders, he knew exactly what he was doing.
#11 Radio: Marshall, what's your plan again?
"I pitted last so I can have the freshest tires out of everyone. Maybe I can challenge for the stage win." Marshall explained.
LAP 197/400 Leader: Ryder
Ryder was dealing with lap traffic, and there was so much of it that Arrby would actually get back the race lead.
"Tell these lapped cars to get out of the way!" Ryder shouted.
LAP 199/400 Leader: Arrby
Skye was charging her way through the field and she just passed Ryder for second while Marshall, running 4th, was absolutely flying with his fresher tires.
#20 Radio: Skye, you can take your time passing Arrby for the lead.
"I'm more worried about Marshall." The cockapoo protested as she saw her teammate closing in.
LAP 206/400 Leader: Arrby
Arrby was dealing with lap traffic and one car was really holding him off giving Skye the chance to close in.
#24 Radio: What's the #21 doing?!
"That #21 is an idiot sir." Arrby said as he gave the bumper to Dwayne moving him up the track.
LAP 207/400 Leader: Arrby
Skye would get by Arrby for the race lead and would begin to drive away.
#20 Radio: Give it everything you got Skye. Don't worry about the #11. He's still in 3rd.
LAP 220/400 Leader: Skye
Marshall got around Arrby for 2nd place and was only 1 second behind Skye. With 11 laps to go in the stage, the chase was officially on.
LAP 228/400 Leader: Skye
Marshall was all over the bumper of Skye. And she was struggling to keep her teammate behind her.
LAP 229/400 Leader: Skye
#20 Radio: 2 laps to go Skye. Come on, back him up here.
"He has the tires. I don't!" The cockapoo complained.
Skye did everything in her power to keep the lead, but Marshall was too fast for her.
Commentary: To the inside! Marshall now leads at Richmond!
LAP 230/400 Leader: Marshall
#11 Radio: Great job Marshall. That was amazing.
With that pass, Marshall would come off of turn 4 to win stage 2. His first stage win of the season.
LAP 231/400 Leader: Marshall
CAUTION
#11 Radio: Green-checkered. Good call on the strategy Marshall.
"Haha. Let's finish this." Marshall replied LAP 241/400 Leader: Marshall
GREEN FLAG
Marshall drove away on the start and Liberty who was having a good day herself was up into second place.
#19 Radio: Alright Liberty. You're long overdue for a win. Go chase down Marshall.
LAP 270/400 Leader: Marshall
Liberty was right on the bumper of Marshall, but Marshall was making it really hard for Liberty. They were both fast, but Liberty knew she was faster. Marshall was playing great defense on the track.
"I can't pass him! I'm gonna try and beat him on pit road." Liberty said
#19 Radio: We will pit a little early so we can get the jump on Marshall.
LAP 289/400 Leader: Marshall
Liberty came to pit road and her team had a decent stop and waited patiently for the tires to do their job.
#19 Radio: Alright Liberty. We did our job, now go do yours.
"10-4." Liberty replied.
LAP 293/400 Leader: Marshall
#11 Radio: Pit this time Marshall
Marshall's crew needed to have a great stop to keep the lead. In the end, that was not the case
Commentary: THERE'S PROBLEMS! They didn't get the lug nut tightened! Marshall's not only going to lose the lead, but also lose several spots on the track!
Marshall shouted in frustration as he waited for his pit stop to be finally over. It was a 20 second pit stop compared to a normal pit stop which only took 9 to 10 seconds. Any chance of the win seemed to be over for Marshall. When pit stops were finished, Marshall was all the way down in 12th place.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Marshall demanded.
#11 Radio: I'm so sorry Marshall that's on us. You did everything right and we screwed it up.
LAP 302/400 Leader: Liberty
Commentary: Trouble turn 1! One car has slammed the wall! It's the #42 of Moby! And the right side of that car looks crushed!
CAUTION
"Right front is smoking bad guys." Moby informed his team.
#42 Radio: Take it to the garage. We're done.
Everyone came to pit road and Liberty maintained the race lead
#19 Radio: Alright Liberty, 88 laps to go at the line. Let's do this!
LAP 313/400 Leader: Liberty
GREEN FLAG
Liberty got a great restart and drove away with the lead with Arrby in 2nd.
LAP 350/400 Leader: Liberty
#24 Radio: Come to the pits.
Arrby came off the pit road with fresh tires and trying to make up the difference.
LAP 352/400 Leader: Liberty
Liberty came to the pits and had as good of a pit stop as Arrby, but because Arrby pitted 2 laps earlier, he got the lead barely over Liberty.
LAP 359/400 Leader: Ben Allen
Ben was betting on a caution. He had been running in the 20's all day and was taking a gamble on old tires with the leaders closing in fast.
#9 Radio: We're gonna have to pit soon, Ben. Just a reminder.
"I'm going as long as I can!" Ben protested
]
LAP 372/400 Leader: Arrby
Arrby had gotten around Ben a few laps ago and Ben was falling down the order into 4th place. Until one car changed the race.
