NEMA Releases New Handicapping System for 2012
Customized Handicap System Effective 2/25/12
The new handicapping system is based upon the drivers accumulated handicap points from their previous 4 feature event finishes. A handicap point matrix will be posted, containing every competitors finishes and accumulated handicap points. This allows every competitor to know and understand how they have achieved their heat race starting spot prior to that event.
Based on car count and number of heats, a predetermined amount of cars will be transferred into the feature via the top finishing positions in their heat race (16 or less cars signed in will handicap 10 cars, 17 to 23 cars will handicap 12 cars, and 24 and up will handicap 14). Those cars will occupy the front of the feature, according to their handicap value, and the rest will fill in the remainder of the feature line-up in the order of how they finished their heats.
When a driver signs in for an event, their name will be added to the current events matrix, and we then create our heat race line-ups based upon who has signed in: The driver with the lowest number of accrued handicap points in their last 4 feature events will start first in the first qualifying race, and the driver with the second lowest amount of handicap points accrued will start first in the second qualifying race. The qualifying races will be filled in accordingly.
We will predetermine the amount of cars that we will “transfer” from the qualifying races to the feature event.
Example: we have 20 cars signed in, so we will qualify and transfer 12 cars from the qualifying races utilizing their handicap.
Out of those 12 drivers, the one with the lowest accumulated handicap points will start on the pole, the driver with the second lowest accumulated handicap points will start second, and the top 12 spots will be filled in accordingly.
The winner of the previous feature event will start in the last handicapped spot if they have transferred in their qualifying race (in this example it will be 12th ).
The remainder of the feature line up (in this example they would be 13th through 22nd) will be transferred “straight up” from their qualifying race finishes.
NOTES:
Any 2012 feature event winner cannot be posted to start any higher than 6th position in a feature event, regardless of their handicap.
Rookies and drivers that have not competed in 2010 or 2011 are considered as having 4 “wins” for their beginning handicap.
Drivers that are DQ’d from an event for any reason are credited with 2 wins for that event for handicapping purposes.
The best finish in each drivers last feature event will break all “ties”, with the best finishing driver starting behind the other driver(s).
This is the best all-around system in use today for the following reasons:
a. It is easy to use and edit, and there is very little time needed at the track to work with it.
b. It is transparent and readily available to all competitors via online posting & hand outs of the matrix.
c. It creates a tried and true system of having the faster cars race their way to the front, therefore giving the fans and track operators good reason to book our shows.
d. There is no advantage or disadvantage to anyone who competes with this system, thereby limiting the hard feelings by our regular supporters when non-regulars show up.
Sources: NEMA