2023 Blizzard Entertainment 150
2023 Blizzard Entertainment 150 | |
[[Image:|175px]] | |
Date | July 29th, 2023 |
Location | Iowa Speedway |
Laps | 150 |
Polesitter | Misaki Andou |
First | Ben Atkins |
Second | Misaki Andou |
Third | You Watanabe |
Fourth | AJ Murphy |
Fifth | Kay Douglas |
Cautions | 5 |
Race Results |
The 2023 Blizzard Entertainment 150 was the twentieth race of the 2023 STARS Lowe's International Series season. This was also the last regular season race before the playoffs started.
Controversies
On lap 15 of the event, Autumn Collins had a flat tire while running in third place. In turn 2, Arisa Ichigaya got into Collins, spinning herself around. The incident seemed to be over until Collins shot down the track, taking out Ruby Mayberry, spinning her into the path of other cars, including Corbin Rhodes, Sadie McDowell and Maddie Anderson; all of which were on the outside looking in on the playoffs while Collins was soundly in the playoffs.
Late in the race, Aya Maruyama made an aggressive move on Matilda Dillinger through the middle to gain position on her. With the caution out for Amane Suou, Dillinger retaliated on Maruyama by turning her head on into the wall in turn 2, also collecting Dillinger's teammate Misaki Andou, who had been leading and was poised to win the race. As a result of crash damage, Andou was not able to hang onto the lead, losing the race on the final lap to Ben Atkins.
As a result of their actions, Collins was docked 75 points for her incident, having previously gathered warnings at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway, while Dillinger was docked 50 points, having previously gathered warnings at Kentucky Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. As a result of their penalties, both drivers dropped from 14th and 15th in points to 17th and 18th, meaning both drivers missed the playoffs, giving their spots to Corbin Rhodes and Caitlin Conway.
Official Chase Grid
Rank | Driver | Points Position | Wins |
---|---|---|---|
WINS | |||
1 | Ruby Mayberry | 1st | 4 wins |
2 | Ben Atkins | 2nd | 3 wins |
3 | Grant Macintosh | 4th | 2 wins |
4 | Lillie Corden | 5th | 2 wins |
5 | Misaki Andou | 3rd | 1 win |
6 | Kay Douglas | 6th | 1 win |
7 | Evie Vance | 7th | 1 win |
8 | Lilly Samson | 8th | 1 win |
POINTS | |||
9 | You Watanabe | 9th | 0 wins |
10 | Honoka Kousaka | 10th | 1 win |
11 | Ruby Kurosawa | 11th | 0 wins |
12 | Daniel Leckliter | 12th | 0 wins |
13 | Madison Baszler | 13th | 0 wins |
14 | Joe Branch | 14th | 1 win |
15 | Corbin Rhodes | 15th | 1 win |
16 | Caitlin Conway | 16th | 0 wins |