R.I.R. Camping World Truck Race @ Daytona Speedway

R.I.R. website
Daytona Speedway in-world


(race of 7/14/12)





Believe me or not, yesterday was the first time I got able to make it! Always thought that if it's out of the series - it's supposed to be boring: veterans keep the lead till the finish, new racers lose the hope and give up early, Grosmanteau DeCuir finishes first, Eagle Clawtooth - second...

How wrong I was! And how much I like it!
They've got pitstops. They've got custom paintings. They've got different settings.
They've got the competition.

I said that before and I say this again: Sharon Densmith's racing skill improvement shows so clear, you don't have to run through the race log too much for the evidence. Guess it's not a surprise that DeCuir got the best time at the practice - 13.179, but looks at Densmith's time - 13.182. It's not close, it's totally the same! Because the 0.003 difference I don't count as a difference.
DeCuir decided to start half a lap down without qualifying. And pole position was successfully taken by Densmith with 13.001 seconds!
The pack at the start messed her up a little, and MidnightRambler Frostbite got ahead of her, but only to get pressed by her from behind. It didn't take long to her to get back to the 1st place. Behind her, Eagle Clawtooth dropped down and was going 5th, while ZZ, who is well-known as a postion improver, took the 3rd, and eventually the 2nd one. In conclusion, Clawtooth pulled to the pits at the 4th lap (it wasn't about pitting though) and dropped to the 7th position. DeCuir made it to the 4th position.
At the lap 9, ZZ gain the lead, but only for a couple of laps, then Densmith got back there. Meanwhile, DeCuir took over the 2nd place, but there was lapped Clifford Market between him and Densmith.
Frostbite became first who had the pitstop and dropped onto the 4th place, behind ZZ. Then there were Market (fastest pitstop), Densmith and others. ZZ, as always, made the pitstop last. And Densmith, DeCuir and Market got 1 speed ticket each.
Sharon got back 3rd at the track, but behind ZZ and DeCuir, who pitted later than her, so she obtained the leading again. DeCuir successfully caught up with her, unlike ZZ, who was 4th, with Frostbite ahead. Ought to say, the gap between Densmith and DeCuir was noticeable - about 5 seconds and increasing.
At the lap 41, Densmith hit the wall and made the second pit at the next lap. Where she got the second ticket, but at least quickly recovered at the track. DeCuir was the hext one who pitted, but got back 2nd. Then were others, but the gaps between them were big enough not to make it fatal for any of them.
3rd pitstop - Densmith and DeCuir have switched places again.
And the 4th, where Densmith got her third ticket, what meant the race was over for her. DeCuir was leading regardless, the second position was obtained by Frostbite, and the 3rd was taken by ZZ.
Then Frostbite was pitted, again... that was a long stop, long enough to drop onto the 4th place, right behind Clawtooth. When Clawtooth's at the 3nd place, that means he'll take the 2nd, what he did. And then... the finish!

If there were no parking tickets, I bet Densmith would win the race - but what's done is done. Better luck and more attention at the pits next time, and I bet DeCuir has got a very competitive opponent.
Thanks for the race, guys, and congratulations winners :)


Here come the stats:

The Grid
Pole Position. Sharon Densmith  13.001
P 2. Eagle Clawtooth,  13.202, -0.200
P 3. BanningBairde,  13.424, -0.422
P 4. MidnightRambler Frostbite,  13.513, -0.511
P 5. 'ZZ Bottom' (foneco Zuzu),  13.647, -0.646
P 6. Clifford Market,  15.824, -2.823
Grosmanteau DeCuir - 1/2 lap down






Final Results:
1st. Grosmanteau DeCuir, 100 laps. Total Time : 1480.807
2nd. Eagle Clawtooth, -2 laps.
3rd. 'ZZ Bottom' (foneco Zuzu), -4 laps.
4th. BanningBairde, -6 laps.
5th. MidnightRambler Frostbite, -6 laps.
6th. Sharon Densmith, -14 laps.
7th. Clifford Market, -18 laps.

Fastest race lap of the race: Sharon Densmith, 13.044
Fastest race lap of the day: Sharon Densmith, 13.001