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

I'm shocked by the number of folks who don't know the Knoxville Nationals prelim night points format.  I am even more shocked at the number of negative comments made about this format.  The format is listed on their website.  Why were there so many questions about Hodnett's point total?  THE FORMULA IS RIGHT THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE!!!!  

1.  Qualify well-----no sandbagging

2.  Run heats like hell-----------no settling in

3.  Run Mains like it's your only chance to make Saturday's show-----because it is.

If that format doesn't excite you, I don't know what form of racing on the planet will possibly be of interest to you.  

I've read that explanation MANY times & it doesn't explain how they line up the A main on qualifying nites

I recall a few years ago finding a more detailed explantion somewhere, but forget where....

If you can show me where that detailed explanation is, I will thank you....

All CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM aside, it was a great show this year!

Top 4 from heats make the A. Fastest 8 in time trials among those who transfer from heats are inverted at front of A. The rest are heads up by time trials. 4 B main transfers start 21 - 24.

So if say 3 of the 8 fastest in TT don't finish in the top 4 of the heats then 9th, 10, & 11th in TT would start at front of A instead with 11th quick on the pole.

Pretty simple actually. 

To be clear, I posted my comments in anger after reading through more "conspiracy theories".  So dumb.  Even though I was abrupt and critical, I did not mean to discount the opinions of those simply giving constructive criticism.

I also didn't mean everyone should know the format up and down. 

What I can't stand is the constant complaining about what cars had an advantage, what cars got screwed, blah blah blah blah blah.  For @#$&'s sake, every single driver and crew chief got a copy of the format and rules before they hit the track.  Hodnett knew he wasn't going to sniff the top 4 for Saturday night's main.  

Here's what everyone needs to know when you get to a race:   (and this isn't pointed at you revjimk)

1.  The drivers know what the rules are

2.  The drivers know exactly why they are lined up where they are lined up.  They're not pissed----why should you be?  They understand everything that's going on.  

3.  If Donny Schatz or Kyle Larson end up at the front of a race, it isn't because they are getting preferential treatment.  They are good!!   They landed in the top 4 in points.  The points system they all had in front of them before hot laps pushed off.  The points system that didn't change as the night went on.  The points system that has been used for decades.  The points system.................................you get the point.

I got on Hoseheads after prelim nights to read some of the comments about how great the racing was and how much we should all be enjoying what we get to witness.  Instead, bitching and whining about who is starting where.  Unreal.  Just enjoy the show folks.  As revjimk said, it was a great show this year!!!  And has been the last 3!!!

Thanks.... but WHERE can you find the detailed version of the format?

I seem to recall a more detailed explanation in the newspaper they give out at the Nationals, & maybe somewhere online, but damned if i can find it. 

I like the format and feel that it is the best way to do an event over a 4 day period. It allows the best performing cars to get in the show with the best of those starting up front, which for the most prestigous event in the sport I think is needed and should happen.

200points to the top qualifier and goes down by 2 points for each position (198-2nd, 196-3rd, 194-4th, 192-5th).

They basically invert the top 40 in 5heats so the top 5 qualifiers start 8th and have to make it to the top 4 to transfer, or get even higher to score points.

100points to the winner of each heat winner and goes down by 3 points for each position (97-2nd, 94-3rd, 91-4th, 88-5th).

Feature is inverted to the top 8qualifers that transferred from the heats. So if 1-5 did not transfer and 6-10 did then those drivers would assume the 1-5position and be inverted (1st fastest transfer starts 8th, 2nd fastest transfer starts 7th, etc)

200points for the winner going down 2pts each position. It rewards drivers that hit the track and perform well each time like Brad Sweet who timed 4th, finished 2nd, and won the feature.

To me the past couple years that I have attended it gives you the best performing drivers starting up front and it gives you the best racing of the year. If you just watch on TV or PPV you really do not see all of the great battles throughout the field and how intense the battles are. The format to me is perfect.

I'm taking your advice next year.  

http://www.racechaseronline.com/sprints-midgets/world-of-outlaws/explanation-knoxville-nationals-format/

By the way, missing from the Friday night description, the heats are line up in a 4-car invert and top-3 make the A from each of the 6 heats. 

Hope this helps

Or, you can just go to the source, the actual Knoxville Raceway web site that explains everything...

http://www.knoxvilleraceway.com/Event/knoxville-nationals

Its a really good format and makes for great racing Wed and Thurs.  Its not a big issue, but your TT seems to be a little bit luck of the draw.  You want to be out early far as I can tell. 1.2 seconds between quick time and 40th. I wonder if there will ever be any thought given to how they qualify for Friday's hard knox to the Wed and Thurs night qualifying?  I like the 2 pools and 6 invert? TBH, Friday night was really good racing considering what was on the line.  But I guess at the end of the day the 4 guys who came out of Friday were not much of a surprise? 

I asked quite a few questions and questioned a lot. I’m fairly new to following the WOO series closely. Thanks for making me and others feel so welcome. I’ll be sure to send you personal requests before I ask future questions. 

Seriously? You need to get over yourself. You need to step back and ask yourself what the intent of your post was here. That sense of entitlement and ownership you feel isn’t a good look. 

After having experienced the entire Knoxville week I can easily say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to next year. 

Bite my tongue, but doesn't the complaining, bitching and whining seem to nearly always come from one direction?  And a select few?  A lot of us suffered through some poor performances by our favorites......that simply goes with the territory during the Nationals. It's a grueling contest!   And yet some seem to find a way to complain even when their driver does well! 

The Knoxville Nationals format is a brutal and punishing format, which is why I love it. You have to be fast everytime you hit the track during prelim nights and every time you're fast on the track you get set back in the next race and have to do it again. It's awesome. The format works and the cream always rises to the top!

Ask Frank

DId you even bother to read my post? I've read that OVER & OVER.... like i said before, it does NOT explain how they line up the A main on qualifying nites..... jeez

Oh boy.... thats the same exact thing as Knoxville web page. 
Doesn't explain how they line up Qualifying nite A Main

This is like trying to reason with my 95 yr. old Mom...But thanks to the people who explained it in their own words!

Also, thanks to the guys who tried to help by reposting Knoxville "format" section

Sometimes  I lose patience with Mom too.... Sorry

Making suggestions does not =  "complaining, bitching and whining"

I thoroughly enjoyed the racing on PPV, altho I couldn't go in person this year. I've been 3 times, its not always convenient to drive that far....

from what I understand, and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but tho top 8 in TT that make it through their heats are the invert, if that is the top 8 in TT, then the A lineup looks like this - 8, 7, 6, 5 and on.

If those 8 are 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 15, then the A lineup will be 15, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 4. Then anyone ouside of the top 8 will line up straight off of TT position, so say the next qualifier that didnt make the invert was 16, then 18, then 21, they would line up in that order, all the way back unitl the B transfer cars.

Again, that is what I get out of it, if I am wrong, please correct me.

Well then what is a "suggestion" that would seem to benefit a particular driver.......in a particular situation? 

I guess you missed this sentence, under "A Main" for the qualifying night...

"The invert for the A Main is eight."