POINTS BATTLE
1st #19 Liberty 744
2nd #11 Marshall -39
3rd #24 Arrby -43
PLAYOFF CUTOFF
13th #4 Zuma +182
14th #6 Shade +151
15th #23 Claw +54
16th #34 Hubcap +18
—
17th #54 Coral -18
18th #16 Wildcat -22
19th #99 Tracker -34
20th #9 Chase -40
21st #48 Mayor Humdinger -42
22nd #2 Tuck -64
Location: Michigan International Speedway, Michaigan.
Track type: Oval
4 races to go, and every point matters. We're off to Michigan International Speedway, a 2 mile oval where the draft can mean a lot in staying with the leaders and passing. Jake would be the only part time driver returning to the #62 this race.
SATURDAY (JOE GBBS RACING GARAGE 4 AM)
Marshall, Liberty, Skye, and Coral's cars all sat in a line until morning time. But a certain Portuguese Water Dog was sneaking up on Coral's purple #54 Toyota Camry.
"Hehe. I'm gonna sabotage Coral's car so she can't race, and eventually miss the playoffs." Moby snickered. As soon as Moby got started on messing up Coral's car, an alarm went off and officers were surrounding the pup.
"Moby, you are under arrest for purposely trying to sabotage another competitor's race car!" The officer informed the dog.
The cops placed Moby in handcuffs and took him away.
(6 HOURS LATER)
BREAKING NEWS: Moby, the driver of the #42 Legacy Motor Club Chevrolet, was arrested at Michigan International Speedway for trying to sabotage the Coral, the driver of the #54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry. Moby was released from the police earlier this morning, but has been suspended indefinitely. NASCAR agrees with Legacy's decision to suspend Moby as Ben Allen will drive the #42 for the time being.
Reporter: I'm here with the driver of the #43, Rex, what are your thoughts knowing your teammate is now indefinitely suspended? "I never thought he'd go this low to try and purposely mess up someone's race car. I know I'm having a bad season, but I'm not trying to take my anger out on other drivers.
(QUALIFYING)
Dale Jr.: Everyone is getting their laps in, and as everyone comes to the line… Rick: Skye's on pole position and Sweetie is on the front row! Well done to Trackhouse for getting a great qualifying result in a while!
#20 Radio: That's pole position girl!
"Thanks everyone! Let's have a fun race tomorrow!" The cockapoo exclaimed.
SUNDAY (RACE DAY)
STARTING LINEUP
1. #20 2. #1 3. #54 4. #17 5. #19 6. #22 7. #24 8. #8 9. #12 10. #9
11. #23 12. #6 13. #11 14. #99 15. #45 16. #3 17. #5 18. #10 19. #14 20. #48
21. #2 22. #4 23. #34 24. #16 25. #43 26. #31 27. #47 28. #41 29. #21 30. #62
31. #7 32. #38 33. #51 34. #77 35. #42 36. #15 37. #78
STAGES: 45/75/80
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Green flag is waving, and we're underway in Michigan!
#1 Radio: #20 has no help. Huge push from the #54.
Dale Jr.: Here comes Sweetie on the inside! She moves up to block and takes the lead off of turn 2!
#1 Radio: Good job Sweetie. Keep everyone behind you.
LAP 6/200 Leader: Sweetie
Rick: Here comes the #19 passing her teammate for second place, and she clears her going into turn 1!
#19 Radio: You're clear of the #20. Next car is the #1.
LAP 13/200 Leader: Sweetie
#1 Radio: #19 has a huge run off of turn 2.
Rick: Here comes the #19 on the inside, she has the lead, but Sweetie is hanging alongside her on the inside!
#19 Radio: #1 still on your outside, not clear.
Dale Jr.: Sweetie was able to hang on the outside, and she's back in front of Liberty out of turn 4!
"She's not getting past me! Haha!" Sweetly said as she laughed.
LAP 14/200 Leader: Sweetie
Rick: Further back, Rocky's trying to make a move on Ella into turn 1. and around goes the #8! Rocky hard into the outside wall he goes! Everyone scatters to miss him, and the caution is out for the first time today!
CAUTION
#8 Radio: Can you continue?
"Nope, I'm done." Rocky spoke, not wanting to talk.
Sweetie ended up pitting and a few cars followed her, but 11 cars would stay out making Liberty the race leader.
LAP 19/200 Leader: Liberty
GREEN FLAG
Rick: We got a long way to go, but the green flag is back out here at Michigan.
Jeff: Everest is trying to make that inside lane work, but it's Liberty with the momentum on the high side as she clears the #45.
#19 Radio: #45 two back, you're good.
