Where you qualify is very important
 

There were 20 qualifiers in SS at Denver. The ladder NHRA uses in this situation is here: http://nhraracer.com/ladders/Ladders...Submit1=Submit.

We see that:

Qualifiers 1,6,11,16 have the following sequence to win the eliminator:

• Win,Win,Bye,Win,Win

Qualifiers 2,4,7,9,12,14,17,19 have the following sequence to win the eliminator:

• Win,Win,Win,Bye,Win

Qualifiers 3,5,8,10,13,15,18,20 have the following sequence to win the eliminator:

• Win,Win,Win,Win,Win

Do you recognize which are the "qualifying positions of death"? Which qualifying group would you want to be in to have the best chance of winning the eliminator? Is it fair that under this system just as many bottom half qualifiers have a chance at a bye as top half qualifiers?

In a 20 car field, 12 drivers can take the eliminator with four wins, and eight would need five. There is a way to modify the current ladder that would ensure that the eight bottom qualifiers are the ones that need to win five times.

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

What is that way? How can you do that? Please be specific. I know of no way to do that without seeding drivers instead of relying on actual qualifying numbers. And if seeding drivers is a solution to what some perceive as a problem, why run qualifying at all?

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

My theory is if it's your day it's your day
Mike Taylor 3601

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

You could say that about ANY Stock or Super Stock race for the most part....there is always an easier path...........and a reason so many of the consistent Winners work the ladder.

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

So because someone qualifies at the top of the pack they should get a free round? Not all combinations set the world on fire. The last time I checked, until the pairings go from an odd number of cars to an even number there has to be a bye run. I guess I do not get this thought process, unless a person is always at the top of the pack and thinks its unfair to have to make more elimination runs compared to a lower qualified car. Play the ladder if you can. It must not work too bad for the touring guys, I'm sure if they wanted to be a top 5 or 10 qualifier they would do so, it just does not pay as well.

Sean

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

Mr. Cunningham sells a really nice ladder book, which can help you pretty quickly figure out where the 'sweet spots' are on any Sportsman ladder. It's a handy little tool IMO.

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

I don't understand how people look at our sport......

In a 26 car field if #14 qualified car beats #1 qualified car in the first round then that bye in the 2nd Round goes to the #14 qualifier.....

All you have do is win your round with #1 and you get their bye run......

Seem fair to me...

Just like Al Davis said "Just win baby"

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

The path of least resistence will net the most gain for the least amount of work. Just like in any other game, you are given a set of rules to play by. Using them to your best advantage is the most profitable way to play. I find it amazing to hear racers complaining about others lifting at 1000ft. Attaching numbers to where you qualify is only a way to form a ladder. There will always be a number 1 and a number last. Where you are in between will determine if you are home for lunch on Sunday or very early for breakfast on Monday.

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

I'd love to qualify in the bottom 8 in the scenario presented. No fast cars to race heads up in the first 3 rounds! There might really be a lot of game playing then. As we have learned through the years, be careful what you wish for.

Re: Where you qualify is very important
 

65 car field bye in the first bye into the final and there are others.