Setting 'Em UpA Hav-A-Tampa event begins with qualifying, then heats are run to set up the mains that will determine the day's champion.
"We qualify all the cars, then take the top four finishers out of each heat race and place them in the main event, and we start them straight up." Helm says. "So if we have four heat races, the fast qualifier starts on the pole for the first heat, second quickest is on the pole for the second heat, and so on back. If we have more than 60 cars, we then have six heats and put the top three into the main event. So if you have four heat races, the four winners from the heat races comprise the first 16 cars for the main event. Similarly, if you have six heat races, you take the top three from each heat to make up the first 18 cars for the main event."
Drivers who finish in fifth and higher are placed into one of two conciliation events that are also started in the order they finished the heats. For example, if a driver finishes fifth in the first heat, he would start on the pole for the first conciliation race. If a driver finishes in Fifth Place in the second heat, that driver starts on the pole for the second conciliation race. But the shuffling does not stop there.
"In the case of four heat races," Helm says, "we would take the top three finishers (top two if more conciliation races are held) and line them up, again according to where they finished in the consolation races, in the main race.
"We also have two provisional spots that go to drivers who have not made it through the heats or the conciliation races. We award those spots in accordance to where they are in the point standings. Sort of like the seniority system. Drivers are allowed only five provisionals during the course of the year, and once they are used up, the driver cannot get anymore for that year."
Lastly, the promoter or main sponsor of the event has the option to start two cars as promoter's choices. "Since the promoter is the one paying the bills," Helm admits, "they get the option of allowing two cars of their choice in the main event. The promoter, however, has to pay the minimum starting money, and the chosen drivers do not get points."
To determine a series champion, Hav-A-Tampa uses a points system similar to that of the Winston Cup. Totals, ranging from 175 points to win down to 99 points for the last-place finisher, are accumulated during the course of the year. Bonus points for leading the most laps and for the fastest lap are also distributed.