PLAYOFF CUTOFF
15th #23 Claw +27
16th #34 Hubcap +17
—
17th #16 Wildcat -17
18th #99 Tracker -23
19th #54 Coral -28
20th #48 Mayor Humdinger -46
21st #9 Chase -56
22nd #2 Tuck -60
Location: Richmond Raceway, Virginia
Track type: Short track
5 races to go, and we go back to Richmond for the final short track of the season.
FRIDAY (JOE GIBBS RACING HQ)
Coral was feeling enthusiastic about her chances of making the playoffs as she scored her first top 5 last week at Pocono.
"Last week was fin-tastic! I scored my first top 5 of the season and I actually had a fast car!" Coral exclaimed to Skye.
"You were definitely fast cuz! You'll definitely make the playoffs with your momentum currently!" Skye said back.
They noticed Marshall, last week's winner, by himself, looking down and went to go talk to him.
"Hey Marshall, are you okay?" Coral asked.
"I'm fine." The Dalmatian spoke quietly.
"Marshall. I know you're upset at yourself, but you made Ryder angry as well. You wonder why he hasn't talked to you all week." Skye said, as she put her paw on Marshall's shoulder.
"I just wish I could be a cleaner driver…" Marshall spoke as a tear shed down his face.
"Marshall, you are a cleaner driver, you just need to control your aggressiveness." Coral told her teammate.
"But how can I control something if I'm doing it over and over again?" The Dalmatian inquired.
"Because mistakes are what make us who we are. No one's perfect Marshall, and I know you'll learn from this." Coral said.
Marshall had a faint smile on his face, knowing they were right.
"I'm gonna work on being cleaner and hopefully, I can win the right way on Sunday! Thanks Skye and Coral!" Marshall said as he left the room.
"No problem!" Skye and Coral said in unison.
SATURDAY (QUALIFYING)
Rick: We have Everest on a hot lap currently, and she's coming out of turn 4- she barely hits the wall, but it's good enough for pole at the moment!
#45 Radio: Slow the car down. Pole position for the moment. "Sorry guys. I was trying to get too much in one corner." The husky apologized.
Jeff: Fortunately for Everest, she's only got one car to worry about. And it's Rocky.
#8 Radio: Start your lap Rocky.
Dale Jr:. The #8 car's lap looks great at the moment, is it good enough to beat Everest?!- No it's not! Everest hangs on and Rocky gets the front row!
#45 Radio: We got it Everest.
"Phew. Cutting it close there. Haha." Everest laughed.
SUNDAY (RACE DAY)
STARTING LINEUP
1. #45 2. #8 3. #11 4. #9 5. #23 6. #24 7. #54 8. #4 9. #47 10. #19
11. #41 12. #42 13. #6 14. #5 15. #48 16. #38 17. #3 18. #34 19. #1 20. #14
21. #78 22. #21 23. #22 24. #10 25. #12 26. #17 27. #43 28. #31 29. #20 30. #2
31. #7 32. #51 33. #99 34. #77 35. #15 36. #16
STAGES: 70/160/170
GREEN FLAG
Rick: The green flag waves, and we're going short track racing!
Jeff: Everest already clear of Rocky going into turn 1, and she is already four car lengths ahead of Rocky. Give the first lap to the husky!
LAP 45/400 Leader: Everest
Everest had built a 1.1 second gap to Marshall who had past Rocky, but a Doberman was biding his time with the Dalmatian.
#23 Radio: You're faster than the #11. Get around him.
"Tell Marshall that he should let me go. I can catch Everest." Claw insisted.
#11 Radio: Marshall, the #23 wants you to let him go. He says he's faster, and he wants to chase down the #45.
"If he wants to pass me, he can do it the right way." Marshall replied.
LAP 69/400 Leader: Everest Claw heard what Marshall had to say over his radio and actually took his advice.
Dale Jr.: Everest has the stage win secured, but here comes Claw on the outside challenging Marshall for 2nd!
#23 Radio: #11 on your inside, one to go here in the stage, clear.
LAP 70/400 Leader: Everest
#45 Radio: #23 is way back, coming to the green checkered.
Rick: She's led every lap so far today, and she comes out of turn 4, she will win stage 1! And Claw comes across the 2nd! It's a 23XI 1-2 here at the end of stage 1!
LAP 71/400 Leader: Everest
CAUTION
#45 Radio: Awesome work Everest. Keep this up.
"Yeah, great car you've given me guys." The husky told her team.
LAP 74/400 Leader: Everest
Everyone would come into the pits for four fresh tires and fuel, and nothing much changed with the running order.
LAP 79/400 Leader: Everest
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Stage 2 is underway here at Richmond, and look at Claw on the outside. He got a great restart and now leads the race! That #23 has got a rocket ship at the moment!
#23 Radio: Great restart Claw! Drive away now.
LAP 121/400 Leader: Claw
#45 Radio: Pit this lap, we're gonna try to close the gap to the #23.
