![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.rhinopeel.com\/sbmrl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/IMG_3632.jpg\")
<\/a>The 2018-19 Grid<\/p><\/div>\n
Despite a full offseason of pent up racing agression, the entire field got off the line smoothly to start the race.\u00a0 Rask got a better push than Whiplash did and was through the first corner before the rest of the field knew what was happening.\u00a0 The rest of the field split into a leading group containing Delilah, Launch, Jaap, and Bubba and a trailing group containing Sheila, Whiplash, and the Stig.\u00a0 The latter group being notable as it contained a pair of cars that started on the first two rows of the grid.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Rask… and everyone else<\/p><\/div>\n
The second half of the first lap was notable for the diametrically opposed fates of the Scandinavian Blitz drivers.\u00a0 In his first race, Rask was proving that he could put no foot wrong, as he gradually increased his lead heading into the second lap.\u00a0 In contrast, the Stig was struggling so mightily that he was gradually falling farther and farther behind.\u00a0 Perhaps it was a major hangover from last season’s victory.\u00a0 Perhaps he just starts the season slow, he didn’t perform well to start the season last year, either.\u00a0 Regardless, this was not the way to get off a title defense.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Lap 1 Groupings<\/p><\/div>\n
The second lap saw Rask navigating the second corner just as the rest of the field was first getting to the pits.\u00a0 Bubba got a slight edge by not pitting, but was soon caught up by his replacement at Force Ravenswood, Delilah.\u00a0 The Stig was the only other drive not to pit, and it did help him catch back up to Sheila and Whiplash.<\/p>\n
Through the second sector, Delilah and Bubba battled back and forth, alternating in their battle for second place.\u00a0 There was really no hope of catching Rask aside from a failure on his part in the third sector.\u00a0 Launch had, meanwhile, gotten a leg up on Jaap as those two former teammates sought to demonstrate superiority.\u00a0 Sadly, they were both struggling enough that the case could be made that they were trying not to demonstrate inferiority.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Bubba ekes ahead of Delilah in the fight for 2nd<\/p><\/div>\n
Those waiting for Rask to stumble found themselves disappointed, as he coolly navigated the final third of the track to take a dominating victory.\u00a0 Bubba also thumbed his nose, in his case towards Force Ravenswood, but taking a comfortable second place.\u00a0 He lost Delilah in the second sector as she found herself lacking pace.<\/p>\n
The next battle, then, became not just the fight between Launch and Jaap for fourth place but whether or not either would catch Delilah.\u00a0 The answer was yes, but unfortunately for Regency Motors, it didn’t involve Jaap.\u00a0 Launch passed Delilah around the penultimate Bill Mitchell Bend, crusing to 3rd place with Jaap trailing Delilah.\u00a0 The final three cars were all neck and neck through the third sector, but Sheila prevailed over Whiplash, leaving Stig to last place.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Launch comes around the final corner<\/p><\/div>\n
Final Results<\/h3>\n
| Driver<\/th>\n | Start<\/th>\n | Lap<\/th>\n | Finish<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rask Sjofar (SB)<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Bubba McQueen (SR)<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Launch Bornado (FR)<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n | 4<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Delilah Whipplefilter (FR)<\/td>\n | 7<\/td>\n | 2<\/td>\n | 4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Jaap Snellrijder (RM)<\/td>\n | 6<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n | 5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Sheila Dinkum (RM)<\/td>\n | 8<\/td>\n | 6<\/td>\n | 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| Whiplash (SR)<\/td>\n | 1<\/td>\n | 8<\/td>\n | 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
| The Stig (SB)<\/td>\n | 4<\/td>\n | 7<\/td>\n | 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Rask becomes the first driver to win their first race outside of Jaap in the SBMRL’s inaugural race.\u00a0 He now boasts a 100% winning percentage, which likely won’t last for long but is fun to say.\u00a0 Not only did he win, but he did so in dominating fashion, taking control of the race from the opening straight and never looking back.\u00a0 Rask becomes the 12th different driver to win an SBMRL race.<\/p>\n Bubba finishes 2nd for the first time in his career, ahead of both Force Ravenswood drivers for a bit of revenge.\u00a0 Launch starts out the season with a strong showing, adding another podium to his SBMRL leading tally.\u00a0 Coupled with Jaap’s 5th place finish, Launch has now moved ahead of Jaap on the all time points list, 367 to 366.<\/p>\n From a team standpoint, the Stig’s poor showing means that Scandinavian Blitz holds a small, 2 point lead in the team standings over Force Ravenswood.\u00a0 Regency Motors finds themselves in the unfamiliar position of last place.<\/p>\n Race Gallery<\/h3>\n\n\t\t |