The NASCAR iRacing Road to Pro: Week 8 of 8
April 16th, 2013 by Jaime Baker
Editor’s note: Brennan Mercer has been at it again: toting-up actual and potential points for the 2013 Season One NASCAR iRacing.com Class A Series (open setup). As the top ten points finishers not already holding a Pro or Pro/WC license from Seasons 1, 2 and 3 in the Class “A” open setup NASCAR series qualify for a Pro license, a spot in the 2013 NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series and a chance to qualify for the 2014 NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship, there’s a lot at stake. Here is Brennan’s unofficial analysis of who’s in, who’s out and who’s in the mix for the remaining spots as the NiCAS heads into the homestretch of 2013 Season 1.
With the Road to Pro going through the Lone Star state, NASCAR iRacing.com Class A Series drivers started to look for their for position to get their Pro License. There are a few key numbers to remember this week at Chicagoland Speedway. With a max gain 363 max points gain these scenarios apply: The Magic Number for drivers to mathematically clinch this week is 2064. If a driver has points over that number they will clinch their spot into the NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series.
All scenarios below are based on a 5700 – 27 car Strength of Field Race
Clinched
Dylan Duval and Justin Trombley have both clinched their position in the 2013 NASCAR iRacing.com Pro Series this winter.
With neither Kenny Humpe nor Peter Bennett obtaining enough points to stay in contention for the championship, Dylan Duval has also clinched this season’s title.
Almost Safe
This is really the only driver I can put in this column. With the magic number being at 2064, Kenny has a realistic chance of hitting this number. He only needs 192 points to clinch and can do that with a very strong week this week.
Kenny Humpe – 192 Points to Clinch – Needs a 13th or better finish
On the Bubble
All these drivers are on the Bubble, a bad week at Texas and they could be displaced from the top ten in points. It is a very close top 10 and it will be an interesting weekend when it comes down to the grittiness of the races.
Most of these drivers can mathematically clinch this week with a decent number.
Lee Herron – 276 Points to Clinch – Needs a seventh place or better finish
Brandon Buie – 275 Points to Clinch – Needs a seventh place or better finish
Tyler Laughlin – 299 Points to Clinch – Needs a fifth place or better finish
Brandon Atkinson – 230 Points to Clinch – Needs a 10th place or better finish
PJ Stergios – 295 Points to Clinch – Needs a sixth place or better finish
Kevin Burris – 287 Points to Clinch – Needs a seventh place or better finish
Here is where it gets interesting. Kory Henry is on the bubble but is in trouble. He can not clinch. His drop week is 236 points. So he needs to have a very good week, gain points and — hopefully — leap-frog some drivers above him so that they can get their bubble popped as opposed to him.
Outside Looking In
These drivers need to have good weeks to pop guys’ bubbles. Matthew Wright is very close to 10th place but has a high drop week. Brian Day has a somewhat low drop week and Nicholas Morse has not used a drop yet.
Assuming Kory Henry does not gaom points this week. These drivers will need the following points to pop the bubble.
Matthew Wright2 – 203 points to pop – 12th place or better
Brian Day – 253 points to pop – eighth place or better
Nicholas Morse can clinch this week with 355 points – Basically max points and he clinches. The reason for this is because he has not used any of his drops. As for him to pop the bubble, he needs a 195 point week.
Living on a Prayer
These drivers are still in the mix, but they need help and lots of it. They need some of the “outside looking in” and “bubble” guys” to have bad weeks to leap-frog themselves into the top ten.
Steven Eszenyi – Needs a 351 point week for him to pop the bubble. The maximum amount of points he can get is 1916. If the 10th place in points gets above that number he will be eliminated.
Ashley Miller – Needs a 280 point week for him to pop the bubble. The maximum amount of points Ashley can get is 1987. If 10th place in points goes above that number he too will be eliminated.
Kollin Keister – Needs a 335 point week for him to pop the bubble. The maximum amount of points he can get is 1932. If the 10th place in points gets more than that number he too will be eliminated.
Eliminated
These drivers have been eliminated. They can not catch the current 10th place in points, thus eliminating them until next season.
So there you have it, well at least that’s the way I see it. Good luck to all you sim-racers trying to get your Pro License and to join the NASCAR Racing.com Pro Series.