Commentary: One car around in turn 2! It's the #45 of Everest! Last week's winner has not been having the race she would have wanted, but this has played perfectly into Ben's favor!
#45 Radio: Everest are you good? "I'm fine. Just got loose on my own" Everest said as she got her car rolling.
LAP 375/400 Leader: Arrby
CAUTION
Everyone came to pit road. Arrby, Liberty, Ryder, and Ben in that order were the first 4 cars on pit road. Ryder's crew had a phenomenal pit stop to get the lead of the race. Ben got up to 2nd, Liberty fell to 3rd, and Arrby, who came out the biggest loser, fell to 4th from the lead.
#5 Radio: Alright Ryder. Go finish this
#9 Radio: Fight hard Ben. You don't know when you'll get another opportunity like this.
LAP 380/400 Leader: Ryder
GREEN FLAG Everyone got off well. Ryder maintained the lead, but further back, it all went wrong for one driver
Commentary: Ryder dives into turn 1, and they're wrecking further back! ARRBY HARD INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL REAR FIRST, AND WHAT LOOKED TO BE THE DOMINANT CAR OF THE DAY, HIS CHANCES OF WINNING ARE OVER!
"Damn #20! What was she doing?!" Arrby complained.
#24 Radio: I don't know Arrby. She just came up into you.
"Sweetie got to my inside. She had the corner, and I overcorrected the car and got into Arrby." Skye explained feeling guilty.
#20 Radio: It's ok Skye. It was just hard racing.
"What happened? I felt that was my corner right?" Sweetie asked.
#1 Radio: Yeah. You had the inside and the #20 overcorrected.
CAUTION
And now, it was reset time
LAP 387/400 Leader: Ryder
GREEN FLAG Ryder got a decent start, but Ben was right alongside him. It was a dead heat into turn 1, but Ryder was able to stay ahead.
#9 Radio: Don't wreck yourself trying to get him, Ben.
"I want this win guys!" Ben protested.
While Ben was fast, Ryder was just a little faster and was no match for him.
LAP 400/400 Leader: Ryder
WHITE FLAG
Commentary: He has been overdue for a win, but he'll finally get it! Ryder wins at Richmond!
"YES BOYS! Let's go!" Ryder exclaimed.
#5 Radio: Great job Ryder. You were there at the end and you made it work! Awesome!"
#9 Radio: 2ND PLACE BEN! WHAT A RACE! I know you wanted the win, but you did great!
"WOOOOOOOO! OH MY GOD! This feels so amazing!" Ben exclaimed
#1 Radio: 3rd place Sweetie. You did a good job.
"I just want to win! Is that too much to ask?!" Sweetie exclaimed in frustration.
Ryder then looked at the leaderboard and once he saw Ben finished in 2nd, he had an idea.
"Team, tell Ben to do a lap with me around the track please." Ryder asked
#9 Radio: Ben, Ryder wants you to do a lap with him around the track.
"I would be honored." Ben replied
The #5 and #9 cars pulled up to the start finish line and started moving at the same time. The crowd cheered as the 2 cars went around the track side by side. Once the lap ended Ben pulled his car to pit road while Ryder did his burnouts to celebrate. As soon as Ryder got out of the car, Ben walked over and embraced his best friend with a hug.
"I love you man! You deserve this!" Ben said.
"You too brother! I love you too!" Ryder replied.
Reporter: Ryder, the leader of the PAW Patrol is now a winner in 2023! How does it feel?
"Feels great after these past few races with bad luck. We should have won Las Vegas and Phoenix, but it feels good to get one back here today. Our car was fast all day, but the #24 was definitely the best, and once we beat him off of pit road, that was it. We have a lot to look forward to this season! Let's go!" Ryder exclaimed as he began to celebrate.
RESULTS
1st #5 Ryder
2nd #9 Ben Allen
3rd #1 Sweetie
4th #20 Skye
5th #4 Zuma
6th #34 Hubcap
7th #22 Rubble
8th #48 Mayor Humdinger
9th #54 Coral
10th #6 Shade
11th #19 Liberty
12th #14 The Cheetah
13th #10 Duke of Flappington
14th #8 Rocky
15th #38 Al
16th #45 Everest
17th #13 The Whoosh
18th #41 Gasket
19th #21 Dwayne
20th #11 Marshall
21st #7 Alex
22nd #23 Claw
23rd #99 Tracker
24th #24 Arrby
25th #3 Harold Humdinger (-1)
26th #12 Ella (-1)
27th #16 Wildcat (-1)
28th #2 Tuck (-1)
29th #31 Leo (-1)
30th #17 Rory (-2)
31st #43 Rex (-2)
32nd #77 Copycat (-2)
33rd #78 Ladybird (-4)
34th #51 Sid Swashbuckle (-5)
35th #47 Wheeler (-16) 3
6th #15 Miz (-17)
37th #42 Moby (DNF)