LAP 34/200 Leader: Liberty
Dale Jr.: TROUBLE TURN 1! CHASE GOES HARD REAR FIRST INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL! HE'S NOW IN A MUST WIN SITUATION TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!
CAUTION
#9 Radio: We lost the right rear tire, are you okay Chase?
Chase was breathing heavily because he knew he could have scored big points in this race, and now it was all over.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Chase screamed as he drove his car to the garage.
LAP 37/200 Leader: Liberty
Some cars would stay out including Liberty and Tracker to try and gain stage points while several cars pitted for tires.
#19 Radio: #99 is P2. You know he'll try and win this stage for points.
LAP 40/200 Leader: Liberty
GREEN FLAG
Rick: 6 laps to go in the stage and Liberty once again gets the jump on the restart!
#19 Radio: #99 losing ground. No pressure for the moment.
LAP 45/200 Leader: Liberty
#19 Radio: Coming to the green checkered.
Rick: Liberty will win stage 1, and someone is going slowly down the front stretch, it's Arrby! He might have hit the turn 4 wall as he crosses the line in 13th!
LAP 46/200 Leader: Liberty
CAUTION
"No! No, no! It's broken!" Arrby exclaimed.
#24 Radio: Drive it to the garage Arrby. We're done.
LAP 47/200 Leader: Liberty
Liberty would come into the pits with most of the leaders, but it would be Mayor Humdinger claiming the race lead by staying out with others with Rex on his inside for the restart
#43 Radio: Try and get around this #48. You know what he's capable of.
LAP 50/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Stage 2 is underway here in Michigan! Jeff: Rex is trying to hang in there on the inside, but the mayor gets the better entry into turn 1 and clears the Dino pup!
#48 Radio: #43 is clear behind. Just run your race.
LAP 51/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
Dale Jr.: Someone has slammed the wall in turn 3! The #42 of Ben Allen replacing a suspended Moby and he slides into the grass, and that car looks done!
CAUTION
"This is the worst car I have ever driven in my life." Ben said, frustrated.
LAP 55/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
GREEN FLAG
Dale Jr.: Skye is able to get by Rex with her fresh tires and she's up to second and she wants to the race lead!
#20 Radio: Clear of the #43. Go chase down Humdinger.
LAP 63/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
Rick: The #20 has been chasing this #48 down for several laps and she's making her move into turn 3!
#48 Radio: #20 on your inside, side draft her if you can.
#20 Radio: You have the run, you should clear the #48.
Dale Jr.: She's ahead out of turn 4, and she leads at that time at the line!
LAP 64/200 Leader: Skye
Jeff: Skye leads at the line, but Mayor Humdinger is side drafting hard on the 20! Into turn 1-
Dale Jr.: HE HIT HER ON THE SIDE! OHHH THE #20 GOES AROUND! SKYE FROM THE LEAD CRASHES AND INTO THE OUTSIDE WALL!
CAUTION
#48 Radio: You just took her out…
"MWAHAHAHA! See you later tiny!" The mayor cackled.
"NOOOOO! I HAD HIM!" Skye exclaimed in frustration. "I think I'm out."
#20 Radio: We'll take a look at it. It looks bad, but maybe we can fix it.
#11 Radio: Good job avoiding that. #48 just wrecked the #20.
"Wow. What a jerk." Marshall said.
LAP 67/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
#45 Radio: We're getting reports that rain might be here in less than 5 minutes, so just race hard.
"Copy" Everest replied.
LAP 68/200 Leader: Mayor Humdinger
GREEN FLAG
Rick: Green flag is back out and Everest gets a phenomenal restart and she's in front going into turn 1!
#45 Radio: Whoo! Let's go girl!
LAP 73/200 Leader: Everest
It was starting to drizzle all around and on the track and NASCAR knew they had to stop it for now.
NASCAR Officials: PUT IT OUT! PRECIPITATION ON THE TRACK!
CAUTION
#45 Radio: Caution's out. It's for rain.
"Good. I was starting to lose grip in the corners." The husky said.
LAP 75/200 Leader: Everest
RED FLAG
Everyone was hoping they would go back racing, but it would all depend on if the rain would stop, and if we have enough daylight to finish the race.
"What do you think Everest?" Skye asked.
"I don't think we're going back racing. I checked the weather, and the radar shows that it's gonna get worse." Everest told Sjye.
NASCAR OFFICIALS: THE RACE HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL 12:30 EASTERN TIME TOMORROW AFTERNOON.
MONDAY
It was finally time to get the cars back on track, and mixed strategies would once again come into play.
#45 Radio: Pit this time Everest.
A lot of cars ended up pitting, but Liberty, Tuck, and Claw stayed out along with other cars.
LAP 82/200 Leader: Liberty
GREEN FLAG
Rick: We've waited almost 18 hours, but we're ready to go back racing here at Michigan!
