BREAKING IT DOWN: USAC MIDGET POINTS
San Tan Valley, Arizona (November 12, 2020)………Only five races remain in the quest for the 2020 USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget championship with Tyler Courtney leading Chris Windom by just 15 markers, with Tanner Thorson 78 back.
Every point and every position matters at this juncture with three full points races remaining, two at Arizona Speedway and one at Bakersfield (Calif.) Speedway, plus two appearance points only events at Merced (Calif.) Speedway to close out the season.
One piece of the puzzle is knowing how the points work for each remaining event and how they can be earned. The simple part of the equation are the two events at Merced on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 20-21. Both races will pay 50 points each across the board to all participating licensed USAC nationally licensed midget drivers and teams at the event. That goes regardless of finishing position throughout the night.
Conversely, at both Arizona on Friday & Saturday, Nov. 13-14 as well as Bakersfield on Tuesday, Nov. 17, full points will be available toward the championship for licensed drivers and teams. A maximum of 84 points are up for grabs.
In qualifying each night at Arizona and Bakersfield, six points go to the fastest qualifier and descend by one point through the top-six overall: 1) 6 pts., 2) 5 pts., 3) 4 pts., 4) 3 pts., 5) 2 pts., 6) 1 pts.
For the heat races, in the event of four heats being held, the top-four finishers will transfer to the feature and will, thus, earn points: 1) 8 pts., 2) 7 pts., 3) 6 pts., 4) 5 pts.
If three heat races are held in conjunction with a semi-feature, the top-five heat race finishers will earn points: 1) 8 pts., 2) 7 pts., 3) 6 pts., 4) 5 pts., 5) 4 pts.
When no semi-feature is held, all heat race starters will receive points, starting with 8 points for 1st and descend by 1) 8 pts., 2) 7 pts., 3) 6 pts., 4) 5 pts., 5) 4 pts., 6) 3 pts., 7) 2 pts. 8) 1 pt. with the balance of the field receiving one point.
In the semi-feature, if the top-six finishers transfer to the feature, those finishers will earn points as well: 1) 4 pts., 2) 3 pts., 3) 2 pts., 4) 1 pt., 5) 1 pt., 6) 1 pt.
In the event of the top-seven finishers transferring out of the semi-feature, it’ll be 1) 4 pts., 2) 3 pts., 3) 2 pts., 4) 1 pt., 5) 1 pt., 6) 1 pt., 7) 1 pt.
Meanwhile, all USAC nationally licensed midget drivers and teams that did not transfer to the feature will receive 10 points each.
For the feature, 70 points will go to the winner and descend by three points each throughout the rest of the top-ten: 1) 70 pts., 2) 67 pts., 3) 64 pts., 4) 61 pts., 5) 58 pts., 6) 55 pts., 7) 52 pts., 8) 49 pts., 9) 46 pts., 10) 43 pts.
For feature finishers 11-20, the points descend by two between each position: 11) 41 pts., 12) 39 pts., 13) 37 pts., 14) 35 pts., 15) 33 pts., 16) 31 pts., 17) 29 pts., 18) 27 pts., 19) 25 pts., 20) 23 pts., while the balance of the field – 21st on back – will also receive 23 points apiece.
Western World activities at Arizona Speedway begin this Thursday night, Nov. 12, with open practice for both sprint cars and midgets. Pits open at 3pm MT with on-track practice from 6:30-9:30pm MT. Adult pit passes are $30 while pit passes are $10 for kids age 7-12 and free for kids ages 6 and under. Thursday night’s practice will feature an extra treat with the Beaver Stripes Racer Appreciation BBQ dinner.
On both Friday and Saturday night, Nov. 13-14, the pits open at 1pm MT, grandstands at 3pm and racing at 6:30pm. General admission adult tickets are $30, while kids 11 and under are just $10. Pit passes are $40 for adults and $15 for ages 7-12 and free for ages 6 and under.
The previous year’s Western World Midget winners include Kevin Thomas Jr. and Brady Bacon, who each raced their way to San Tan Ford / Beaver Stripes victory lane in 2019.
Western World tickets are on sale now at www.arizonaspeedway.net.
Both nights of the 53rd Western World Championships will be streamed live on FloRacing at https://bit.ly/2ZpafUr.
2020 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. 1,619-Chris Windom (Canton, IL)
2. 1,608-Tyler Courtney (Indianapolis, IN)
3. 1,587-Tanner Thorson (Minden, NV)
4. 1,528-®Buddy Kofoid (Penngrove, CA)
5. 1,376-Cannon McIntosh (Bixby, OK)
6. 1,218-®Daison Pursley (Locust Grove, OK)
7. 1,145-Tanner Carrick (Lincoln, CA)
8. 1,030-Justin Grant (Ione, CA)
9. 1,005-Cole Bodine (Rossville, IN)
10. 1,004-Andrew Layser (Collegeville, PA)
® = USAC NOS Energy Drink National Midget Rookie
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2020 USAC MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP OWNER POINT STANDINGS (TOP-10)
1. 1,619-Tucker-Boat Motorsports #89 (Mooresville, NC)
2. 1,608-Clauson-Marshall Racing #7BC (Fishers, IN)
3. 1,528-Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian #67 (Columbus, IN)
4. 1,376-Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian #71K (Columbus, IN)
5. 1,343-Hayward Motorsports #19 (Morrison, IL)
6. 1,218-Keith Kunz Motorsports/Curb-Agajanian #9 (Columbus, IN)
7. 1,041-Petry Motorsports #35 (Greenfield, IN)
8. 1,005-Clauson-Marshall Racing #39BC (Fishers, IN)
9. 1,004-Tucker-Boat Motorsports #82 (Mooresville, NC)
10. 976-Petry Motorsports #5 (Greenfield, IN)