Driver Stats and Track Records Pages Updated

Added a couple more statistics tables and updated track records from the last race, which were many since we haven’t raced some of the cars on the oval before.

The new Driver stats are total Race wins and total Race Segment wins by track and layout. Sadly, SlotTrak doesn’t allow driver class distinction. I’d have to do some time-consuming database management stuff to break things down by Expert and Sportsman ranking. I’ll try to work on that at some point, sorry.

Much more to add, for sure. The next stats will likely be driver rankings by points. Could also go by season and possibly by series.

If you can think of any other metrics you’d like to see, please let me know.

Okay, shut up and drive!

Track Records | Driver Statistics

 

2022 I.R.O.C. Champs Series Finale Is Almost Here!

The series finale is almost upon us and the trophies are being prepared now.

Round 4 will be run on the SR3 road course but with a surprise “twist” to add some more complexity to the already challenging series for the drivers.

The final round is slated for Saturday, November 26, 2022 but may be delayed until after Thanksgiving, depending on the availability of drivers over the holiday weekend, of course.

The schedule is in the works and will be announced soon. Please PM the Race Director if you have a conflict or otherwise can’t make this final round date.

IROC Championship Series Points Standings After Round 3:
Sportsman Class
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Kevin Webster 961 98 7612.257
2 Jerry Pearson 641 75 5416.834
3 Eric Lane 915 69 7651.906
4 Jordan Walker 372 29 1608.379
5 Martha Elderon 204 9 1020.019
Expert Class
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters 1034 153 7457.567
2 Brad Sandahl 360 42 3331.948
* Steve Stewart 1064 189 7336.991

Okay, shut up and drive!

Race Report: 2022 IROC Championship Series – Round 3

Round 3 of the 2022 IROC Championship Series was again a shootout between the top Expert and Sportsman drivers, but this time on the SR3 banked oval and a car lineup that would, hopefully, recreate the great era of American dirt-track racing. Race one got underway at 11:30ish Saturday, November 12 under clear blue skies and warm sunshine. Oh, and some of us enjoyed the awesome Krispy Kreme donuts that Eric Lane brought into the paddock–thanks, Eric!

The “Day On The Oval” started with the wild and loose MG+ 1.5 “Midget” hardbodies running at 18v and ended with the always popular Viper Jet (SPEC-JET) with Lexan NAStruck bodies at 12v. A little twist was added to the mix (from Kevin Webster) to only run on the two inside and two outside lanes.

We also got to witness the first-ever female driver participate in our formal racing program. Martha Elderon was amazing in her debut at Stewart Raceway. Martha won heats (segments) in both the MG+ 1.5 “Midget” race and the Retro-Viper “Maximum Leeway” race–Nice!

Short Story Round 3 Overall Results
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters 400 48 1551.692
2 Kevin Webster 383 40 1644.271
3 Jordan Walker 372 29 1608.379
4 Eric Lane 365 22 1684.491
5 Jerry Pearson 222 18 997.273
6 Martha Elderon 204 9 1020.019
* Steve Stewart 418 64 1507.187
Race 1:  MegaG+ 1.5 “Midgets” (18.1v)
MegaG+ 1.5 “Midgets” 3D-printed bodies available from MTS 3D Hobbies on eBay or Shapeways.

These cars are a handful to drive since they have no traction magnets and a weighted independent front end. To make things even more challenging for the drivers, two of the cars on the inside lanes were underpowered at 18v and required extreme patience and skill to limit the losses each driver would suffer in those two lanes. Martha Elderon, surprised us all by bagging her first-ever heat win in the Red lane. Martha drove the wheels of the car and had a huge smile on her face after winning that segment late in the race.

Sportsman driver, Jordan Walker dominated this one until the last couple of segments, dropping to 4th overall after Kevin Webster and George Peters.  In the end, Sportsman driver Kevin Webster came out on top with a heat win and three 2nd-place finishes. Sportsman driver, Jerry Pearson took the final podium spot with a very nice heat win in the final segment.

