I've posted this topic several times before and I'm not going to give up the campaign to get a solution to the points ties. For those new to this topic, this has to do with drivers/teams drawing for heat race positions ( no time trials ). Drivers are then place in the heat races according to the numbers that were drawn. Drivers are then rewarded points for finishing position plus passing points. Here is the problem: When the point totals are assembled, there may be several drivers that have accumulated the same number of points. The crucial issue here is that the points totals are used to determine feature and semi feature starting positions. The current method being used penalizes the drivers in heats 2, 3 and/or 4 (assuming there are four heats on the program) in that the drivers in the higher numbered heats are awarded preference in terms of starting positions in the feature races. Here are two examples of how unfair this method is:
USAC Midget Week 2007: The Kokomo midget race had a number of drivers tied with the same number of points. The drivers in the first few heat races were placed in the feature while the drivers who were last to race in the heats had to go to the semi:crying:.
This weekend at Macon, three drivers tied for points that would have allowed any of the three to start on the pole of the feature. The driver who was in the earliest heat race was awarded the pole position, while the other two drivers who participated in later heat races had to start in the 7th and 8th positions:crying:.
My solution to this is a simple one. When there is a points tie(s), the race officials redraw numbers for the tieing drivers. No need to have the parties present for the draw. Tell the participants in the drivers meeting that this is the way the ties will be handled so everyone knows in advance what the procedure will be to determine the feature lineups. This at the very least takes away some the handicap for the penalized drivers
.
Just because the traditional method that I have outlined above has been used over the years does not make it right. Come on race organizers and promoters... let's stop penalizing drivers because of which heat they participate.
Don Moore