The cone start returns at New Smyrna

[Boneman]

I am a fan of the "cone start" approach, both as a driver and a fan. I was watching the show last week at New Smyrna, and was pleased to see that cone starts are now the policy for the weekly classes. They work! It mixes up the event a little and keeps everyone in the game.

It is interesting to see how the speed of the Bomber class has cranked up. I feel for the teams who show up with painted junk, and are getting completely outrun, but that's racing. I think a little tech may be in order for that class since a few of them have built a better mousetrap and are fast.

What happened to 111 Sportsman? They did a very rare "start and park".

[Ryan29]

Hey Rex,

Was gonna touch on the Patrick Thomas thing during the first yellow but we never had one. He was not supposed to be behind the wheel of a car per doctors orders but started to get some points.

[Phil Jacques]

Hey Rex,

Was gonna touch on the Patrick Thomas thing during the first yellow but we never had one. He was not supposed to be behind the wheel of a car per doctors orders but started to get some points.

Anyone care to explain why a driver change was not allowed for Patrick Thomas. And please do not try to blame it on NASCAR because at ALL of our NASCAR tracks up here, it has been done multiple times in recent years.

[OldSchool+]

Re: Cone Starts-- An interesting deal, if it is like Auburndale's cone start (as opposed to Yoho's!). I will assume that the high lane is the lane of choice.

Re: #111-- A points gift to Jason Vail, an already tough competitor.

Re: Points-- Phil, who gets the points up yonder? Driver #1 or #2?

[Patrick Thomas 25]

Thanks for keeping your eye on the Harris Oil 111 sportsman car. Yes it was a weird deal for us, I had a surgery scheduled for the offseason, that insurance somehow found a way to get it pushed to April 9th. The surgery is a lot like making a setup change on the car, no big deal, but should make me more competitive with the likes of Bass, Vail, and Beckner, while also helping me to lead a longer, healthier life. I’ll be cleared to race again next Saturday, with our next race being on May 12th leaves me plenty of time to be 100% before then.

I would have loved to have put somebody in the car to finish the race, I had several volunteers ready to do that, but it was decided by the track that if you change drivers, the last driver in the car gets the points. It was a mute point anyway since the sportsman race went green to checkers.

I’ll be back soon, and better than ever.


As far as the cone deal, I’m not a fan. Start the fast cars, the high point cars, the top earning money cars, at the rear, every heat race, and every feature, and make those cars figure out how to get to the front. Passing cars under caution isn’t racing, and that’s what the cone allows. Gimmicks like those at a fast 1/2 mile track with 2 racing grooves are not needed.

Patrick Thomas 111

[OldSchool+]

"Start the fast cars, the high point cars, the top earning money cars, at the rear, every heat race, and every feature, and make those cars figure out how to get to the front."--PT111

Yep, that is the way it used to be done at Orlando Speedway. It was like a badge of honor to start back there.

And trust me, it is a lot easier to get to the front in 2018 at NSS that it was at Orlando in the 60s.

And while we are at it, single file restarts are great... if one is an insomniac.

[Phil Jacques]

Re: Cone Starts-- An interesting deal, if it is like Auburndale's cone start (as opposed to Yoho's!). I will assume that the high lane is the lane of choice.

Re: #111-- A points gift to Jason Vail, an already tough competitor.

Re: Points-- Phil, who gets the points up yonder? Driver #1 or #2?

By NASCAR rules, the driver who starts the race will get the points.

[sbracer58]

The cone rule SUCKS!

I totally agree with Patrick (as much as it pains me to say that) MAYBE if you have a 1 groove track it's a good idea, but NSS is at least a 2 groove track and therefore absolutely positively not needed. Parts suppliers love the idea, it's guaranteed to tear up cars.