Handicapping

[Indian]

So this is not a slam or bitch post, I really want to have a discussion about this. And I'm not slamming any one track for doing this.

This handicapping system for the feature is just bad in my opinion. I understand doing a handicap for heats to reward teams that are supporting the track week in and week out. But to not have any kind of redraw for the top 6 or 9 starting spots in the feature is just bad logic. It puts slower and inexperienced cars in the front of the entire field of much faster cars, this has caused real problems in a lot of races I've watched. I personally can't be at our home track every week this year because our finances just don't dictate that we can race weekly. We've still tried to be there as much as possible. Now if I come to the track, start dead last in my heat and race my way to the top three spots I should be rewarded with a decent start in the feature. But no, handicapping the feature dictates I just did all that work and beat my car for nothing because I still start the feature in the back. My question is why even run the heat? Do one lap and pull off, I'm starting in the back anyways, why risk my car? Thats my opinion, and I've had some people that came to watch me race want to know why I still started in the back even though I almost won my heat. This system confuses fans as much as it frustrates racers. Hope this can be a good discussion and not turn into a track slamming fest.

 

[phredo]

This is about the age old issue of what's best for the racers versus what's best for the fans.  Since I'm only a fan, the track handicapper is my best friend because the best cars (over the past few weeks) start in the middle of the pack.  Unfortunately for drivers, that includes those that only make infrequent appearances as missed events are usually tabulated as wins when it comes to handicapping.  I'm sure this was something implemented by race track owners to get drivers (and their cars) to race every week.

 

[Gomerpyle]

Depends if you want to start mid pack or dead last. With a full field, mid pack sounds better. 10 car feature, last isn't that bad.

 

[Rp22]

As much as the handicapp sucks for the drivers it's great for the fans. In this day and age if u put the fastest car in the front for the feature than it usually is gonna be a run a way and a boring race for the fans. The fans wanna see the best car race to the front not hold off slower cars. In some divisions it sucks and I see your point but in other divisions some of the top drivers have so much money invested its hard for the low income races to stay with them

 

[Rp22]

I think tracks need to go back to the old rule where if u can't keep up with the pace of the race you should be blacked flayed instead of being in the way and that's not a dis to the slow cars that's just the race track being safe and simply saying you need more experience and track time to get better

 

[Chargincharlie]

Both tracks I attend top 3 in the heat races redraw for the features works well at both tracks and great racing at both Genesee and Freedom.

 

[ridecar]

I went to a track a few years ago that had the draw-redraw, it was about mid season and a Late Model driver showed up for the first time and started on the pole of the feature, led every lap and took the win. Is that the way to treat your faithfuls who are there every week?

 

[Indian]

As I said, I understand handicapping for the heats, start the top guys/"invaders" in the back of the heats and make them earn that redraw by racing to the top three positions. Where I take exception is, when your car is fast, and an inexperienced driver who is involved in yellows almost weekly starts in the front simply because they show up every week, causes that top five car to be a struggling to finish car because of damage they caused. Thats a serious problem and I've witnessed it more than once this year. This is such a problem that fans and car owners are mystified why they have so many accidents in all classes.

Also my question still stands, why are we even running heats? Just run hot laps and be done with it because thats all the heat is anyways, 8 lap hot lap. As far as incentive to show up every week goes, if its like this next year I won't even show up at all. That may sound harsh, but why even bother to show when you know your screwed to begin with.

Thanks for the replys guys.

 

[garyt]

YOU SHOULD GO EVERY WEEK,TAKE ONE LAP IN THE FEATURE THEN YOU WILL START ON THE POLE AND YOU SUPPORT THE TRACK AT THE SAME TIME.

 

[Chargincharlie]

If he shows up once and beats the regulars in the heat he dserves to start up front.

 

[Chargincharlie]

Deserves.

 

[dblaney9393]

It's all part of racing passing cars isn't that the point?

 

[Groundpounder]

It seems the southern attitude of being entitled to a good starting spot by virtue of doing well in qualifying is creeping in up here. Back in the day, the greats of modified racing built their legend by coming from deep in the pack week after week to finish up front in 30-35 lap features - all thanks to handicapping. It would have been a whole lot less impressive, not to mention less entertaining, if they were starting in the first couple rows every week because they ran well in the heat races.  I'm sure they had to pass a few "slower and less experienced" cars on their way to the front too. It's all a part of racing.

Now we can debate the merits of the various handicapping systems that have been employed over the years, as some are better than others. I just hope one that starts the fast cars up front never wins out. If you aren't entertaining the fans and they stop coming, you won't have a place to race.

 

[Xtreme]

Handicap the heats . Then if there is more than 8 cars to handicap keep it in for the feature . If not that many qualify then do a redraw . Easy . Gotta keep the handy cap in for the regulars

 

[Chargincharlie]

Back in the day lancaster did it by money won the week before so if you were a new guy you started tail.

 

[garyt]

Thumbs up -Groundpounder

 

[RPark]

you also draw for your heat at genesee and freedom even if first time there (. i like this because i am very busy and can not make it every week ). then if you come in top 4 you redraw for the feature.

 

[Indian]

So I guess I'll take the bait, as much as I hate to do it.

It seems the southern attitude of being entitled to a good starting spot by virtue of doing well in qualifying is creeping in up here

I don't think entitled means what you think entitled means. You don't work for an entitlement. Entitlements are something you get for doing nothing or not working for it. Someone thinking they are entitled to start up front just because they show up every week is by definition and entitlement. Also qualifying is just that, by actually working and showing you have the skill to finish in the top spots of your qualifying heat, you are showing you are qualified and deserve to be able to start in the top ten or so spots. By starting the guys that have shown they know what they are doing by finishing well in qualifying is just safer for everyone and the equipment. Start the guys who have less experience in the back so they can get more track time and experience. It also lets them experiment with their set ups and driving style without getting run over by ***** off veterans who are getting held up and beat by other veterans.

Also no one said passing people wasn't part of racing. However, giving people who aren't doing their maintenance and set up home work and just showing up weekly, the top starting spots every week regardless, IS NOT part of racing as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Xtreme]

you also draw for your heat at genesee and freedom even if first time there (. i like this because i am very busy and can not make it every week ). then if you come in top 4 you redraw for the feature.

I don't mind this but for the guys that are there every week they really should have a better place to start for being a regular . I like draw redraw , but I know for regulars it's not really fare if u show up draw one and win and don't show again for weeks .

 

[Xtreme]

YOU SHOULD GO EVERY WEEK,TAKE ONE LAP IN THE FEATURE THEN YOU WILL START ON THE POLE AND YOU SUPPORT THE TRACK AT THE SAME TIME.

This is not true . If you don't try to race the track can take your handicap away . Sandbagging . Seen this at ransomville this year . Thought it was a joke but no they took handicap away . So even if u get a flat u need to fix it and race or no handicap . I like that if they do it to all .