Special Performances Recognised In NASCARs Top Series
Welcome to the Inaugural, and 1st Annual SPRINTS. Now that Season 2 is over and we have our Champion (congratulations to Niop), we now look to celebrate those parts of the Season that really stood out, became talking points, and just basically impressed. We will honour those drivers who have accomplished greatness in Season 2, through a number of categories that we all have the opportunity to vote for. Categories that will be in this Seasons SPRINTS are:
Race Comeback of the Season
This will be awarded by vote to the driver who achieved the best comeback in any single race throughout the Season. This does not necessarily require the driver winning the race but making up a large number of places throughout. The Nominees are:
Niop's drive at Monza, following an early incident and finding himself in last place, working through the field to then become a contender for the race win.
Knelly's drive back from being span out on first lap after the straight at Sarthe, in a field of 14, to finish up 7th and closing down Niop.
Furi at Sarthe, finding himself in 10th on Lap 1 and working back to a podium finish with his 'differing' pit strategy.
Chase 4 Daytona, the second pack after the pit stop of Knelly, Crazy, Stall, Mudd and Carbon, chasing down a 20 second gap over 20 laps to catch Joe, Home and Dowhat, demonstrating great pack work around Daytona.
Race Battle of the Season
This will be awarded by vote to the drivers who were involved in the most entertaining fight for position, whether it be at the start, middle or end of a race. To be eligible for this SPRINT, the battle has to last a minimum of 3 laps on a Road Course, or 5 on an Oval.
Niop v Stall at Monza. After Niop worked his way from last to second, then preceded to battle over at least three laps with Stall for the win, resulting in an astonishing finish with neither really wanting to cross the line due to the incident.
Joe v Mustard at Sarthe. These two battled all the way through the contest in first and second position, with pit strategy finally winning out on this one.
Knelly v Drop in Chase 1 Daytona. After the first pit and a couple of lag incidents, both were fighting each other for laps lead, until Knelly pump faked a pit to throw Drop off, and allow an easy victory.
Mustard v Mudd in the preseason Daytona, battling hard for position over 10 or so laps, before they both get a bit hot headed and take each other out.
Joe v Home Chase 5 Indy, battling the last stint fighting for second place in the Championship, with all at stake.
ACDC and Niop v The Field Chase 2 Indy, with all trying to take their 1, 2 position and lead the race. ACDC not budging off Niop throughout to stay out in front.
Most Improved Driver of the Season
This award will only be eligible to those drivers who participated in Season 1, for more than 2 races. Anyone can vote, whether new or not, but must give good reasons as to why they feel the Improvement Award is justified. The Nominees to vote are:
RFLX_Niop
Knelly
Droptop
Crazy Bassist
Homeslice
Joe
ACDC
Rookie of the Season
This award is eligible for any driver who has participated in 5 or more races in Season 2, and did not compete in any more than 2 races in Season 1. Good reasons as to why you feel the Rookie Award is justified. The Nominees to vote are:
MStall
Furinkazen
Dowhat
Mudd
Jakob
Unluckiest Driver of the Season
This award goes out to driver who is deemed by vote to have had the most misfortune throughout the Season. Reasons require justification.
Chqr - 2 incidents, four drive throughs and a DC in the first Daytona race.
Mudd - Got caught up in at least 5 incidents throughout the season that we not his doing, resulting in lower results than expected.
Knelly - 3 times being pushed back into contention to lead pack, the pusher in all three occasions was DC'd taking him out of potential race win contention. Plus three non fault spins at HSR everytime he pulled back to taking positions.
Joe - multiple DC's early on in Season, plus being taken out of contention at Chase 2 by a lapped car, on last lap battling for win.
Stall - Sarthe DC on lap 4 from a strong position, plus two Chase lag incidents.
Furi, multiple DC's throughout the season.
Driver Rivalry of the Season
This award is honoured for the two (or three) drivers who have had the biggest rivalry throughout the Season, again by vote.
Niop / Mstall
Niop / Furi
ACDC / Furi
Crazy / Hendrick
Hendrick / Ford
Hendrick / Toyota
Gibbs / Ford
Toyota / Ford
These six prestigious SPRINTS will be awarded at the end of the Season during the Inaugural Ceremony. Voting for all categories will start now and will cease Midnight 9 March EST before the Ceremony on 10 February 2012.
On behalf of Drop and myself, we would love this to become a Seasonal Award Ceremony, and look forward to your reminders of those nominations deserving of a SPRINT.
Please remember that all votes are to be by PM to myself, by anyone who has raced even one event within the season.
Good luck to all the Nominees.
Knelly
