Point Spread...

NewbieZ71 · July 16, 2001

I hope I ask this right......

In the NASCAR standings, Jarrett and Gordon have a total of 2515 points, Bodine has 1512. There are 26 other drivers inbetween. Where in between has the team already decided that "theres always next year"? How many points can a driver reasonably expect to make up in the remaining races?

MountaineerTom · July 16, 2001

It all has to do with luck basically. In '92 Bill Elliott had a 278 point lead over Alan Kulwicki with only 6 races left in the season. Elliott had some bad races in those last 6 while Kulwicki had some good consitent finishes. In the last race of the season, Elliott won and Kulwicki finished second and lead the most laps. Kulwicki ended up winning by only 10 points. Elliott won 5 races that year while Kulwicki won only 2. BTW, Kulwicki died in a plane crash near Bristol, TN in the spring of '93.

General Lee 01 · July 16, 2001

I think what the Newbster means is, "Who's out of contention for the Championship at this pont in the season?" (Is that what you mean Newbie?).

Well, if so, Usually by this point in the season (atleast the wayI've been noticing), if you're not in the top 5 in points by now, you don't have a snowballs chance in Mexico to get the 2001 WC Championship.

NewbieZ71 · July 16, 2001

Yes, I guess thats what I am asking....Mark Martin with 2065, Steve Park- 2001, Jimmy Spencer 1968...is that about the cut off? About 500 points or is it somewhat above there....I guess you have to factor in the drivers too. Steve Park making up 500 points is kind of iffy wouldnt you say?

MountaineerTom · July 16, 2001

OK, I thought you were just asking in general, not this year. Like Jeremy said, probably someone who is in the top 5, maybe 6, will more than likely win it. Unless some of them have a big string of terrible races and the rest in teh top 10 have lots of top 5's, but that's very unlikely.

NewbieZ71 · July 16, 2001

I guess it also depends on how many others are between you and first....a miracle could happen to let you go from 2nd to 1st and overcome a 500 point deficit if something drastic happens to the #1 driver...but counting on miracles to overtake 6-7-8 drivers gets less and less the more drivers you add.

Let me change it a bit....what is the most points you can be awarded in one race assuming you do everything you can to earn points ie win the race, lead from start to finish, etc. Then, if you did so, how many points would the #2 car be awarded? That would be how many points its POSSIBLE (though not likely) to gain in one race....

PS - I've been dubbed THE NEWBSTER by Generalisimo???? Makin' copies.....Nascar-rama...

MountaineerTom · July 16, 2001

185 points max. That would be 175 for first, naturally if you won, you led a lap so +5, and +5 more if you led the most.

For the 2nd place finisher to get the max points he/she can, they would have to lead 1 lap. Then they would get 180 points. If they didn't lead a lap, they would get 175.

Now it's possible for someone to lead 499 laps out of 500, finish 2nd and then get the same amount of points as the winner. The winner would get 175 for 1st and +5 for leading a lap, = 180 points. The 2nd place finisher would get 170 points for 2nd, +5 for leading A lap, and + 5 for leading the most laps, = 180 points.

Newbie,

I don't think this page has anything specifically about the points system, but it has lots of frequently asked questions that you, and others, might find interesting. http://jayski.thatsracin.com/pages/faqrace.htm

Here's on on how points are awarded by position. It's on the lower part of the page.

http://jayski.thatsracin.com/stats/2001/drivers2001.htm

(Edited by MountaineerTom 99Z71 at 12:09 am on July 16, 2001)

(Edited by MountaineerTom 99Z71 at 12:12 am on July 16, 2001)

NewbieZ71 · July 16, 2001

Thanks Tom, I'll check it out...

General Lee 01 · July 16, 2001

Oh yea, A 500 point defacit is a big a$$ defacit to make up (Like you said earlier). You'd have to win 5 tomes, and lead the most laps 5 races, and the guy who's 500 points ahead needs finish out of the top 20 without leading a single lap for you can gain on him.

Last year's BGN champ won by 600+ points, it wouldn't have mattered even if he didn't start the last race, he still would have been champ.