"Copy." Everest replied.
Jeff: Here comes the #45 into the pits for her team to do service. Everything looks tidy as she's underway!
#45 Radio: Use these tires as much as you can. #23 will be pitting next lap.
LAP 122/400 Leader: Claw
#23 Radio: In this lap Claw. We can't risk having the #45 undercut us. Claw without a word slowed down and came into the pits so his team could change tires.
Dale Jr.: The #23 is getting service, and these guys are not messing around today! He's away and he'll come out around the same as he was when the cycle began!
"Whoo! Good job guys!" Claw told his team.
LAP 173/400 Leader: Claw
The second round of green flag pit stops were taking place, and Claw was holding off Shade who was running in the top 10, now in 2nd place.
#6 Radio: In this lap Shade. We're gonna attempt the undercut.
"Purr-fect plan team." Shade replied.
Jeff: Here comes the #6 pulling into her pit stall. It looks good, looks tidy, and she's away! And it looks like Claw is coming in as well.
LAP 174/400 Leader: Claw
#23 Radio: Pit this lap Claw.
Dale Jr.: The leader comes into the pits as his team works on the right side- oh the jack fell! That's costing them a few seconds! Now they work on the left side, and they're away, but that'll cost them the lead!
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Claw roared at his crew.
#23 Radio: I don't know how they slipped up. Just run your race, we'll get back up front.
LAP 225/400 Leader: Shade
Shade had built a 4 second lead over Everest, but it would be her Cat Pack partner and RFK teammate Rory, challenging the husky for 2nd place.
#17 Radio: You're faster than the #45, go to the high side.
Dale Jr.: Look at the #17 pinch the #45 in turn 1! She's got the momentum and clears Everest out of turn 2!
LAP 230/400 Leader: Shade
#6 Radio: #17 way back, just bring it home!
Rick: It was a 23XI 1-2 to end stage 1, but now it's an RFK 1-2 to end stage 2, with Shade across the line first, and Rory in second!
CAUTION
LAP 231/400 Leader: Shade
#6 Radio: Green checkered. Good work. Let's keep this 1-2 until the end of the race.
"Agreed." The feline replied.
LAP 234/400 Leader: Shade
Everyone would come into the pits and it would be the feline duo staying in the 1-2 positions.
#6 Radio: #17 on your inside, race hard, but fair.
LAP 240/400 Leader: Shade
GREEN FLAG
Rick: We're green in the final stage here in Richmond!
Dale Jr.: Shade on the outside, already clear of her teammate going into turn 1!
#6 Radio: Clear of the #17. #45 is trying to battle her.
LAP 284/400 Leader: Shade
#17 Radio: We're pitting this lap Rory. "
Heard loud and clear." Rory replied.
Jeff: The #17 comes in for service, and stops in her stall. Her crew is doing their best and it's looking like their best! A sub 9 second pit stop! Wow, that was fast!
#17 Radio: The crew did their job, now it's time for you to do yours Rory.
LAP 285/400 Leader: Shade
#6 Radio: #17 pitted, we're pitting this lap Shade.
"Copy team." The feline told her team.
Rick: She's pulling into her pit- Oh it's at an awkward angle! This is gonna be a longer pit stop! The crew does their job, but we'll see where she cycles out. Way behind Rory!
"I'm so sorry guys. That's all on me." Shade apologized.
LAP 314/400 Leader: Rory
Rory had a 4 second lead over Everest with Gasket, Claw and Marshall as the top 5.
#17 Radio: #11 is the fastest car on the track, but he's 9 seconds back, so no threat from him.
"Keep me updated on the #45. Am I faster than her?" Rory asked
#17 Radio: A-firm you are.
LAP 330/400 Leader: Rory
Ryder just made a pit stop and was trying to get around cars to try and get his lap back, and the car he was approaching was a car he was all too familiar with from last week.
#5 Radio: Get around this #11 quickly.
Rick: Marshall is trying to make the pass on Gasket for 3rd place- and Ryder bumped him! Up the track he goes, keeps it off the wall! And Ryder certainly hasn't forgotten what Marshall did last week!
#11 Radio: #5 just bumped us, reel the #41 back to you. "I saw that coming, and I deserved it." Marshall replied.
LAP 338/400 Leader: Rory.
Dale Jr.: Here comes Everest into the pits! She locks up under braking, but manages to get onto pit road safely.
"Did I touch the commitment line?" Everest asked, as the crew were changing her tires.
#45 Radio: We'll let you know in a moment.
LAP 339/400 Leader: Rory
#45 just pitted, she might have a penalty. Pit this lap.
Jeff: Rory pits and once again, her team has a phenomenal stop and she's away on the track, almost five seconds ahead of Everest.
Rick: And we're getting word now! Everest, commitment line violation, she'll have to serve a pass through.
LAP 340/400 Leader: Liberty
#45 Radio: Pass through Everest. You touched the line when you locked up.
