Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Can anyone explain how drivers are selected for the dash at an All Star event? Thanx.

Let's see if I can explain this without confusing everyone including myself.

There are always 10 drivers eligible for the dash but only the top 8 of those eligible for the dash make it into the dash. The other two start 9th and 10th.

Top 2 in each heat are always eligible for the dash. Depending on how many heats they add the top fastest qualifiers who made the feature so they have 10 total eligible. 

So if I read the rules right someone who finished 4th I their heat could make the dash over the winner of their heat if they had a faster qualifying time.

Didn't you just say top 2 are always eligible fo the dash?

I went back & read them myself. I think you're right. If any 8 of the cars that make it to the A have faster qualifying times than winners, winners start 9 & 10. So why bother to compete for win in heat if you make the cut? Sounds screwy to me, too much emphasis on qualifying.

Why do they have to make it so complicated? Not very well written either....

An even bigger question: I just looked thru the whole rule book & different formats & can't find a word on how they line up the heats....

So how the heck do they line up the heat races???

Oh wait, I looked again... invert 4 based on qualifying

Looks like the old Outlaw format from 4 years ago.

3 heats, invert 4, top 2 heat finishers, plus top 4 qualifiers that make top 6 in any heat race, make the dash, top 6 make the main directly.

Dash line up off of time ins, top qualifiers make dash, others line up 9, 10 in the Main line up.

Then draw for 8 starting spot in dash.

4 heats, invert 4, top 2 heat finishers, plus top 2 qualifiers that make the top 5 in any heat race, make the dash, top 5 make the main directly.

Dash lined up off of time ins, top qualifiers make dash, others line up 9, 10,  in the main line up.

Then draw for 8 starting spots in the dash.

5 heats, invert 4, top 2 heat finishers, plus top 2 qualifiers that make the top 4 in any heat race, make the dash, top 4 make the main directly.

Dash lined up off of time ins, top qualifiers make dash, others line up 9, 10, 11, 12 in the  main line up.

Then draw for 8 starting spots in the dash.

So, if you are the fast qualifier for the night all you need to do is make sure you're in a transfer spot. No need to race any harder than that. From what I have read though it sounds like the drivers think it is a pretty fair system. One night in Ohio, Shaffer did finish second in his heat and failed to make the dash and was unsure why though. 

My my thoughts are its not a terrible system and better than the woo system this year. I think it would be better if all heat race winners were locked into the dash and the other spots in their "pool" to choose from were based on the 2nd place and fast qualifiers.

I know series and tracks are always trying to do what they think is best for the drivers to create good racing for the fans. It is really hard for even a pretty informed fan to know what is going on when you go to the races and different series are doing things different and hard to follow.

"I know series and tracks are always trying to do what they think is best for the drivers to create good racing for the fans. It is really hard for even a pretty informed fan to know what is going on when you go to the races and different series are doing things different and hard to follow."

As some put on here you are fan there to JUST watch Sprint cars go around the track. Not how they get that position to race from. lol

" My my thoughts are its not a terrible system and better than the woo system this year. I think it would be better if all heat race winners were locked into the dash and the other spots in their "pool" to choose from were based on the 2nd place and fast qualifiers."

I like the All Stars on Pool qualifying. And the 2016 WoO on the heat line ups and dash you have to race your way into the dash and it stops the quaifying sand bagging or just finishing your heat in qualified spot to make the dash.... As we know not much passing happens in the heats.

As far as Series doing things different true, ASCS,WOO,All-stars,KWS, local tracks. Make it hard to know what is going on during the night. Unless you have a good anouncer.

"I know series and tracks are always trying to do what they think is best for the drivers to create good racing for the fans. It is really hard for even a pretty informed fan to know what is going on when you go to the races and different series are doing things different and hard to follow."

Ain't that the truth....

Seems to me Heat winners should line up in front of dash, fastest qualifier first

Or skip qualifying & use random draw for heats, then reverse & run 'em back

It's as good a system as any IMO. If you want the heat winners to be in the dash instead of the fastest qualifiers who qualify through their heat race, then you shouldn't have an invert.  

A

The current format is most likely the best right now, the reason the fourth heat cars were not in the dash it goes bck to the old problem of the track slowing down so the fastest times will usually come from the first or secnd heat.

Only problem with group qualifing is some times you get a loaded heat like what happened at Port and a not so loaded heat which puts alot of good cars in the B Main.