So you've just seen your first World of Outlaws event and you're
totally confused, right? What's a heat race? Why did the cars race
around the track before time trials? How come my favorite driver wasn't
in the final race of the night? And who are these guys, and why is
there a wing on the roof of their cars? You've come to the right place.
DIRT 101 aims to put your mind at ease:
Who are the World of Outlaws?
The World of Outlaws are the premier sanctioning body for winged sprint
car racing in the world, and are comprised of sprint car drivers from
across the country and the world. The series was founded by the late
Ted Johnson in 1978, giving winged sprint car racer’s somewhere to
compete with uniform rules and guaranteed purse money.
How long is the season?
The season traditionally opens in early February in Florida and
concludes in early November. The 2009 season will wrap up with the third annual Outlaws World Finals at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, November 5-7. the event will also
include the World of Outlaws Late Model Series. Races take place
from coast-to-coast and on dirt tracks ranging in size from a ¼-mile to
a 5/8-mile. The schedule usually consists of about 85 events and is
considered one of the most grueling in all of motorsports worldwide.
What is a sprint car?
A sprint car is a purpose built open-wheel race car, that must weigh at
least 1,375 pounds with the driver in the car. The 410-cubic inch
engine is fueled by methanol, and produces approximately
850-horsepower.
Why is there a wing on the top of the car?
A large wing on top of the car with sideboards that face opposite
directions help to produce a great amount of downforce to help keep the
car planted on the track and turn in the corners. The wings also help
to absorb energy in the case of the car getting airborne in an
accident. Top wings became prominent in the early 1970’s. Sprint cars
also are equipped with nose wings.
Where do the World of Outlaws race?
The series races from coast-to-coast. Some of the most well-known
tracks on the circuit include: Eldora Speedway in Ohio, Knoxville
Raceway in Iowa, Silver Dollar Speedway in California, and Williams
Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania. The schedule usually consists of about
85 nights of racing, including preliminary and A-Feature events.
How much does the winner of a World of Outlaws event earn?
The winner’s share of the purse depends on the length of the racing
program. Generally, the winner of a standard one-day show will pocket
$10,000. In some events, the winner might collect up to $50,000.
Why are the cars pushed to start?
Sprint car do not have starters in them, so a push truck are used to
fire the engine, and get the car in-gear. A sprint car only has an
in/out direct drive, no reverse gear.
What drivers began their careers with the World of Outlaws?
Dave Blaney, the 1995 series champion, who now races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide series and Kasey Kahne, who
drives in the NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series, and also owns the car
driven by Joey Saldana.
How does a World of Outlaws race program take shape?
- Hot Laps
- Time Trials
- Heat Races
- Dash
- B-Main (C-Main or D-Main depending on car count)
- A-Feature
Race Night Glossary
A-Main
(or Feature) – The final race of the night which decides who is the
over-all winner of the event. Depending on the size of the track the A-Main
usually ranges from 25-40 laps, which is predetermined and shared with the
drivers and teams at the drivers meeting.
B-Main (Last Change
Showdown) – This is the final chance a driver to make it into the
A-Main. Depending on the number of heat races run, the top 4 (or in some cases
more) finishers in the B-Main will transfer into the main event. The B-Main is
usually 8-12 laps in length, depending on the size of the track and the number
of cars involved.
Dash – The
first and second place finishers from each of the four heat races, in a
standard race program, qualify for the dash, along with the fastest two drivers
from time trials that transferred from the heat race into the A-Feature, but
did not finish first or second in the heat. These 10 drivers will randomly draw
for their starting position in the dash (Positions 1-10). The Top-10 starting
positions in the A-Feature are then determined by the finishing order of the
dash.
Drivers Meeting-
Prior to each night of racing, all World of Outlaws drivers and crew members
attend a mandatory meeting, which is conducted by the World of Outlaws
Competition Director and Series Officials. The meetings outlines the night’s
racing events and any procedural changes that may be in place.
Hot Laps
– A session held prior to time trials. This session is run in groups. Each
car is assigned to a group prior to this hot lap session, and the groups are determined
by the draw that set the order for time trials. During this practice session
each car is allotted 3 or more laps (the number depends on the size of the
track) at speed in order to ensure that their car is ready for qualifying.
Heat Race (or Heats)
– An 8-12 lap race (the distance is determined by the size of the track) that
determines which cars will move on to the A-Feature or B Main. The top five
cars in the heats transfer to the A-Main, when there are four heat races. If
there are three heat races, then the top six finishers in the heat race transfer to the A-Feature.
Inversion-
The Top-16 cars in time trials are inverted in the heat races, meaning that the
fastest qualifier in time trials starts in the fourth-spot in the first heat.
The second fastest qualifier starts in the fourth-spot of the second heat. The
third fastest qualifier starts in the fourth spot in the third heat, and the
fourth quick qualifier starts in the fourth spot in the fourth heat (when four
heats are run). The fifth fastest qualifier starts third in the first heat. The
sixth fastest qualifier starts third in the second heat, and so on, working up
to the 13th fastest qualifier starting on the pole of the first
heat. The 14th fastest qualifier is on the pole of the second heat.
The 15th fastest qualifier is on the pole for the third heat. The 16th
fastest qualifier is on the pole of the fourth heat (See layout below). The
remainder of the cars are lined up heads up by their time, starting in the
third row of each heat race. The 17th fastest car in qualifying
lines up fifth in the first heat, with the 18th fastest qualifier,
fifth in the second heat, and so on until the rest of the field is filled.
Note: In a three-heat program, the Top-12 in time trials are inverted for the heat races.
Time Trials-
Each competitor is given two timed laps to determine where they will start in a
heat race. Again in 2009, if more than 40 cars are present at en event,
single-lap qualifying will be utilized. If a competitor misses their spot in
the qualifying order by more than two places, by rule, they are allowed one lap
at the end of time trials and the best they can be is 17th or 1 spot
behind the inversion cars.
Setting the Field for World of Outlaws 4-Heat race program with a 16-car
inversion
Example- 35 car field
Qualifying
- 9
- 35
- 11K
- 6
- 2
- 14
- 1
- 7
- 15
- 4
- R19
- 5C
- 83
- 11H
- 11D
- D1
- 24
- 11
- 10C
- 20
- 36
- 21
- 55
- 8K
- 18
- 18T
- W20
- 1X
- 3X
- 12
- 12M
- 28
- 15H
- 7S
- 16
Heat 1
Row 1 83 15
Row 2 2 9
Row 3 24 36
Row 4 18 1X
Row 5 15H
Heat 2
Row 1 11H 4
Row 2 14 35
Row 3 11 21
Row 4 18T 12
Row 5 7S
Heat 3
Row 1 11D R19
Row 2 1 11K
Row 3 10C 55
Row 4 W20 12M
Row 5 16
Heat 4
Row 1 D1 5C
Row 2 7 6
Row 3 20 8K
Row 4 1X 28