These cars were intended to be run at 22v but the consensus was that they were easier to drive at 18v. Sadly, they were tested and tuned at 22v and two of them did not run nearly as well at 18v as the other two.  (Details)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Kevin Webster 115 13 534.661
2 George Peters 114 11 522.128
3 Jerry Pearson 111 7 536.974
4 Jordan Walker 109 6 528.271
5 Martha Elderon 109 5 552.024
6 Eric Lane 108 4 569.509
* Steve Stewart 118 16 517.322
Race 2:  Retro-Vipers “Maximum Leeway” Lexan (15v)

These are way cool cars based on the Viper V-SPEC chassis but using weights instead of traction magnets and a special motor magnet design that minimizes downforce. These cars can also be a handful but the newly minted Hot Wheels “Maximum Leeway” Lexan bodies seemed to help keep the cars firmly planted even at 15v.

Retro-Viper chassis with a replica Hot Wheels “Maximum Leeway” late-model Lexan dirt-track bodies.

This race and perhaps this car would be the most competitive of the day with nearly every driver winning at least one heat.  Martha Elderon won her second heat race of the day in the first segment on the Blue lane. Besting second and third place by two laps–Go, Martha!

In the end, Expert Driver George Peters would come from behind and steal the show from the hard-charging Jerry Pearson in second. Kevin Webster bagged the final podium spot and some valuable points needed to maintain his lead in the series. (Details)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters 115 13 421.945
2 Jerry Pearson 111 11 460.299
3 Kevin Webster 103 7 435.335
4 Eric Lane 101 6 457.765
5 Jordan Walker 100 5 443.116
6 Martha Elderon 95 4 467.995
* Steve Stewart 120 16 406.225
Race 3:  MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds  (18v)
MegaG 1.7 Whelen/SK Modifieds 3D-printed bodies available from MTS 3D Hobbies on eBay and Shapeways.

Another “drifting” type of car with good power and speed. These cars are a hoot on the oval and this race was also very competitive. We would lose two drivers prior to the start of Race 3 but it didn’t get any easier for anybody. We dropped down to three lanes, running just the Yellow, Green, and Red lanes freeing up two drivers to marshal.

New Sportsman driver, Eric Lane would bag his second heat win of the day in this one by winning segment four, less than a second ahead of 2nd place finisher, Jordan Walker. Close racing, indeed.

This race was also a heated battle between the two Expert drivers, George Peters and Home Cook’n. George fought valiantly and even won the final segment in convincing fashion. However, losing four laps in the first segment in the Green lane would prove a bit too much to overtake Home Cook’n for the overall win. Also very close racing in the Sportsman class, for sure. (Details)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters 85 13 333.192
2 Jordan Walker 77 11 340.254
3 Kevin Webster 77 7 356.492
4 Eric Lane 74 6 355.435
* Steve Stewart 90 16 308.313
Race 4:  Viper Jets (SPEC-JET) (12v)

The final race of the day was the venerable Viper Jet under HOPRA SPEC-JET rules and requiring fuel stops at 28-laps. These cars are way fun and on an oval course, even more fun. Super fast and way more “stuck” than any of the previous cars, this one was a battle throughout.

Current Junior of the Year, Jordan Walker, led this one until 4th segment when George Peters took over the race lead with a nice second-place finish and his usual crafty pit-stop strategies. Going into the final segment, George was done with his rotation at 86-laps, tied with Jordan Walker sitting second overall.  Would 86-laps be enough for the win?

Box-Stock Viper Jets with Harden Creek NAStruck F-150 Lexan bodies.

Only Kevin Webster and Home Cook’n had a shot at bumping the two drivers off the podium. Kevin went into the final segment with 58-laps, Home Cook’n with 60. In the end, Home Cook’n prevailed with a 30-lap total in the final round. Kevin Webster would end up with 88-laps, bagging second overall and therefore winning the final race of the day. Kevin didn’t win any heats, he just methodically focused on getting laps and managing fuel perfectly.

