[richie]

There's a paragraph in the story about it.

But the short explanation for the reasoning of it being an appearance points only event is that it gives the flexibility to run an altered format. For instance, 20 cars transfer into the feature events this weekend instead of the normal 22.


STRAIGHT TO THE (APPEARANCE) POINT

Both nights of racing this weekend at Macon will award appearance points only with all licensed USAC National Sprint Car drivers and entrants receiving 50 points across the board each night regardless of finishing position.

It was the same scenario at Action Track USA, and there were some drivers who indicated that the appearance points situation on that particular night took the pressure off their shoulders and allowed them to just go race without the fear or repercussions of having a bad points night.

Similar instances may play out once again with championship stakes “at ease” for all intents and purposes at Macon.* Thus, with the removal of one aspect, that might allow drivers to place their sole focus on the win and the paycheck rather than settling, not that anybody is into “settling” in the middle of heated competition.

You might see teams experiment a bit more with set ups.* Drivers may take different approaches to their plan of attack.* In fact, a handful of top teams at Action Track USA parked their 410 engines to compete with a 360 c.i. powerplant based on the tight confines, with the best of the bunch scoring a solid sixth place results.* However, when it’s go time, the 20 drivers and cars starting each night’s feature will find themselves in a never-ending vortex for 40 laps on Friday and 50 laps on Saturday.* You know, just like the poster says, “Fighter Jets in a Gymnasium.”