With the Lucas Oil Series wrapping up their southern swing tomorrow we saw most of the tri state area guys perform well, win heat races, and make the features. However 2016 Lucas Oil Rookie of the Year (uncontended) Colton Flinner continues to get a start through a provisional. Flinner has yet to be competitive in a Lucas Oil race to date and collects his provisional preventing other competitive cars from starting the feature.
It's almost as if the series has a Flinner provisional race after race. With the new "Bloomquist" rule, I think the series should enact a rule preventing series drivers from entering the race if they just ride around to take the provisional, or in Flinners case are not remotely competitive. Every time Flinner takes a provisional a better car has to load up and go home.
Now don't get me wrong I applaud their following of the series fulfilling their dreams. It is not easy to follow the tour for an entire year. However, other regional drivers have tried and backed out who are much more competitive than Flinner. If they want to continue dumping money into following the tour I applaud them. But good cars should not have to load up because Flinner simply cannot keep up with 90% of the competition race in and race out. If 3 cars out of 10 make the A from the B why is the car that finished 4th loading up and the car that finishes 9th or 10th using yet another provisional because he simply can't race his way into a series race?
Till next time,
#TheTruth
Lucas Oil Provisionals
Started by #TheTruth, Feb 18 2017 05:06 PM
33 replies to this topic
#1
Posted 18 February 2017 - 05:06 PM
#TheTruth
#2
Posted 18 February 2017 - 06:23 PM
2 shows at Golden isles that I was at. I don't recall friday, I do think he was in. Saturday he did not get a provisional. Not sure what went down at east bay because of the non points races. The kid doesn't have the horses to qualify. He started 5th in his heat and kept Francis and 2 others behind him. Followed EPJ up thru the field in the B main until again he ran out of horsepower to pull guys out of the corner. That was Friday. The kid is doing everything on his own. I could see his pit from my top row seat. You talk about someone deserving the provisional. What about Bloomquist, he tagged the B, ran it as if it was hot laps then gets a provisional. He didn't even try to pass anyone. In fact, he didn't finish. I applaud them for trying. His attitude has been talked about. You know what. They didn't have people walking around his car. He was very quiet and went about his business getting his car ready. I don't know the kid, but, I didn't see it Friday.
#3
Posted 18 February 2017 - 07:36 PM
I whole heartedly agree that Bloomquist should not have been given that provisional. But 95% of the time the lucas regulars race their way in, other than Flinner. I've posted the 2016 stats before:
44 races entered
33 starts
27 provisionals
3 times every car made the race
That leaves 3 races out of 44 he raced his way in last year. In those 3 he only be out a few cars that didn't make the show. He gets them like candy at a parade. 82% of his starts came from a provisional and prevented a better car from racing.
Again I respect what they are doing, but better cars should be in the race. They put in money and time as well.
44 races entered
33 starts
27 provisionals
3 times every car made the race
That leaves 3 races out of 44 he raced his way in last year. In those 3 he only be out a few cars that didn't make the show. He gets them like candy at a parade. 82% of his starts came from a provisional and prevented a better car from racing.
Again I respect what they are doing, but better cars should be in the race. They put in money and time as well.
#TheTruth
#4
Posted 18 February 2017 - 08:46 PM
The provisional is to reward the cars that follow the series but fail to qualify. They put in the time and money. The "better cars" have the same opportunity. The reason the provisional exists is because those racers are loyal to the series.
- jo73 likes this
Matt D
#5
Posted 18 February 2017 - 09:10 PM
Yes, the provisional is to help out the cars who follow the tour. However, I doubt it was meant for someone to use it every race. As the truth stated, everytime he gets that provisional, someone who would be more competitive has to load up. At this point the whole thing is a joke. He usually qualifies close to last, can't pass a car all night and is gifted a feature spot. Back in the day, they used to limit the number of provisionals someone could take. It might be time to bring that back. Lake and Miley did more this week then Flinner has done in over a year. No way he can be making any money either.
#6
Posted 18 February 2017 - 10:14 PM
Provisionals should be limited to a set number a year, regardless of the series!! Seems to me that used to be the case with the WoO, but not sure if they still do so??
GOOD RACING!!!