Dale Jr.: Tuck got a good restart on the inside and he's side by side with Liberty with Claw in 3rd behind!
#2 Radio: #19 is still with you, #23 has a run behind.
#23 Radio: Take it.
Dale Jr.: Look at Claw! Making the move on Tuck!
Rick: 3 wide for the lead into turn 3! Claw gets it done! What a move by the Doberman!
LAP 99/200 Leader: Claw
Jeff: Liberty has gotten to the bumper of Claw, but can't seem to pass him despite having fresher tires!
"How many laps to go until the end of the stage?" Claw asked.
#23 Radio: 21 laps left when you cross the line, #19 is on fresher tires right behind you.
LAP 100/200 Leader: Claw
Dale Jr.: Claw has been doing a great job keeping the lead despite being on older tires, but Liberty dives it into turn 3!
Rick: Off of turn 4, she clears Claw and stays inside, so he can't side draft!
#19 Radio: Well done Liberty. Drive away now.
LAP 103/200 Leader: Liberty
Rick: We got a car going slowly on the backstretch. Gasket has a flat tire, but doesn't look like any damage on her car, caution comes back out.
CAUTION
#41 Radio: Did a tire just blow out from under you? "Yeah, the car's fine, but Goodyear tires suck!" Gasket replied.
LAP 104/200 Leader: Liberty
Liberty and most of the frontrunners would pit for tires, but Claw, Tracker, Shade, Sweetie, and Wildcat would all stay out.
LAP 107/200 Leader: Claw
GREEN FLAG
Rick: 14 laps to go into the stage, and Tracker gets an excellent start on the inside, and he's already into the lead by the time they get into turn 1!
#99 Radio: Good restart Tracker. Just hold on to the lead.
LAP 115/200 Leader: Tracker
Tracker was being challenged for the lead against Shade, and was defending well, but the potcake might have bigger problems.
"Where's the #19?" Tracker inquired.
#99 Radio: She's a second behind the two of you. It's important you get away from her.
LAP 119/200 Leader: Tracker
Dale Jr.: Tracker and Shade have been battling for the lead, and it's brought Liberty into play with her 4 fresh tires! She's battling with Shade for 2nd as Tracker takes the white flag in stage two!
LAP 120/200 Leader: Tracker
Into turn 1 they go, Liberty makes the pass on Shade for second, and she wants more; she wants the lead!
#99 Radio: #19 is passing the #6, be ready for her.
Rick: Can Tracker hold off Liberty for two more corners? Liberty sends it into turn 3 on the outside!
#19 Radio: You have a big run, coming to the green checkered!
Dale Jr.: Tracker throws the block! Liberty dives to the inside! They're side by side! Liberty gets him at the line!
LAP 121/200 Leader: Liberty
CAUTION
#19 Radio: You got it! Great job Liberty!
"Woo! Honestly I didn't think I'd get there, but this is a great car guys!" Liberty exclaimed.
LAP 122/200 Leader: Liberty
Rory, Everest, and many others were planning to do only one more pit stop but there was one issue. They were stretching their pit window to make it to the end of the race on one more stop.
"So, we're sure this plan is gonna work?" Rory asked.
#17 Radio: The #45 is on the exact same strategy as us. If you can beat her, we will win this race.
LAP 126/400 Leader: Rory
GREEN FLAG
Rick: The final stage is underway here in Michigan! Rory gets a great restart with the push from Ella and clear as she enters turn 2! Zuma actually takes 3rd away from Everest as well! Everest drops down to 4th.
Dale Jr.: Crash is happening down the backstretch, and it's Mayor Humdinger! And do you wonder, if karma caught up with him with what he did to Skye!
CAUTION
#48 Radio: You just lost it and crashed on your own? "Shut it." The mayor demanded.
LAP 134/200 Leader: Rory
GREEN FLAG
Jeff: 67 laps to go, and the green flag goes flying once again.
Dale Jr.: Everest got a great restart and she goes back to second place and is now chasing Rory!
LAP 157/200 Leader: Rory
Rory and Everest had been battling for the lead for over 20 laps, and had built a 4 second lead to Liberty in 3rd.
#17 Radio: In this lap Rory.
#45 Radio: Pitting this time Everest.
Dale Jr.: The two leaders are pitting, but they'll have to wait for fuel so they can make it to the end.
Rick: Both have tidy stops and Everest actually comes out ahead of Rory!
#45 Radio: Well done team!
#17 Radio: Shake it off Rory. Still a long way to go.
LAP 159/200 Leader: Liberty
#11 Radio: Put this lap Marshall.
Dale Jr.: Marshall is getting service, Oh trouble turn 4! IT'S EVEREST! She saves it, but something is wrong with her right rear tire! And it's cost her the race win!
