Double file restarts
 

Reading Charles comment on the Twin City thread inspired me to ask what you folks think about double file restarts? I personally hate them. I think it’s a gimmick to add excitement, which may be needed for other types of racing but not for sprint cars. It’s one of the things I don’t like about the Outlaws. To me a caution alone changes the race and bunches up the field enough. Someone’s misfortune shouldn’t allow the guy who was running behind you to restart along side of you. That’s my take, what do you think?

Re: Double file restarts
 

Agree 100%. I hate them!

Re: Double file restarts
 

While I feel the system. (Running odd or even) can be played when a track is better on top or bottom. That wasn't my big gripe with it.

Its the bunching of the field and the subsequent lap or two after the restart where 15 cars are bunched up in 100ft vs 150ft. I wouldn't say Westerfelds wreck was caused by this, It almost looked like his throttle stuck and he ran over the back of Gaines or Oneil, can't remember which. But the rest were due to contact caused by being bunched up and trying to sort out.

This is my view, I just think it causes a lot more cautions and more damage. I could be totally wrong, I'll leave that to the racers to decide.

As far as the system, Id rather watch the pass made on open track mono-e-mono than coming out ahead after the restart because their lane was better.

Re: Double file restarts
 

I have been doing this with the midgets for 2 years and really have not had an Issue...we do the Dixie Double File where the leader is by himself and 2nd gets to chose top or bottom. I also do it with the sprint and have only had issues at last years MDC race in Screven and that I believe was totally a track issue with all the moisture coming back to the top, 33* and 1AM feature time start.

Now as far as the concept, we do it because of the people that pay the purse wants it. You know, those folks in the stands. Every week that we race I personally go into the stands and ask different people what can we do to make the show better as a fan. This was in the top 3...of course putting the fast guys to the back was #1. I do see both sides but as a promoter we have got to put on a show and that's what we do.

Re: Double file restarts
 

I like double file restarts and sending lapped cars to the rear of the field. I'll use last Sat. night at the MSCS race at Haubstadt. The caution came out with just a few laps to go with Kyle Cummins in the lead, CJ Leary and KTJ in second and third. They line up for the restart and put 4 lappers between 1st and 2nd place, Kyle won by a half lap, in my opinion what turned out to be an average finish would have been an unbelievable finish.

As an owner who experienced my first Delaware, Dixie, or whatever you call it restart last night at Vernon, I’m not a fan. It helped us one restart and hurt us on another but it just increases the damage potential quite a bit in my opinion.

Lapped cars should never be moved to the tail. The leader has to work to get around those guys, so should everyone else.

Re: Double file restarts
 

I don't like them at all. More hillbillification of the sport. If the leader laps cars and puts wear on his tire doing it, why should the leader lose the advantage just because a caution came out? Its WWE stuff. Fabricating the results.

If you guys dont like double file restarts but love inverts then you are a hypocrite IMO. Both are gimmicks.

Single file restarts are fine, but they do need to put lap cars to the tail. Some claim the leader earned those lap cars; but under green they were still in traffic. Now you are giving them clean air/track and cars as a buffer. That's too much of an advantage.

Double file helps create passing by the obvious bunching everyone up. But I'm fine with either if lappers go to the tail. But wing cars single file restarts turns the front 5 or more spots into a parade until they find traffic.. usually.

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I don't see what the double file restarts and the invert has anything to do with each other. Ever seen USAC heats, the fast guy starts sixth. Sometimes they don't transfer. Sometimes they win. The latter is fun to watch and they pick em off one or two at a time.

You can like what you like and I can what I do. No need for name calling.

I agree on the wing situation as it takes long green flag racing for everyone to get equal air and passing to start happening on most tracks. I don't really like lappers mixed with the leaders and I think some do not put em back if a yellow falls in the final five laps.

However last years Sprint Week at Haubstadt proved that to be hard to judge as a lapper got back on the lead lap by passing the leader by running above the cushion. Darland was running third for fourth and seen that move. tried it and WON.

Why is the gimmick of putting fast cars to the back good and the gimmick of putting the cars closer and side by side cheap?