Walt
#7
Posted 19 February 2017 - 09:52 PM
I totally agree with you Walt.....I don't like provisionals in general but there gotta be a limit.Provisionals should be limited to a set number a year, regardless of the series!! Seems to me that used to be the case with the WoO, but not sure if they still do so??
GOOD RACING!!!
Walt
#8
Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:11 AM
In previous years in ufo they made you race for your provisional. The top ten in points were eligible for it but the highest points guy didn't automatically get it. It went to the highest b main finisher that was in the top ten in points.
Edited by LM RACING, 20 February 2017 - 10:11 AM.
Matt D
#9
Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:43 AM
I love to see local drivers, like Fliinner, go on tour. But how do they make any money? Do you get starting money if you use a provisional? Or is it just incredible sponsorship keeping them afloat?
#10
Posted 20 February 2017 - 12:01 PM
Has the kid made any money at all this yr? If you take a provisional, you do not get any money until you pass what the race started. So if last 5 spots paid $500, you need to finish at least 19th if 24 cars started to get the difference of the 19 minus 24th spot money.
#11
Posted 20 February 2017 - 02:02 PM
Most people know the real story with Mark Flinner, but nobody will have the brass to post it. If you talk to anyone locally who has had dealings with him, they will tell you what everyone knows, he likes to write bad checks. If you have access to the public court records website, you can search his name and see a long list of cases against him. He was taken to court by Jim Benheisel, Chris Schneider and many others. People want to praise them like they are some kind of local heros. When someone rips as many people off as Mark has, you'd think people would be wise.
#12
Posted 20 February 2017 - 03:34 PM
I don't get how if your not competitive with the locals, why would you think you have any chance with the top touring teams? It's like night and day. And a whole lot of money to be competitive and stay competitive with these series. I am not understanding this. Local teams are at such a disadvantage with the difference in the laps that we run, 20-25 laps , vs the 50-100 laps these series run. I have to applaud any team that makes these races. I always say if you don't earn it, you don't deserve it!
#13
Posted 20 February 2017 - 06:27 PM
like last night for example, qualified LAST , LAST in heat race , LAST in b main , while so many other deserving drivers got to sit and watch him waste fuel , a moron with money....GENERATION 2 colton finger...
#14
Posted 20 February 2017 - 06:37 PM
In previous years in ufo they made you race for your provisional. The top ten in points were eligible for it but the highest points guy didn't automatically get it. It went to the highest b main finisher that was in the top ten in points.
LOL Yeah, but "top ten" is a relative term. There were guys in the UFO top ten points that didn't finish in the top ten in any races, guys with higher higher point finishes than feature finishes. Still your hauler driver earning the provisional.
If at first you don't succeed, then maybe you just suck.
#15
Posted 20 February 2017 - 07:40 PM
the flinner car earned $30000 from lucas in 2016
#17
Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:59 PM
you clearly are missing my pointLOL Yeah, but "top ten" is a relative term. There were guys in the UFO top ten points that didn't finish in the top ten in any races, guys with higher higher point finishes than feature finishes. Still your hauler driver earning the provisional.
Matt D
#18
Posted 21 February 2017 - 10:09 AM
So your point is that "you" were the colton flinner on the ufo tour since no one ever followed it and you got to race by taking a provisional every time just because you followed the tour?
#19
Posted 21 February 2017 - 12:50 PM
you clearly are missing my point
I get your point - UFO made one "earn" a provisional by being the highest finisher of the top ten in points in the b main. What I'm saying is that it's not different than getting Lucas provisionals by simply attending each race. The top ten in UFO was made up of 1) guys that won or ran up front and missed a number of races, or 2) guys that attended all of the races. The latter of the group is who was being awarded provisionals, because the former was able to qualify on merit. The top ten stipulation for provisionals was a way UFO enticed cars to attend all of their races (fear of not being eligible for a provisional), and had nothing to do with any philosophy on how to qualify for a race.
If at first you don't succeed, then maybe you just suck.
#20
Posted 21 February 2017 - 05:08 PM
Even Flinner's website is becoming littered with the word "provisional". He seems so proud of the fact that he makes every race by getting a Lucas Oil handout. No progress seems to have been made after a year on the tour. We'll see if he continues to rely on provisionals to make up for lackluster showings night in and night out. Personally I hope the series makes a change, not only to make Flinner have to race his way in, but also to give fans a show when everyone is competing for the final transfer spot.
#TheTruth
1 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users