Not to be outdone by the more experienced drivers, Eric Lane would quietly and brilliantly win the final segment of this race. Going into the final heat with 52-laps, he knew he wasn’t in contention for the overall but he was on a mission. Eric ended the race with a perfect 30-lap score and clicked off the fastest lap of that segment in the process–Go, Eric! (Details)

Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Kevin Webster 88 13 317.783
2 George Peters 86 11 274.427
3 Jordan Walker 86 7 296.738
4 Eric Lane 82 6 301.782
* Steve Stewart 90 16 275.327

Wow! I was a bit apprehensive about the car lineup for this oval round of the series. Typically, most slot car drivers don’t enjoy the more difficult-to-drive cars. This group not only enjoyed the “fast & loose” cars, but they also drove them extremely well–very impressive driving by all!

Series Standings Summary

Going into the final round of the 2022 IROC Champs Series, Kevin Webster has a nearly unassailable points lead in the Sportsman class with steady appearances and strong race results.

George Peters has pretty much locked up the 2022 IROC Championship win in the Expert standings. With only one round left, he only needs to show up and finish a couple of races to take home yet another massive trophy.

IROC Championship Series Points Standings After Round 3:
Sportsman Class
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 Kevin Webster 961 98 7612.257
2 Jerry Pearson 641 75 5416.834
3 Eric Lane 915 69 7651.906
4 Jordan Walker 372 29 1608.379
5 Martha Elderon 204 9 1020.019
Expert Class
Place Name Laps Points Total Time
1 George Peters 1034 153 7457.567
2 Brad Sandahl 360 42 3331.948
* Steve Stewart 1064 189 7336.991

The final round of the series is tentatively slated for November 26, 2022 and will be contested on the SR3 Road Course. Though track management is considering a slightly different layout. Stay tuned for more details on the Round 4 finale.

* Home Cook’n results are not factored in the series points. Owning the track means enjoying a massive advantage. And even more so when you build or maintain many of the IROC cars being contested.

Okay, shut up and drive!

Driver Statistics Updated

I’ve updated the Driver Stats page and moved it from the Results page to its own wide-view page. Also updated it with current SR2 and SR3 statistics.

The new page provides the following stats for each track layout raced on:

    • Average Race Placing
    • Average Segment (Heat) Placing
    • Total Laps
    • Last Race Appearance

There are certainly more data points to dig out and list but this is a good start for now. If you can think of an interesting bit of racing information that would be helpful to know, please comment and I’ll get it on the list.

Track Records Page Updated

Added a new page to the site to support better access to track record data. The new page is much easier to view the data and allows for sorting and searching for specific information.

Screenshot of new data layout.

For instance, you can sort by any column in the table or search for records by Car Class simply by entering the term “TFX” (w/o quotes) in the search bar.

The best way to find, for example, the fastest laps for all V-SPEC classes would be to enter “V-SPEC” (w/o quotes) into the search bar. The page will produce all the entries for any V-SPEC class run on all track layouts.

To find the best laps for a Viper-Jet, you’d enter “Viper-Jet” (w/o quotes) into the search bar.

To find a more specific class of car, enter “TFX Modified” (w/o quotes) into the search bar. The page will produce all records related to the TFX Modified class. Of course, you can also enter a driver’s first or last name to see their collection of track records and related details.

Unfortunately, the search capability is very primitive right now. I’ll certainly try to find better ways to quickly query the data. I’m also working on both track databases to clean up bogus records, data inconsistencies, etc.

You can use your phone to find SR2 and SR3 track records as you’re testing or practicing simply by using your phone’s browser and going to HTTP://stewartraceway.org/track-records.

Next up is expanding the Driver Stats data to include both SR2 and SR3 with current data.

Okay, shut up and drive!