Last year's teams who are full time this year and the points they had after Indy.
Only 6 teams who were full time last year are again this year. It likely will take 650 points to make the playoff. The reason It will be less than last year is simple, the guys at the top will earn more points because of the weaker middle of the pack (IE less full time teams)
1. Tony Schumacher 1,764
2. Antron Brown 1,197
3. Larry Dixon 1,140
4. Cory McClenathan 1,096
6. Brandon Bernstein 1,029
11. Morgan Lucas 736
14. Troy Buff 365
15. Alan Bradshaw 311
In 2009 Massey, Millican, Hartley and Langdon will likely fill out the top ten
Projected top ten heading into the chase
Larry Dixon, 1ST
Tony SCHUMACHER 2ND
Brandon Bernstein 3RD
Spencer Massey 4TH
Antron Brown, 5TH
Cory McClenathan 6TH
Morgan Lucas 7TH
Clay Millican 8TH
Joe Hartley 9TH
SHAWN LANGDON 10TH
The teams below listed are part timers and teams like Kalitta, Will, Baca, Buff and Bradshaw don't test during the season and don't run IHRA. If there was more money in the kitty for teams like Mcmillen and Litton (they are really the only ones who could have made the chase with a bunch of luck). Say they go to nine races (half) before the chase they would need to average semi final finishes at all events to make the chase. (based on 650 required).
The full time teams above need only to get qualified to likely make the chase since there are only 10 full time teams.
Doug Kalitta,
Hillary Will
David Baca
Troy BUFF
Allan Bradshaw
Mike Strasburg,
Terry McMillen
Bruce Litton
I understand the rule and Jim makes good points, but in reality the chance of a team running half the first half races making the chase is a pipe dream.
If points are important tally them yourself as a team and compare yourself to the rest based on that.
Here is a question I have, can a team not run the way Paul Smith ran a few years back and make it worth there while? IE make two hits in qualifying (hopefully qualify in the middle somewhere so you don't have to race larry tony or brandon in round one every time) and go two rounds or more at half the races. Have a part time crew , pay only the crew chief and maybe one more guy, fly the rest in, there likely is a number of unemployed guys out there waning keep their feet wet. If so you make the chase, and then all bets are off.
Would it not be feasible to race full time
food for thought
Dean