Asterisk Mark Report – Darlington #1 2022
Ross Chastain – This spring at Darlington, Ross Chastain might’ve just had the best car, but his race wasn’t incident free and he finished an asterisk mark 30th. In the race, Chastain finished 2nd in Stage #1, won Stage #2, led 26 laps, had the 2nd best Total Speed Ranking but then during the restart for the final Stage, Chastain crashed into the inside wall while he was battling Denny Hamlin for the lead.
Kyle Busch – This spring at Darlington, Kyle Busch was a top five contender, but he finished a clunker 33rd. In the race, Busch led 19 laps, finished 4th in Stage #1 but then in Stage #2 while running in 6th, Keselowski who was a lap down had a sudden flat tire and he careened into the #18 which marked the end of his race.
William Byron – This spring at Darlington, nobody had a more memorable asterisk mark result than William Byron. In the race, Byron finished 6th in Stage #1, 5th in Stage #2, led 24 laps but then with 2 laps to go while leading, Joey Logano punted him into the wall which led to him fading back to finish 13th. “Performance Wise”, William Byron was clearly a top 3 performer for the afternoon.
Kyle Larson – Kyle Larson had a car he described as “Super Good” this spring at Darlington, but he finished last when the checkered flag waved. In the race, Larson led 30 laps early but then on lap 56 while he was battling for 2nd he spun. That is theorized to have damaged his engine and then on lap 113 while he was back up to 10th after driving up thru the field his engine blew up.
Denny Hamlin – Denny Hamlin had a great car this spring, but his race really went south in the last Stage and he finished an asterisk mark 21st. In the race, Hamlin started in the rear of the field, finished 7th in Stage #1, 4th in Stage #2 and led 42 laps. Pit strategy in the final Stage over a run shuffled Hamlin a little back in the field (9th, was on old tires longer than others) and then a caution came out which was followed by his team having a disastrous pit stop which dropped him back to 18th. Then during the ensuing restart on lap 260, the “Big One” happened, and Hamlin was caught up in the carnage which relegated him to his poor result.
Martin Truex Jr. – Martin Truex Jr was a top five contender this spring at Darlington but he finished an asterisk mark 24th. In the race, Truex led 28 laps, finished 5th in Stage #1, 2nd in Stage #2, had a 6.4 average running position but then in the final Stage things went south for him. On lap 260 he was in 4th, but then during that restart he spun and crashed. In terms of Total Speed Rankings, Truex ranked 4th with his speed over the segments being 5th, 3rd, 7th and 8th.
Erik Jones – This spring at Darlington, Erik Jones looked great, but he finished an asterisk mark 25th. In the race, Jones finished 8th in Stage #1, 6th in Stage #2, had a 10.4 average running position and had the 9th best Total Speed Ranking. On lap 260 during a restart while he was running in 12th, Jones was caught up in a multi-car wreck which led to his poor finish.
Bubba Wallace – This spring at Darlington, Bubba Wallace was actually a top ten contender, but his afternoon wasn’t incident free. With 33 to go he was running in 10th but then shortly after that during a restart he crashed which led to his 27th. In the race, Wallace had a 12.8 average running position and his Total Speed Ranking for the afternoon was the 14th best.
Brad Keselowski – This spring, Keselowski was a 20’s performer, but he ended up finishing an asterisk mark 34th. I’ll note, Keselowski brought out the first caution when he kissed the inside wall on lap 4. Then later on lap 168 while he was a lap down, Keselowski had a sudden flat tire and crashed into Kyle Busch which ended both of their afternoons. Just prior to that, Keselowski was running around 24th.
Alex Bowman – Alex Bowman didn’t have a great car this spring at Darlington and was mid to high-teens good at best but he finished an asterisk mark 29th. Bowman spun on lap 255 while running around 15th. Then a few laps later his car was on fire and he climbed out of the #48. In a post DNF interview he said his car was slow.
Chase Briscoe – This spring, Briscoe finished 20th, but I thought he was marginally better than his result. On lap 260 (33 to go) while he was running in 14th, Briscoe was caught up in the “Big One.”
Drivers who finished abnormally good due to the high attrition rate ….
Justin Haley – Justin Haley finished 3rd this spring, but don’t read into that result because it doesn’t reflect his performance. In the race, Haley had a 21.2 average running position and the 22nd best Total Speed Ranking. When the “Big One” occurred with 33 to go, Haley was in 16th.
Michael McDowell – This spring at Darlington, Michael McDowell finished 7th, but I wouldn’t read into his result too much. In the race, McDowell had an 18.3 average running position and had the 19th best Total Speed Ranking. With 33 to go when the “Big One” ensued, McDowell was back in 18th.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – This spring, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 8th. He legitimately ran well at the end, but keep in mind his average running position was 17.1 and his Total Speed Ranking was the 17th best.
Ty Dillon – This spring at Darlington, Dillon had his best result at “The Lady In Black” and finished 12th. That said, Dillon had an 18.9 average running position, the 24th best Total Speed Ranking and was running back in 20th with 33 laps to go before some late carnage ensued.
Harrison Burton – This spring at Darlington, Harrison Burton finished 14th but I don’t think that result reflects his performance. The attrition rate was high and in the race he had a 22.7 average running position and the 28th best Total Speed Ranking.
Todd Gilliland – This spring at Darlington, Todd Gilliland finished 15th, but I wouldn’t read into that result. In the race, Gilliland had a 25.3 average running position, and his Total Speed Ranking was the 31st best
