Dave's Fair Draw System

2007
Well it seems that I have been a victim of the draw again and have
the lowest average draw for the ASCS Patriots for the year.  So I've come up
with even more ways to even things out.  Here are a few more ideas.

I think that there are some additional tweaks to the simple draw that can compensate for those that have the worst draws and mix it up some. I suggested one method where the numbers are broken down into A B C and D groups and each week you draw from a different group (see below). That would definitely equalize the draw. (I am told by officials that most of the racers are too stupid to understand much more than a straight draw).

So here's a couple of ideas that I've come up with that may be easier to implement. At each race, the lowest three draws get a coupon that they can use at any 'future' race, to start on the pole of a heat. That's the simple method.

A better method would be to give the heat pole position to the three drivers that have competed in three races and have the lowest average draw up to that point in the season. When they receive that pole position, they would be credited with a draw of zero and that will raise their average draw. Now if their average is so bad that they are still the lowest, they would start pole again but then their average would certainly be pulled off the bottom and it would have compensated them for all the back of the heat starts that they have endured earlier.

Either of these two additions to the draw would definitely rotate the field over the season and give everyone a more fair shot.

Another method would be to just give everyone who has competed in four races, two front row coupons that they can use anytime during the season on a first come first serve basis.

2006
Since I put up this Fair Draw page, there has been some interest in
adopting part or all of my Fair Draw system to solve the problem of a
driver starting up front in the heat and then drawing the front row of the
feature.   The Patriot Group (now a division of ASCS) will be using my
inverted top 12 line up system for the feature and an open draw for the
heats.  This is a big improvement to the old system of "redrawing for the
top 12" because there were too many times where drivers were able to draw
the front row of a heat and the front row of the feature.   There were also
experiences where drivers never drew a number in the top half of the
starting positions.  This was my fate in '05.

The present state of sprint car racing in NYS and I'm sure elsewhere
provides a very level playing field in terms of the cars, motors and tires.
It's made competition very tough but fair, as everyone has access to (or is
limited to) the same level of equipment.   In addition, the NYS tracks
slick up and take away most motor advantages.   That doesn't stop the best
from doing well on average, but it is not uncommon for someone to be in the
top 5 one night and the bottom 10, or not make the show the next night.
Luck of the draw has a lot to do with it.

Starting position is all important.  With 8 lap, 10 car heats, if you start
in the back it's tough to get to the front.  Even on a good run if you get
by a few cars, the leaders are gone and it takes time to get to the next
car to pass.   The brave and crazy make lots of passes in the first turn or
crash trying.   It's not fair to start at the back or the front all the
time.  Bottom line is that the luck of the draw can be a fair system of
starting if adjusted to fit the situation.

The situation that is a problem here is that there aren't enough draws in a
season for an even distribution of stating positions.   In an ideal world,
everyone would randomly start in every starting position throughout the
season, but it only evens out after hundreds of draws. With only 20 draws
in a season, it is likely that some draw more good spots and some draw more
bad spots than would be fair.  After pondering how to solve this problem, I
have come up with a couple of solutions.

The simplest system  I came up with is direct and easy to understand.  I'll
call it
The Rotation Draw.
There will be an open draw at the first race.  The list of drivers (in
order of the drawn numbers) are then divided into four equal groups as near
as possible.  The top 25% are in the A group, the next 25% in the B group,
the next 25% in the C group and the last 25% in the D group.
At each following race the drawing numbers are divided into four cups:
A     1 to 25
B     26 to 50
C     51 to 75
D     76 to 101
At each following race, each driver draws from the next letter in ascending
order :
D last time, draws from C this time, C from B, B from A, and A from D.
New drivers draw from D at their first race.
Each driver draws from their next letter at the next race they attend.
(This eliminates skipping letters and also provides a mix in the groups as
some drivers miss races.)
Heats are lined up in ascending drawn numbers (lowest number at the front,
highest at the rear).
The top 12 are then lined up in descending drawn numbers ( highest number
at the front, lowest starts 12th).  The rest of the line up can be in
qualifying order from the heats and B-main.

This system forces a rotation, gives drivers a better starting spot to look
forward to at each race until they reach the top.  It's very fair, it's
very simple, it's easy to implement and the 25 numbers to draw from in each
group provide random mixing of starting positions.   Typically the same
drivers will not be starting next to each other at every race, because the
resulting sequence of drivers along with missing and new drivers will put
them in different heats or ahead or behind each other.

A twist to this system, for more randomness,  is to have an new open draw
every 5th race.

  My previous Fair Draw discussion for inverting the top 12  is below.

