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This subject was brought up in a different thread. I feel that it is such an important topic that it deserves its own thread.
Can anyone give a plausible reason why handicapping is not used at Asphalt Short Tracks in Florida?
Currently just about everywhere heats are run or time trialing is conducted and then a pill or dice is pulled shuffling a few cars at the front of the field. The fast cars settle the race quickly amongst themselves at the front of the field and everyone else settles in for whatever finish they can muster. This system does NOTHING to create a good race for the fans, passing is kept to a minimum and unless you're a top qualifier you have little to no hope of winning the race.
IMO a good handicapping system can do wonders to improve the show without costing the track owners a dime. However full inverts off of time trials or heats would lead to sandbagging which is no improvement. Inverting based on points doesn't work either because you are left with the conundrum of what to do with the occasional competitor. Starting them up front isn't fair and neither is making them start shotgun every week. To me the best system is to total either your finishes or your money won from the last three weeks. A caveat to this system is to weight all the races the same by using the regular purse for handicapping purposes, scoring a win and a half for weeks you miss, scoring a double win for guys who are DQ'd and allowing feature winners to start no better than 5th.
This system is a win-win for fan and competitor alike. As a fan you will get to see passing throughout the entire field. As a competitor you are rewarded for your loyalty to your track, theoretically have the opportunity to pass a lot of cars every race and also have a legitimate shot at winning (if you can get your sh*t together). The only thing I can see that a Debbie Downer can rag about is that "new guys won't come if they have to start in the back." Is local short track racing in such dire straits that we fear the unknowns not coming more than wanting to reward your loyal competitors who DO show up every race? If that's such a concern then why not simply give a $100 bonus to anyone that can come from the back to win? The pit passes that team buys will more than make up for the extra C note over them not coming at all. Now, God forbid, you might have to work with the track nearest you to have a schedule that won't conflict divisions but IMO that's as hard as totalling up three dollar amounts and sorting those amounts from lowest to highest. This system would even work for Touring Series.
Let's review:
Better show for the fans with more passing all through the field and a less predictable outcome.
Every racer feels that he has a legitimate shot to win.
Every racer has the opportunity to pass some cars every race.
Racer loyalty is rewarded by a better starting position making you want to come every race.
A good handicapping system WILL increase fan count AND car count.
So, racers and fans alike. WHAT SAY YOU???
Can anyone give a plausible reason why handicapping is not used at Asphalt Short Tracks in Florida?
Currently just about everywhere heats are run or time trialing is conducted and then a pill or dice is pulled shuffling a few cars at the front of the field. The fast cars settle the race quickly amongst themselves at the front of the field and everyone else settles in for whatever finish they can muster. This system does NOTHING to create a good race for the fans, passing is kept to a minimum and unless you're a top qualifier you have little to no hope of winning the race.
IMO a good handicapping system can do wonders to improve the show without costing the track owners a dime. However full inverts off of time trials or heats would lead to sandbagging which is no improvement. Inverting based on points doesn't work either because you are left with the conundrum of what to do with the occasional competitor. Starting them up front isn't fair and neither is making them start shotgun every week. To me the best system is to total either your finishes or your money won from the last three weeks. A caveat to this system is to weight all the races the same by using the regular purse for handicapping purposes, scoring a win and a half for weeks you miss, scoring a double win for guys who are DQ'd and allowing feature winners to start no better than 5th.
This system is a win-win for fan and competitor alike. As a fan you will get to see passing throughout the entire field. As a competitor you are rewarded for your loyalty to your track, theoretically have the opportunity to pass a lot of cars every race and also have a legitimate shot at winning (if you can get your sh*t together). The only thing I can see that a Debbie Downer can rag about is that "new guys won't come if they have to start in the back." Is local short track racing in such dire straits that we fear the unknowns not coming more than wanting to reward your loyal competitors who DO show up every race? If that's such a concern then why not simply give a $100 bonus to anyone that can come from the back to win? The pit passes that team buys will more than make up for the extra C note over them not coming at all. Now, God forbid, you might have to work with the track nearest you to have a schedule that won't conflict divisions but IMO that's as hard as totalling up three dollar amounts and sorting those amounts from lowest to highest. This system would even work for Touring Series.
Let's review:
Better show for the fans with more passing all through the field and a less predictable outcome.
Every racer feels that he has a legitimate shot to win.
Every racer has the opportunity to pass some cars every race.
Racer loyalty is rewarded by a better starting position making you want to come every race.
A good handicapping system WILL increase fan count AND car count.
So, racers and fans alike. WHAT SAY YOU???
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