#45 Radio: Oh my God, the crew messed up again Everest.
"GAAAHHHHH! THAT'S TWICE THIS SEASON!" Everest barked on the radio.
LAP 161/200 Leader: Liberty
Jeff: Meanwhile, Liberty is making her pit stop and she's away, now the question is where will she be?
#19 Radio: Push out of the pits, #17 is coming up fast.
Rick: And Rory cycles back out front. But she's only one and a half seconds behind!
#17 Radio: Okay Rory. Less than 40 laps to go, you got this!
LAP 187/200 Leader: Rory
Liberty was definitely faster than Rory, and on lap 187, she was all over the bumper of the feline.
#19 Radio: Big run Liberty. Go inside.
Rick: Liberty dives to the inside, she's gonna get alongside the #17! Side by side off of turn 4! Down the front stretch, Liberty leads that lap with 13 laps to go!
LAP 188/200 Leader: Liberty
Rick: Here comes Liberty with a look to the inside into turn 1!
Dale Jr.: The #19 gets loose! Up the track she goes, and that allows Rory to pull away. That might have cost Liberty the win!
#19 Radio: It's not over yet. Chase her back down!
LAP 194/200 Leader: Rory
In just a few laps, Liberty was already on the bumper of Rory, and she was determined not to slip up this time.
"If I get back alongside Rory, I'm not lifting!" Liberty strictly said.
LAP 199/200 Leader: Rory
Liberty was pulling everything out of her pocket, but could not get alongside Rory to challenge for the lead.
Jeff: Props to Rory for keeping her cool, and holding the lead against possibly the championship favorite as they head into turn 3!
#19 Radio: Liberty, I know and I see you are doing your best, but you can do it!
#17 Radio: #19 three back, white flag this time.
Rick: Here they come off of turn 4! Rory takes the white flag! One lap to go presented by Credit One Bank!
LAP 200/200 Leader: Rory
WHITE FLAG
Jeff: Here they come into turn 1! Rory to the inside, Liberty follows, the gap stays the same at three tenths as they come off of turn 2 for the final time here at Michigan!
Rick: Liberty sends it into turn 3! Trying to get to Rory! Out of turn 4, Liberty is gonna run out of time, Rory goes back to back at Michigan!
#17 Radio: BACK TO BACK WINS RORY! YOU'RE THE GIRL!
"YEAH HAHA! THANKS EVERYONE!" Rory exclaimed.
#19 Radio: Son of an ugh- you should have won that.
"I tried my best guys. She was too good at defending." Liberty said.
Rory did her burnout for the second week in a row and had a bigger smile on her face than last week as she got out of her car.
Reporter: Back to back wins for Rory. She's getting high fives from her team and girl, you are on fire right now. Both weeks, you had to hold off a JGR car to win, and you did it. How did it feel in those final 15 laps?
"It was nerve wracking for sure! I wasn't sure if I was gonna hang on because the #19 was chasing me down. But my crew told me to just run my line, and I did. Thanks to this #17 car, two weeks in a row it's gotten us to victory lane. People talk that the #24, the #19, or the #11 are the championship favorites. Well, I might be the dark horse to spoil that party!" Rory said, going back to her car.
RESULTS
1st #17 Rory
2nd #19 Liberty
3rd #11 Marshall
4th #6 Shade
5th #5 Ryder
6th #99 Tracker
7th #1 Sweetie
8th #4 Zuma
9th #12 Ella
10th #43 Rex
11th #54 Coral
12th #2 Tuck
13th #20 Skye
14th #22 Rubble
15th #7 Alex
16th #10 Duke of Flappington
17th #21 Dwayne
18th #23 Claw
19th #3 Harold Humdinger
20th #77 Copycat
21st #47 Wheeler
22nd #41 Gasket (-1)
23rd #31 Leo (-1) 2
4th #34 Hubcap (-1)
25th #51 Charger (-1)
26th #16 Wildcat (-1)
27th #15 Mix (-1)
28th #62 Jake (-2)
29th #38 Al (-3)
30th #45 Everest (-3)
31st #14 The Cheetah (-3)
32nd #78 Ladybird (-4)
33rd #48 Mayor Hundinger (DNF)
34th #42 Ben Allen (DNF)
35th #24 Arrby (DNF)
36th #9 Chase (DNF)
37th #8 Rocky (DNF)
PLAYOFF CUTOFF
15th #23 Claw +58
16th #54 Coral +3
—-
17th #34 Hubcap -3
18th #99 Tracker -5
19th #16 Wildcat -24
20th #48 Mayor Humdinger -44
21st #2 Tuck -53
22nd #9 Chase -54