Format Change

ever since the heat race winner hardly ever gets the holeshot. Based on 2023 data, youd be better off settling for second in your heat then winning, if you wanted to holeshot the main.

From Racerhead Today:

"Finally, after experimenting for a few rounds, the race format will go back to how it used to be, with the 250SX class heat races running first, then 450s, then 250SX LCQ, 450SX LCQ, 250SX main, 450SX main. It was decided among team managers that the format they were trying out just doesn't give enough time for the 250 guys that end up in the LCQ, especially if it were to rain. But NBC and Feld will have the option of using that format again in case a race is on live network TV (which apparently the Philadelphia race is set to be)."

That's really good to hear.     What rocket scientist thought it was a good idea to screw the 250 LCQ guys to begin with. 

The giant flaw in the NBC logic... if you think you need 450 guys to go first to draw in a fringe fan who might recognize a name, that same person isn't then sticking around for two hours until that one person they know is back on the track. If that's all the more interested you are in the sport you're long gone by then. This format change was a solution to a problem that didn't exist. 

It’s always amusing when someone creates a problem that doesn’t exist just to solve it so they can say they solved something! 🤦‍♂️

Glad it's going back. I like the 250 heats first and the build up or anticipation leading into the 450 heats. It's also odd watching the 450 heats, then waiting 2.5hrs or whatever is for the 450 main when they're first.