"I'm so sorry guys. I cost us the win." The husky spoke, defeated.
#17 Radio: #45 does have a penalty, #11 is the next car behind, six seconds back.
"How many laps to go?" Rory asked.
#17 Radio: 60 to go when you cross the line, you're doing your job just fine.
LAP 384/400 Leader: Rory
The gap was staying at six seconds for the lead, but Gasket was challenging Marshall for second place.
#41 Radio: Gasket, no matter what happens at the end, we are proud of how you have driven this car today.
"Let me focus guys, I want to pass Marshall." Gasket told her team.
LAP 391/400 Leader: Rory
Dale Jr.: We got a car spinning in turn 4! It's Tracker, and it's the first caution of the day for incident with just 10 laps to go!
CAUTION
#99 Radio: #42 just turned us Tracker.
"¡Que coño Moby?!" Tracker exclaimed.
Jeff: Rory had this race won, and now she's got a late race restart to worry about.
LAP 393/400 Leader: Rory
Everyone on the lead lap would come in for one final pit stop. The order would be Rory, Marshall, Gasket, Rocky, and Liberty as the top 5 when they came out of the pits.
#17 Radio: 3 laps to go when we go racing, beat the #11 on the start.
#11 Radio: Don't win how you did it last week, do it right this time.
"I will." The Dalmatian replied.
#41 Radio: If you can send it three-wide, do it.
"I'm ready for this finish." Gasket said.
LAP 398/400 Leader: Rory
GREEN FLAG
Dale Jr.: 3 laps to go! And it's Rory on the offense on the restart! Marshall is trying to hang in there as they come off of 2! Gasket's trying to hang on the inside, but Marshall has a big run!
#17 Radio: #11 big run, just be careful.
Rick: Here comes the #11 into turn 3! Trying to get to Rory's outside, but Rory barely clears the Dalmatian off of 4! Two laps to go!
LAP 399/400 Leader: Rory
Rick: Here they come into turn 1-
Dale Jr.: Oh Marshall locks up! Here comes Rubble and Rocky trying to challenge for second, and it leaves Rory to pull away off of turn 2!
#17 Radio: #11 locked up, good by three. White flag this time by.
Rick: Rory comes off of turn 4 to take the white flag! One lap to go presented by Credit One Bank!
LAP 400/400 Leader: Rory
WHITE FLAG
Jeff: Rory, trying to hang on for her first win of 2023! But can Marshall do anything?!
#17 Radio: #11 four back, no pressure.
Rick: Out of turn 4, Rory is gonna hold on for her first win in 2023, and it comes at Richmond!
#17 Radio: YESSSSS! RORY YOU DID IT!
"YES! YES! YES! I LOVE YOU GUYS!" Rory exclaimed.
#11 Radio: Good job Marshall. Runner up this time.
"Wish I could have gone back to back, but great car all day. That #17 was a rocket ship." Marshall said.
"YES RORY! LET'S GO!" Shade cheered for her teammate.
#6 Radio: We love to see it. 6th place for you Shade. Good job all day.
#41 Radio: Fantastic job Gasket. Your first top 5 this season.
"Thanks guys. We had a really good car today, and I'm so happy that I was one of the best today." Gasket said, trying not to shed a tear.
Rory, for the first time this season, would do her burnouts in her white and cyan striped Ford Mustang celebrating with the fans.
Reporter: RFK's first win of the season comes at Richmond, and it's with Rory, and I gotta ask. How nervous were you on that final restart?
"I was pretty nervous. I knew we had the better car, but the #11 had the better short run car. I was worried that he was gonna get to our outside, but as soon as I saw him lock up, I knew I could calm down, and drive away with this win. Shade led so many laps, it sucks what happened to her, but I'm happy I could pick up the pieces and win this race! Best part, no more worries, cus we're in the playoffs!" Rory exclaimed.
RESULTS
1st #17 Rory
2nd #11 Marshall
3rd #8 Rocky
4th #22 Rubble
5th #41 Gasket
6th #6 Shade
7th #19 Liberty
8th #10 Duke of Flappington
9th #3 Harold Humdinger
10th #4 Zuma
11th #14 The Cheetah
12th #23 Claw
13th #9 Chase
14th #12 Ella
15th #54 Coral
16th #45 Everest
17th #47 Wheeler
18th #48 Mayor Humdinger
19th #5 Ryder
20th #20 Skye (-1)
21st #24 Arrby (-1)
22nd #34 Hubcap (-1)
23rd #43 Rex (-1)
24th #1 Sweetie (-1)
25th #38 Al (-1)
26th #2 Tuck (-1)
27th #16 Wildcat (-1)
28th #42 Moby (-2)
29th #51 Charger (-2)
30th #31 Leo (-2)
31st #21 Dwayne (-3)
32nd #7 Alex (-3)
33rd #99 Tracker (-4)
34th #77 Copycat (-4)
35th #15 Mix (-4)
36th #78 Ladybird (-5)