        *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The  Fair Draw System

The good news is that it is a pretty level playing field.  As I've written
at other times, the competition is pretty equal in the sprints in NYS.  With everyone
using the same tire, motor package, minimum weight, and slick tracks, you really have
to be exceptional or capitalize on a mistake to pass.  The difference between being
fast or not is setup and driving mostly but equipment quality makes a
difference as well.  The difference in finishing at the front has a lot to do with LUCK.

Weekly tracks in the north east use a handicap method that puts the high
point or high money winners back in the pack.  This gives the fans, the fun
of watching a lot of passing as the faster cars work their way through the
pack.

The traveling shows, special races and some weekly tracks have used the
Old Draw System as a way to randomly line up qualifying.  Then the re-draw was created
to randomly line up the top qualifiers for the feature.

The problem with this system is that if you have a bad draw and start at
the back, it's uphill all night.  There is no compensation for a bad draw
except that you might get a good draw next race.

Dave's Fair Draw System helps to spread out the luck a little more evenly and
also allow team input as an option, to mix it up a bit more.   The fair draw holds out rewards
to pursue for those that have a bad draw.  Those that benefit from a good
qualifying draw, will then have to let others have a turn at the front for the feature.

Here are the rules for Dave's Fair Draw System:

Since I posted the Original Fair Draw System, I have come up with a way to apply
that system to the whole season to spread the luck out for everyone.

- Season Fair Draw -

Everyone draws from 100 numbers at the first race. 

That draw number is yours for the season.

The drawn numbers (i.e. now assigned to drivers names) will be rearranged into Lettered Columns.  There will be as many rearranged Lettered Columns as there are races. 

The columns will be arranged so that each draw number (driver), will occupy every position in the order, top to bottom, across the Columns.  This means that everyone will be at the top of the Column list, bottom of the Column list and everywhere in between, at one time or another throughout the Column lists.

Heats
At each race, a Letter will be drawn and that Lettered Column list of draw numbers (i.e. drivers order) will be used to line up the heats for that night's race.  The lineup will be made by starting from the top of the list  and going to the bottom for starting positions (for the drivers present).  Once a Lettered Column is used for a race, the list is retired and won't be used again.  By drawing a letter at each race, no one knows ahead of time what order will be used for that night.

Feature
Those that qualify for the top 12 in their heats will be lined up for the feature in reverse order, starting at the bottom of the list for that night and moving to the top.  This will put the qualified driver with the worst draw in the heat on the pole and the qualified driver with the best heat draw in 12th, etc.  No one will start on the front row of the heat and the front row of the feature.

Qualified drivers 13th through 18th will be lined up in reverse order of the list (bottom to top of the nights list) for the feature.

B-Main
Those in the B-Main will be lined up in reverse order of the list (bottom to top) and will start the feature the way they finish.

Newcomers
Drivers that show up after the first race will draw from the remaining numbers (as every "drawn" number is already assigned).  These drivers will line up where their drawn number falls for the night (as an alternative they may be started last in their heat the first night or they could start 12th or 18th in the feature depending on how they qualify.  It depends on how you want to handle newcomers).

Example
Below is a 10 by 10 sample of 10 draw numbers and 10 lettered columns to more easily see how the system works.  The first race night, Column A, lines up in numerical order for the heats and reverse order for the top qualifiers for the feature. If you take a look at the layout below, you will see that every number is found in every location, one through ten, in one column or another.  The full blown system would use 100 numbers and 25 lettered columns (if there were 25 races for example).  The layout would put every number with in four of every location in the 25 lettered columns.   With this system, everyone would start in every position in the heats, throughout the season (see note).  The order is rearranged instead of just rotated so that drawn numbers (drivers) do not  end up side by side all season long.
(note: Some slight shuffling will always occur due to some drivers missing races or newcomers being added.  If a driver attends all races, they will most likely start in every row of every heat at one time or another).

Pick a number in column A.  Lets say that is the number you drew at the first race.  Check where it falls in all of the columns and you will find it in every location 1 to 10 across the columns A though J. 

Dave's Fair Draw Original

Draw by chip
Each chip (white) has a red number on one side and a black number on the other
side. Chips are numbered 1 to 100 on the red side and 100 to 1 on the
black side. This means that the chip with the red #1 has black #100. Red
#2 has Black #99 etc.

Red numbers are the draw for the heat line ups. (Low numbers start ahead of higher numbers).

Black numbers are the draw for the feature line up. (Low numbers start ahead of higher numbers in each qualified group [ i.e. 1-12 then 13-18, see below ] ).

