A few years ago, I started putting together scenarios detailing what drivers needed to do to win each track championship at Independence entering the final race of the season. After a hiatus for the last couple of years, I thought I'd bring it back for readers of positivelyracing.com. Keep in mind, these stats are not official, just observations I have made upon reviewing the current standings.
I.M.C.A. Late Model
Darren Ackerman holds a 23 point advantage entering the final night of racing. The most points any driver can gain in the feature is 23, so even with a last place finish and a win by second-place Travis Smock, Ackerman would be guaranteed no worse than a tie atop the points at season's end. I.M.C.A. breaks ties by the number of feature wins. If that still doesn't break the tie, most second place finishes, then most third place finishes, etc. are used until the tie is broken. Regardless what happens on Saturday, Ackerman will hold the tiebreaker by virtue of his two wins this season. That means, all he'll have to do to earn his third title is take the green flag in next Saturday's feature. Note: Although points are awarded to Late Models in heat races throughout the course of the season, no heats are run on championship night. They are not necessary to qualify cars for the feature since lineups are already set entering the night.
I.M.C.A. Modified
Darin Duffy doesn't even have to get out of bed on Saturday to claim the championship in the Modifieds. Duffy currently holds a 46 point lead over Troy Cordes and the feature winner earns 40 points so Duffy has already clinched the championship.
I.M.C.A. Stock Car
Current Standings
Brian Irvine - 473
Jarod Weepie - 466 (-7)
Phil Holtz - 460 (-13)
Dan Trimble - 459 (-14)
Norman Chesmore - 456 (-17)
Brian Irvine - Irvine will clinch the title with a finish of eighth or better. Otherwise, he needs to finish no worse than seven positions behind Jarod Weepie, 13 positions behind Phil Holtz, 14 positions behind Dan Trimble and 17 positions behind Norman Chesmore to take the crown.
Jarod Weepie - Weepie must beat Irvine by eight spots in the feature to win the title and finish no worse than 6 behind Holtz (within 5 if Holtz wins, due to the tiebreaker), 7 behind Trimble (within 6 if Trimble wins, due to the tiebreaker) and 10 behind Chesmore.
Phil Holtz - Holtz must beat Irvine by 14 positions in the feature to earn the title, beat Weepie by 6 (by 7 if Holtz does not win) and beat Trimble by 1 (by virtue of a series of tie-breakers, even though he is currently ahead of Trimble in the standings). He must also stay within 4 finishing positions of Chesmore (within 3 if Chesmore wins) to win the points.
Dan Trimble - Trimble must beat Irvine by 15 positions, Weepie by 7, Holtz by 1 and finish within 3 finishing positions of Chesmore to win the title.
Norman Chesmore - Chesmore must beat Irvine by 18 positions, Weepie by 11, Holtz by 5 (by 4 positions if Chesmore wins), and Trimble by 4 positions to win the title.
I.M.C.A. SportMod
Current Standings
Jim Buhlman - 442
Kyle Bentley - 440 (-2)
Danny Dvorak - 422 (-20)
Joel Rust - 422 (-20)
Jim Buhlman - A win or a second place feature finish will clinch the title for Buhlman. Otherwise, he needs to finish within 1 position of Kyle Bentley. As it stands, the tiebreaker between Buhlman and Bentley extends to most fifth place finishes. Both drivers have no wins, 2 seconds, no thirds and 3 fourths entering the final night. Bentley has one fifth place finish to Buhlman's none. In addition to his finish relating to Bentley, Buhlman must also stay within 19 positions of both Danny Dvorak and Joel Rust to win the title.
Kyle Bentley - Bentley will earn the title if he beats Buhlman by 2 positions. He must also stay within 17 positions of both Dvorak and Rust.
Danny Dvorak - Dvorak will earn the title if he beats Buhlman by 20 positions, Bentley by 18 positions and finishes ahead of Rust. Dvorak holds the tiebreaker over Rust by virtue of his four feature wins to Rust's one win.
Joel Rust - Rust will win the title if he beats Buhlman by 20 positions, Bentley by 18 positions and finishes ahead of Dvorak.
I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock
Current Standings
Josh Irvine - 467
Quinton Miller - 462 (-5)
Josh Irvine - Irvine will win the title by finishing no worse than sixth in the feature. Otherwise, he must stay within 5 finishing positions of Miller to win the championship.
Quinton Miller - Miller will win the title by beating Irvine by 6 positions and staying within 19 positions of Wes Stanek.
Note: Although there is a chance Stanek could finish ahead of Miller in the standings, Stanek is mathematically eliminated from winning the track title as he currently sits 25 points behind Irvine. A driver can earn as many as 40 points in the feature, but only as few as 17 (24th on back awards 17 points regardless how many cars start). Should 27 Hobby Stocks sign in and we start that many cars (God forbid) and Stanek wins (40 points), Miller finishes 21st (20 points) and Irvine 27th (17 points), Irvine would hold onto the title by two points over both Stanek and Miller.
As I said, although I did look them over closely, these are just observations and not official. At any rate, it's safe to say there is a lot to be decided on championship night. Aside from the points leaders, there are some very close battles for position throughout the standings in all five divisions. Coincidentally, starting lineups will be straight-up based on total points. As is the case with the final standings, ties in Saturday's feature lineups will be broken by best finishes, as well.
I'll have a few more stats Saturday night on a few drivers when they are introduced. Have a great week!
No comments:
Post a Comment