Final day of Points yesterday. The weather was absolute garbage. Never remember ever running in anything this bad. Barometer = low 28.8's, Humidity = 48-51%, Temps = 95 (shade) & 107 (in car). It's like driving in pea soup.
Naturally everyone was running much slower (except, of course, for the Super Pro guys running on alcohol who couldn't figure out why they were breaking out when everyone else was falling off).
Due to some bad weeks coming into yesterday, I was in 10th place - only 2 round wins away from 8th and 5 from 5th. I knew I had to go rounds to make the Top 8 and have an outside chance at 5th place (the final spot for the Bracket Finals). Due to the shortage of cars there was only going to be 5 rounds of competition, not the necessary 6 that I'd need to overtake 5th place.
I take out the #5 guy first round and then make short order of my opponent in Round 2. So far, so good.
3rd round I set my dial at a pedestrian 17.27 (I TOLD you it was ridiculously crappy weather conditions), but at the last second changed it to 17.28. I have Nieradka by .03 off the tree and .02 at the finish line, but it's a double-breakout and he broke out by less (his -.007 to my -.016) so he advanced to the Finals. Turns out the winner of my pairing got a Bye into the Finals. Also turns out that had I left my dial at 17.27, I would have only broken out by .006 and WON THE RACE BY
.001!
One tenth adjustment cost me a 1-thousandth second victory, 2 points, at least $100 (for making it into the Finals) and the 8th spot in the standings.
I end up finishing the Points season tied for 9th place.
At least my season didn't end as badly as Redog's. Ken snapped a sparkplug Saturday night and was unable to get down to the track Sunday. His no-show dropped him back to 13th place.
.01 cost me .001
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