Sportsman & Pro Stock Series Regulars Rewarded For Commitment
Story By:Rob Hazor/KOD Series Media Photos By:Dave Dalesandro/Racersguide.com
Fonda, NY – It’s no secret the King Of Dirt Racing Series rewards drivers for commitment through the course of a season long point chase in many different ways. From point funds to a revolutionary driver rewards program KOD found ways to build a series for the drivers, by the drivers, and of the drivers. During the 2016 racing season the series will utilize a preferred starters status for tour regulars who journey to each respective track.
Qualifying spots come at a premium in King Of Dirt Racing Series events. Many drivers on tour in 2015 visited tracks they’ve never raced at in previous years. With that same theme seemingly in place heading towards the 2016 racing season, series promoter Rob Hazer wanted to offer a way to increase rewards for tour regulars at each event.
“Drivers spend a lot of time traveling to races and although we can’t start everyone, we’d like to give our tour regulars the best chance possible to qualify without using a provisional. That leaves the door open for us to use track points from participating speedways to fill out our 30 car fields,” said KOD promoter Rob Hazer.
The goal is to use what KOD will call a ‘preferred starter status’ during consolation events, which starts tour regulars at the front of last chance qualifiers at each race. It’s similar to what some drivers may have seen used in the DIRTcar series. After that KOD provisional starters will remain the same as last season to fill out the 30 car starting fields.
“What we’re looking to do is simply start series regulars at the front of consolation events. Last year we had to send a few guys home that had been at all races and missed out by a spot. Some of these guys never raced at certain tracks and we only have 3 provisionals available to series regulars. This rewards them for following the tour and hopefully helps use provisionals for others,” continued Rob Hazer.
It’s clear KOD wants to reward supportive regulars through different ways during the racing season. This is another step in reassuring tour drivers the best chance possible to make the field when they travel to new tracks, while using provisionals based off track point standings in the same way the series did in 2015.
“My goal is for everyone to have fun during the year and sometimes it’s not fun traveling to places, struggling, and being sent home without really getting track time. Car counts are great, which we sincerely appreciate. Tour regulars have to mix it up with track regulars, which is part of the game. We’re just rewarding our series regulars for their support during each event with the best chances at not having to rely on limited provisionals,” concluded Rob Hazer.
Preferred starter status will kick in after the season opener. Remember at the first race of the season there are no guaranteed starters and no preferred starting spots in last chance qualifiers; drivers race their way in. Preferred starter status will apply to both the Crate Sportsman and the Pro Stock series during the 2016 racing season. KOD series officials will determine eligibility for the preferred starter status based on number of races entered.
For more information on the King Of Dirt Racing Series visit on the web at www.speedzoneonline.org.
You can also find King Of Dirt via Twitter @kodracingseries or @kodracing.
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King Of Dirt Racing Series are brought to you in part by sponsors and partners that include Albany Saratoga Speedway, Fonda Speedway, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Glen Ridge Motorsports Park, Bear Ridge Speedway, Utica Rome Speedway, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, Dodson Construction, Hoosier Racing Tire, Elmo’s Speed & Supply, DKM Fabrication, Fox Racing Shocks, Fastline Performance, Beyea Custom Headers & Exhausts, Bicknell Racing Products, Axcel Sports, Boyd’s Motorworks, Flach Performance Products, Bill McGaffin Photography, Lazzaro’s Auto Body, JTees Screen Printing, Bloomfield’s Florist, Dean’s Electrical Services, H&R Motorsports, Ryder’s Lawn Care, Next Generation Roofing, Speed’s Garage, Stone Motorsports Race Pro Weekly, Final Reward Trophy, Dirt Track Digest, Midnight Music Machine DJ Service, and Mayhem Motorsports.
