LEBANON VALLEY SPEEDWAY

HANDICAPPING PROCEDURE

SIMPLE EXPLANATION – WEEKLY HANDICAPPING 
Points earned will be used to calculate the weekly handicapping. The points awarded can be found at the end of this document. The points awarded from the last three regular point races with the lowest points awarded will be starting in the front. When heat races are run the drivers finishing in a handicap position are lined up for the feature using the same formula. Drivers finishing in the non-handicap positions of the heat races are lined up heads up behind the handicapped drivers. After a driver has won a feature race the furthest forward that driver can start in any subsequent feature is from the fifth place starting position.

DETAILED EXPLANATION – HANDICAPPING (FIRST THREE WEEKS) 
The basic weekly handicapping formula is determined by using the combined points awarded from the previous three regular point races with the driver having the lowest points awarded starting in the front and the highest points awarded starting in the rear.

Below is the definition of how the handicapping will be determined starting with Race #1 of the new season. Modified, Sportsman, Limited Sportsman, Pro Stocks, and Street Stocks will run heat races and features. 4-Cylinders will run features only.

Opening Night Race #1 – All drivers in all divisions will draw for starting positions regardless of their previous attendance at the speedway. Before drawing, any driver who has not previously competed in the division they are drawing for will be given the option to pass on the draw and start in the rear. This will help eliminate the possibility of a less experienced driver starting in the front of a heat race or feature and allow the driver the opportunity to start in the rear, this will allow the driver time to get more experience on the track at race speed. Speedway Management reserves the right to have the driver start in the rear if deemed appropriate.

For modifieds ONLY you will have the revenge re draw opening night and week 2

Race #2 – Handicapping will be based on the finishes from opening night, (You will still draw for heat race starting spots.) Feature lineups will be using points awarded for that first race as the total for handicapping purposes for the second race. Drivers who were absent for the first race and qualified during their heat race for the second race will start behind any cars that qualified in the heat races and were there in the first race. If they do not qualify in their heat race, they will start last in the feature. NOTE: Any “new driver” will start at the rear of their heat race this week.  (See new driver rule below)

Race #3 –Handicapping will be based on the combined points awarded from the first two races. Drivers who have not competed in either of those first two races will start last in their heat race. If they qualify, they will be placed as the last qualified car. If they do not qualify, they will start last. (See new driver rule below)

REGULAR WEEKLY HANDICAPPING Race #4 –
Regular handicapping begins. After the first three races have been run drivers will be handicapped for each week’s regular point races based on their points awarded for the previous three regular point races*.

The number of heat races and how many qualify from each and the inclusion of a last chance qualifying race(s) will be determined by the Speedway Management based on car counts and will be posted on the pit board as soon as those determinations are made. Speedway Management has the option to make changes to the night’s order of events without advance notice due to weather conditions and/or scheduling issues.

*Some races do not count towards handicapping. IE, when show-up points, are awarded and/or special event races, Special series races. This will be communicated with racers in advance of the special race.

Every heat race this will we will award the top 3 finishers with points toward yearly points(not handicapping)

Winner = 3 pts

Second= 2 pts

Third=1 pt.

GENERAL RULES - DEFINITIONS

Feature Wins – After a driver has won a feature race in any division the furthest forward that driver can start any subsequent regular points feature race is from the fifth starting spot. This policy will be in effect for all divisions and all feature races except for any DirtCar Series or Special Event Shows.

New Driver – Any driver who did not compete in at least three regular point races in their division the previous year (DNQs and appearance point races do not count towards minimum race count total). A driver will also be considered a new driver after missing three consecutive regular point races during a season.

New drivers will be required to start in the rear of heat races and features for the first two races for which they attempt to qualify. However, if they qualify in the heat race, they will be placed as the last qualified car. The driver will have the option of electing to forego that qualifying spot and start in the rear if they prefer.