Both are designed to create passing and excitement. If you like one but not the other I think you need to think on why.

I dont think either are gimmicks. Gimmicks is all the stuff NASCAR does.

Re: Double file restarts
 

I like them both.

It drives me crazy when a top dog draws a great number. Starts on the pole and runs away with the heat and then does the same thing for the main event. I know that over the summer that I will tend to stay away from the tracks that do this.

Re: Double file restarts
 

Don't like them at all, like to see the lapped cars stay right where they are:6:, just picking up the race where you left off at:31:. I also do not like drawing for positions:34:, qualifying fine, racing no.:32:

Agree, double file restarts are an ill advised gimmick. Example, you are running 16th, yellow flag. On the restart you now advance 8 positions you did not earn.

Re: Double file restarts
 

Absolutely love the double file restart. Why should a guy who was a victim of circumstance on an early caution start half a lap ( on the smaller tracks) behind the leader??? That makes no sense. A guy gets caught up in someone else’s mess goes to the tail and finally can gas it when the leader is already on the backstretch? That’s a double penalty. As far as the leader using up his tire to lap someone let’s not forget he gets the help from the flagger of the blue flag. Other positions behind do not. Some tracks the cars get strung out single file under green why would you create that before they get the green? If you want to go single file the last five laps I’m ok with that otherwise bunch them up and let’s see a race not a parade.

Why should someone who was not a victim of any circumstances have to give to someone a position. Stuff happens.

Best restarts were when you could take off anywhere on the back straightaway! Those were the days!

Don't like them at all.

I agree you can’t call a double file restart a gimmick and not to the same with an invert. They’re all for entertainment purposes.

The fair way would be to line heats up by time, features by heat race result etc...

It drives me crazy when lap cars are not sent to the back. It’s an excitement killer for sure.

Re: Double file restarts
 

yeleyfan76 we do go single file the last 5 laps

Rpracing1 We allow the leader to fire anytime entering turn 3 to the exit of 4 on restarts

Re: Double file restarts
 

I personally like the double file restarts ! Depending on the length of the race no double file restarts with 5 or 10 laps to go is alright as well! I don't see it as a gimmick but I see the other side as well on the drivers and team point of view. If the car leading is flat out smoking the field and has to get bunched back up after caution kinda sucks to be them. It's fine either way for me really!

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What about the cone restarts, altho I seemed to be the one stuck behind the one with the bad cold, sneezing, and coughing, sometimes it was a good way on restarts, always hated restarts, either way, hard, and maybe not possible, to get that position back, you get a rhythm going, and sometimes it slips away from you. Not good either way. Oh well, some ya lose, some ya win, sometimes its a swing and a miss!

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This just isn't true... there are still 14 cars ahead of you and one beside you. You are just half the distance closer to the leader.

I'm fine if folks don't like them; but let's not tell tales.

Gimmick, No.
Just one of many styles of restart procedures, but not a gimmick.

MSCS used the double file restarts in 2017 and it gave us some incredible finishes. I believe they consulted with the drivers and decided it was a safety concern and the driver’s overall didn’t like it.

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"hillbillification".... good one!
Kind of like when you add the "tucky" to "Pennsyl"? :3:

Re: Double file restarts
 

If I hadn't been "hillbillificated" when my family moved from NYC to Shenandoah Valley of Virginny in 1960, I never would have discovered dirt track racing! :23:

Re: Double file restarts
 

As an owner of my own equipment, I do not like them and would agree that I see double file restarts as a safety concern.

JJ Hughes

Respectfully disagree. Think of it this way. You are standing 16th in a single file ticket line and now the line is made double file. Yes there are still the same number of people ahead of you, however you have now advanced half the distance you were previously behind.

Re: Double file restarts
 

***?

Re: Double file restarts
 

Truly funny comment, but on further thought, not quite sure why you equate double file restarts with "hillbillification". Feel free to explain, you goldang flatlander (or would that be "highfalutin' Kokomo city slicker"?) :5:
I don't really have strong opinion either way, me....