Amsoil Arenacross Format Changes for 2013

Cycle News Staff | November 5, 2012

AURORA, Ill. (November 2, 2012) – On the heels of announcing AMSOIL as the new title sponsor and the upcoming 2013 schedule, Feld Motor Sports®  is revealing a variety of unique and exciting format changes that will make AMSOIL Arenacross more unpredictable than ever. Tickets for all AMSOIL Arenacross events will go on sale to the public Friday, November 16.

Beginning with the 2013 season an entirely new championship points structure will be introduced. Deviating from the traditional points system, AMSOIL Arenacross competitors in all classes will now compete on a single point system. Championship points will be awarded in one-point increments with a Main Event winner earning 16 points and reducing per position through the remainder of the field.

Another exciting and non-traditional format change will be the introduction of two 12-lap Main Events, each paying separate championship points. Gate selection for Main Event 1 will be determined by a riders’ Heat Race results. For Main Event 2, gate selection will be based off the finishing order from the first Main Event, but also presents a unique and exciting twist. A random drawing following the first main Event will determine whether zero, eight, or 16 competitors will invert their gate selections.

“Changing from the traditional 25-lap Main Event format to the all-new 12-lap Main Events will add strategy, increase parity and add unprecedented excitement to the revamped program,” said Todd Jendro, vice president of two wheel operations, Feld Motor Sports. “The random drawing after the first Main Event could have a dramatic affect on the second Main Event’s results.”

Also new for this year, AMSOIL Arenacross will showcase head-to-head bracket racing for the first time ever. The top four finishers from the Arenacross Class Heat Races will have an opportunity to compete for an extremely valuable championship point. These top finishers will be placed into an eight-rider bracket, using individual lap times to determine seeding. Riders will then be eliminated via two-lap head-to-head matchups until only one man is left standing.

The most significant change is the inaugural Race to the Championship that will be introduced in 2013. The stage will be set through the first six rounds of the season, which features 11 nights of competition beginning on January 4th in Worcester, Mass., as riders battle their way into the top 10 Arenacross Class point standings position.

The Race to the Championship will begin at the seventh round of the season in Little Rock Ark., on February 16th and will run through the final four rounds and five nights of action that concludes in Denver on March 16th. The current points leader at the conclusion of the sixth round will earn the top seed in the Race to the Championship. The Arenacross Class point standings will be reset to reflect those competing for the title as follows:

1st in the standings – 6 points

2nd in the standings – 5 points

3rd and 4th in the standings – 4 points

5th and 6th in the standings – 3 points

7th and 8th in the standings – 2 points

9th and 10th in the standings – 1 point

The top 10 riders leading into the Race to the Championship will be the only competitors eligible to claim the coveted AMSOIL Arenacross Championship, and with it becoming the 28th title winner in the sport’s history. Riders in positions 11th or higher will compete for a purse, season-ending bonuses, in addition to their 2014 AMSOIL Arenacross number.

For many years, amateur racing has been an integral part of AMSOIL Arenacross and that trend will continue in 2013 with the introduction of two new classes that will provide a sneak peek into the future of the sport. During each night of professional competition, a 50cc class will feature 4-8 year olds who are learning the ropes of what it takes to be in the spotlight of AMSOIL Arenacross. Not to be outdone the ultra-competitive, high energy Super-Mini 9 -15 year-old class will showcase the eagerness, raw talent and determination of future AMSOIL Arenacross stars.

In an effort to showcase the unsung heroes of AMSOIL Arenacross, a one-of-a-kind Mechanics Challenge will test the skills of these wrench-turning warriors. Each night, four lucky fans will have the opportunity of a lifetime when they become honorary mechanics assistants in this hotly contested battle to determine who is the “king of the pits.”

“There are so many elements that make AMSOIL Arenacross an ideal experience for the whole family,” said Mike Muye, director of operations, Feld Motor Sports “Sharing the spotlight with our riders’ mechanics and our future superstars brings even more variety to an already action-packed evening that we know will keep fans coming back for more.”

With built-in drama and even more excitement in store for audiences across the 10 cities on the 2013 AMSOIL Arenacross schedule, the championship is expected to be its most competitive in the 27-year history of the sport.

Live timing and scoring from each round of the AMSOIL Arenacross season returns for the 2013 season! To follow the intense racing action live, log onto www.Arenacross.com.

For more information on the 2013 AMSOIL Arenacross season, log on to www.Arenacross.com. For all media requests, please contact Brandon Short brandon@nextlevelsportsinc.com or 949-365-5750.

Never miss out on the latest news! Follow the AMSOIL Arenacross on Facebook and Twitter! Log on to http://www.facebook.com/AMAarenacross and http://twitter.com/arenacross today!

About Feld Motor Sports®

Feld Motor Sports®, Inc. is the world leader in specialized arena and stadium-based motor sports entertainment.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. productions include Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam®, Monster Energy® Supercross, AMSOIL Arenacross, Monster Energy Cup, Nuclear Cowboyz?, and IHRA® Nitro Jam®.  Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a division of Feld Entertainment, the world’s largest producer of live family entertainment.  For more information on Feld Entertainment, visit www.feldentertainment.com.

About AMSOIL®

AMSOIL® manufactures premium synthetic lubricants for all automotive, diesel and power sports applications. AMSOIL is formulated specifically for equipment life, maximum power and optimal all-weather performance and have been tested and proven for over 40 years and billions of miles of service. For more information on AMSOIL, visit www.amsoil.com or www.amsoilracing.com.