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WISSOTA announces a return to former long-term point system beginning in 2025
ST. CLOUD, MN (February 21) - As the 2025 racing season approaches, WISSOTA is implementing key adjustments to the national points system and lineup procedures. These changes were voted on at the annual promoters meeting in November.
National Point Structure Updates
One of the most significant updates for 2025 is the reinstatement of the former point system, last used in 2017, which includes the return of heat race points. The revised system awards points as follows:
Heat Races:
1st place – 10 points
2nd place – 9 points
3rd place – 8 points
This continues down by one point for each position, with all drivers receiving 2 points for all finishes 9th or beyond.
Drivers must start their heat race to receive points for that race.
B-Mains/Consolation Races:
1st place – 5 points
2nd place – 4 points
3rd place – 3 points
All other finishers receive 2 points.
Drivers must start their consolation race to receive points for that race.
Drivers will earn the higher of their heat race or B-main points toward their nightly total. For example, if a driver finishes 5th in their heat race (6 points) and then wins the b-main (5 points), they will only receive the 6 points from the heat race.
Feature Races:
Points for feature races have reverted to the old points system with a feature win worth 35 points, a second place worth 33 points, and a third place worth 32 points. Points will continue down 1 point less for each position with the driver in 24th receiving 11 points. Any finishers from 25th on back will also receive 11 points.
1st place – 35 points
2nd place – 33 points
3rd place – 32 points
Continuing in descending order down to 11 points for 24th place and beyond.
Drivers must start their feature race to receive points for that race.
Show-Up Points (Remains Unchanged from 2024):
1-9 cars – 10 points
10-15 cars – 11 points
16-25 cars – 12 points
26 or more cars – 13 points
National Points Totals Adjustments
In an additional adjustment for 2025, the Late Models will now align with Modifieds, Super Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, and Street Stocks in counting their top 30 shows toward the final national points standings.
This is a reversion back to tradition and away from 2024, where only the top 20 shows were counted for Late Models.
Mod Fours, Pure Stocks, and Hornets will continue to count their top 20 shows for national points.
Changes to Feature Lineup and Restart Lineup Procedures
Racers and fans will see several changes this season when the first feature race takes to the track, as modifications to the feature lineup and restart lineup procedures were approved by track promoters during the annual rules meeting in November. These long-sought adjustments, welcomed by many racers, will take effect in 2025.
Feature Lineup Procedures
WISSOTA has eliminated the point average system and returned to a draw-redraw system for all regular events. Drivers will qualify through heat races, and a designated number of finishers will redraw for their starting positions in the night’s feature event. The redraw format is as follows:
• 1 heat: Top 5 redraw
• 2 heats: Top 4 in each heat redraw
• 3 heats: Top 3 in each heat redraw
• 4 heats: Top 2 in each heat redraw
• 5+ heats: Only heat winners redraw
Special events may still utilize passing points or qualifying systems at the promoter’s discretion.
Restart Lineup Procedures
Tracks will now have the ability to choose from three different restart alignment options for feature races:
Delaware Style (Fixed 4th Place): The leader restarts alone in front. The second-place driver chooses inside or outside of row two, while the fourth-place driver always starts inside row three.
Delaware Style (Even/Odd Choice): The leader restarts alone in front. The second-place driver chooses inside or outside of row two. If they choose inside, all even-numbered positions go inside and odd-numbered positions go outside, or vice versa.
Choose Cone Restart: Drivers make their own choice of high or low when reaching the cone placed at the flag stand.
In the spirit of good and fair competition, promoters may use their discretion to revert to single-file restarts when track conditions warrant.