*Turn 2 Blog is a regular feature on InsideDirtRacing.com. Here, site operators Michael Moats and Richard Allen take turns offering their thoughts on the dirt racing topics of the day from east Tennessee and beyond.
Richard: When the checkered flag waved over the Knoxville Nationals this past Saturday night we concluded a stretch in which there were seven consecutive weekends(or supposed to be except for a couple of rain outs) of races that paid at least $40,000 to the winner. Some of those events were sanctioned by the World of Outlaws Late Model Series, some by the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, and one(World 100) is not sanctioned by either of the two national tours.
Essentially, it is now time to rejoin the “regular” series races as both circuits are slated to contest events this weekend that do not offer those kinds of payouts.
With that said, I have often wondered about the way points are distributed by the two series. Each uses a different points distribution method with the WoO Late Models giving 150 points to the winner while second place receives 146 then a two-point drop off occurs for each spot down through the field. The LOLMDS awards 200 points to the victor of each race with 180 going to the runner-up, 170 for third, and 160 for fourth followed by a five-point drop off for each remaining position through the pack.
But what I am really wondering is why drivers receive the same number of points for a race that pays $10,000-to-win as they do for a crown jewel event that pays $50,000-to-win? With the greater emphasis and prestige placed on the higher paying races, shouldn’t those dole out even more points?
In other words, shouldn’t the points be more in tune with the money paid?
What are your thoughts?
Michael: I have never given it much thought. But now that I think about it, I think there is some logic to awarding more points for races paying more money than a standard purse. It would seem to carry more cache for winning the Knoxville Nationals or the North/South 100 than the typical race in another part of the season.
Some have viewed this as a gimmick, but the IndyCar series had their final race where they awarded double points. Maybe each of the national series should consider doing something like that for their more prestigious events.
Should Jimmy Owens have received more points for winning the Knoxville Nationals?
Richard: One thing that could cause a possible glitch in such a system could be the fact that those crown jewel type races often have drivers from both series competing at the same time. If extra points were to be awarded within one particular series there could potentially big gaps among those who regularly race on the series that happens to be sanctioning that particular event.
For example, if a Lucas Oil regular were to win a LOLMDS sanctioned race such as the North-South 100 but then the next three positions were to be filled by WoO Late Models regulars or regional racers it would provide the winning driver with a huge gain over his fellow Lucas Oil competitors.
Perhaps a possible solution could be to only award points to the drivers who are regulars on the particular series. It could essentially create a race within a race.
If more points were to be awarded for the bigger races would you prefer to see points dispersed throughout the field as they are now or points only awarded the the regulars on that tour?
Michael: If such a system were in place, I’d prefer to leave it as is now. That’s what makes things a bit confusing in NASCAR’s Xfinity series. Cup drivers run those races, but they get no points. That leaves huge gaps in the points where a bunch of positions are not awarded points.
I think for the most part, these bigger paying races are all about the money and not the points, even for the series regulars. There are only certain times when bigger purses are up for grabs, so the focus is on the money and not on the points. I will say the one exception is the Dirt Track World Championship because it pays $100,000 to win, but also decides the points title on the Lucas Oil Series provided that isn’t a runaway and decided beforehand.
Richard: You were correct earlier to point out that the bigger races are more about the money than the points. Perhaps the right answer is to award no points for the events paying big money. But then again, that would take the sanctioning bodies and their ability to serve as administrators for these races out of the mix.