**Speedway Management reserves the right to determine whether the new driver is experienced enough or has enough power to maintain a safe speed to start in the front of a race. They also may adjust any driver’s starting position in heat races or feature races based on that driver’s experience and ability to maintain a safe speed at the start of a race. At any time, a new driver may choose to continue to start in the rear until they feel more comfortable starting further towards the front.

Absent Driver – When a driver is absent, and a substitute driver has not been assigned, that driver will be handicapped with the respective points awarded as if they had won that feature race.

Substitute Driver – Driver substitutions may be allowed depending on the circumstances and will be determined by Speedway Management. Driver changes on race days during driver sign-in with the handicapper are allowed with as much advance notification as possible to be provided to the handicapper. A driver may elect to allow a different driver to drive their car on a one-time basis during the season. The substitute driver must use the same car the original driver would have used. Drivers from a higher division are not allowed to substitute in a lower division. Drivers may, however, move up in the division as a substitute driver.

The substitute driver will be handicapped in the original driver’s position in the heat race. Should they finish in a qualifying position in the heat race, they will start in the rear of the other qualified cars for the feature. The substitute driver will be scored as if they were the original driver, with the original driver receiving the points and any purse money awarded for that race. Substitute drivers will not be credited with points or handicapping for themselves while racing as a substitute.

Show up Points- In order to qualify for show up points a driver must take a green flag. Your car must register on the track under a green flag in order to qualify for the show up points.

Did Not Qualify (DNQ) / Did Not Start (DNS) – A driver who does not qualify for or does not start a feature event but does attempt warm-ups will be awarded the minimum number of points for that race and they will be assessed zero (0) points towards their handicapping for that race.

Disqualification (DQ) – In the event a disqualification occurs, either through a post-race inspection or due to an action occurring on or off the speedway, the driver will be awarded zero (0) points for the race, and the maximum number of points (first place) towards their handicapping.  

Deviations From Normal Handicapping – Speedway Management will make every attempt to maintain the regular handicapping procedure throughout the season. Occasionally, through scheduling of a night of features only, triple 20s, or double features (due to a previously weather-shortened event or due to possible weather conditions), Speedway Management reserves the right to deviate from the normal handicapping procedure. In this instance, notification will be posted on the website or pit board with as much advance notice as possible. (An example would be if heat races are not run, and the decision is made to handicap based on the point positions for that division, perhaps the top 15 in points are handicapped.)

MODIFIED, SPORTSMAN, LIMITED SPORTSMAN, PRO STOCK & STREET STOCK DIVISIONS (HEAT RACES & FEATURE RACES)

Heat Races – Handicapped directly from the points awarded list with no exceptions. The driver with the least points total for the past three regular point races (who is present) will start on the pole of the first heat race, and the driver with the second least points total from the last three regular point races who is present will start on the pole of the second heat race and so on.

Feature Races – Drivers finishing in handicapped positions in their respective heat races will be handicapped for the feature race based on their points total for the previous three regular point races.

If a driver runs a Sportsman car at any other track, they must attempt to qualify with the Sportsman. The Limited Sportsman class is reserved for less experienced drivers. Exceptions may exist and will be addressed by Speedway Management on a case-by-case basis.

If a Limited Sportsman driver reaches a three (3) win total in the season, that driver will be required to move up to the regular Sportsman Division the following season. In addition, each year’s Limited Sportsman Track Champion will be required to move up to regular Sportsman beginning with the following season. Management reserves the right to request any driver move up to the Sportsman division, at any time, at their discretion.

4-CYLINDER DIVISIONS (FEATURE RACES ONLY) 

Feature Races – These divisions will not run heat races. Feature races will be handicapped based on the driver’s points total for the previous three regular point races.

NOTE: Qualification for a Medical Exemption must be approved in advance by DIRTCar™. (20 show up points would be used in this case if approved by DirtCar)

DNS= 20 pts.

Absent =100 pts.

DQ=100 pts.

FORMULA USED FOR DETERMINING HANDICAPPING

FORMULA USED FOR DETERMINING POINTS