3 heats procedure for feature line up
(4 heats procedure below)

Top four qualifiers from each of 3 heats are lined up for the feature in positions 1 through 12 in the order of
the black number drawn.

Heat finishers 5 and 6 are lined up in position 13 through 18 in the order of the black
number drawn.

B- main is lined up in the order of the black number drawn.

B-main finishers are lined up for the feature in finishing order, to fill the field.

Flip the Chip
At the time of the draw, the competitor may choose to FLIP THE CHIP and
take the black number for their heat draw and use the red number for their feature draw.
Red numbers always start ahead of a duplicated Black number for the heat.
(example #1 red, then #1 black, then #4 red, #7 red, etc. as they were drawn.)
Black numbers always start ahead of a duplicated Red number for the feature.

Effects and results

If you get a bad draw for the heat (and don't flip the chip), you have the opportunity to turn that around by qualifying well. If you race your way to the top 4, you will start up front in the feature. If you make it to the last two qualified spots (5th or 6th) you will start at the front of that qualified group (13th though 18th).

If you have a good draw for the heat, that makes qualifying easy so as a balance, you will start at the back of your "qualified group" for the feature.

There is no sandbagging. If you start up front in the heat, you have to run hard to stay in the top 4 for a top 12 starting spot in the feature. If you are in the back of the heat you have to race hard to get to the front and earn your good starting spot for the feature.

If you had a bad draw for the heat and end up in the B-Main, you are compensated with a good starting spot in the B. You then start the feature where you finished in the B.

No one will draw front row for the heat and front row for the feature. If you start up front in the heat, you will have to work your way to the front in the feature from the back of your qualified group. If you had to work to the front in your heat, you will start up front in the feature.

Team Choice
Confident teams may decide to start themselves in the back of the heat and to race for their good starting spot in the feature. Struggling teams may turn a bad heat draw around and start up front in the heat just to make the show and will take the bad draw for the feature starting spot.

Fan Interest
Inverted starts are always the fan's choice. This will create interest for the fans. Cars that run away from front row starting spots in the heats will have to start farther back in the feature. This system is fair to the racers and should be fun for the fans.

4 heats procedure for feature line up

Top three qualifiers from each of 4 heats are lined up for the feature in positions 1 through 12 in the order of
the black number drawn.

Heat finishers 4 and 5 are lined up for the feature in position 13 through 20 in the order of the black
number drawn.

B- main is lined up in the order of the black number drawn.

B-main finishers are lined up in finishing order for the feature to fill the field.

Flip the Chip
At the time of the draw, the competitor may choose to FLIP THE CHIP and
take the black number for their heat draw and use the red number for their feature draw.
Red numbers always start ahead of a duplicated Black number for the heat.
(example #1 red, then #1 black, then #4 red, #7 red, etc.)
Black numbers always start ahead of a duplicated Red number for the feature.

More discussion:

If you draw #1 you get pole in the first heat.  It's pretty certain that
you will qualify in the top four if your competitive.   Having a #1 heat
draw means you have a #100 feature draw and with a top 12 invert will start
12th.  If you were 5th or 6th then you will start 18th.   Your draw gave
you an easier opportunity to qualify and now those that had to struggle
from the back to qualify will be rewarded with a good starting spot in the
feature.

This system does not reward you for not being competitive.  If you fall
back from a good starting spot, then you have had your turn and  have used
up your good draw luck.

Old system
Bad draw - start at the back of the heat

Fair Draw
Bad draw - start at the back of the heat.
or flip and start at the front  of the heat in trade for a further back
starting position in the feature.

Old system
qualify in top 4 and redraw for the feature.
You could start 1st or 12th in the feature - how lucky do you feel?
Someone can start on the front row of the heat and the front row of the
feature.

Fair Draw
qualify in the top 4 and start the feature near the front if you had to come
from the back of your heat.
No one will start at the front of the heat and front row of the feature.

Old System
You could get a bad draw for the heat, work your way to the top 4
and still start 12th in the feature.

Fair Draw
When you get a bad draw for the heat, you are rewarded with a good starting
spot in the feature if you make it to the top 4.  If you make it to 5th or
6th in your heat, you will start ahead of all those that had a better heat
draw starting spots than you did.

Old System
If you start last in your heat and you can run with them but no one can
pass, and you have to run the B-main, you start in the back of the B-main.

Fair Draw
If you start last in your heat and you can run with them but no one can
pass, and you have to run the B-main, you will start ahead of everyone that
had a better heat draw than you.

Fair Draw
If you have good luck in the heat draw, it's someone else's turn in the
feature.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome at dave1w@a-znet.com.