Want to make the Daytona 500 — which will be held Sunday, Feb. 14 — a little more interesting to watch?
Become a NASCAR “Team Owner” for the race.
But doesn’t that cost millions of dollars and a tremendous engineering facility?
Of course not. Let me explain
Courtesy of the Daytona International Speedway
Basically, I developed a fun points system “office game” similar to other great sporting event games. I call it the Daytona 500 Team Owner Challenge. I started this “game” with my wife’s family — since they enjoy various wagering entertainment during other sporting events.
For example, the Super Bowl has its “
Super Bowl Squares” for each quarter in the game. College basketball has it “
Final 4” Brackets, which many of you have played.
Well, now you can enjoy similar fun with
NASCAR’s Daytona 500.
It’s pretty simple, so pay attention.
First, get 13 more people to agree to play. They can be friends, family members classmates, co-workers, whatever. Now, you don't have to, but I think it’s better if everyone throws in a dollar (or $5 when you're playing with my wife's family) in a pot.
Next, you need to wait to determine who is going to be in the 43 spots for the Daytona 500. (You’ll need to wait till all of the qualifying and shootouts and other NASCAR determinations.) This should all be completed on
Thursday, Feb. 11. (The list should be available at NASCAR.com
Once the 43 spots are filled, you’ll need to put each driver’s name on a slip of paper and put those in a container (hat, box, etc). (You may be able to print Daytona 500 lineup from
NASCAR.com and then cut out each name).
Next, take out a sheet of paper and list you and the names of your 13 friends, family members, co-workers, etc. — anyone who is going to be a “Team Owner”
(There should be 14 names on the sheet, including yours. These are the “Team Owners”)
Next to each of the names on the sheet, create THREE empty boxes.
The Team Draft Begins
Next, have those Team Owners, ONE at a time; pick ONE driver slip from the container.
In the box next to the Team Owner’s name, you will add the name of the driver they picked. Do this for all 13 friends, and yourself.
Then, have everyone pick a SECOND driver slip from the container and add that to the Team Owner list in the second box.
Finally, have everyone pick one more time (third and final time) and add the driver name to the Team Owner list.
Note - There should be one driver name slip left in the container. That driver is not on a “team.”
As you see, each “Team Owner” will have three driver’s names on the sheet. These thee driver names are the Team Owner’s racing team for the Daytona 500.
The Team Owner whose “team” finishes with the lowest points wins the pot. Basically, your team is chosen by a “luck of the draw” and prevents a Team Owner from “stacking his team with top drivers.
For example, say your Uncle Joe is a team owner and the three drivers he picked are Casey Mears, Greg Biffle and Jeff Gordon. At the end of the Daytona 500, those drivers placed 9th, 17th and 4th, respectively. So, Uncle Joe’s team scored a total of 30. (Which is the total for each driver’s place after the race.
Say Uncle Tommy had picked drivers Bobby Labonte, Dale Ernhardt Jr. and Robby Gordon. His “team” finished with places 20th, 7th and 1st, respectively, giving Uncle Tommy a team score of 28. Uncle Tommy would have the lowest score, and therefore be the winner.
The Team Owner with the best total score collects the pot.
The fun thing about this system is you may have to cheer for a driver you normally would not root for.
What if someone can't be at the Draft?
Now, there may be cases where not every Team Owner can be on hand to pick their three drivers during the “draft.” Just have someone (trustworthy) pick for them (in the correct order.)
What if there is a tie between the team owners with the best total score?
Well, the tiebreaker goes to the team owner who has the driver with the Best place (lowest number) following the race. For example, if Uncles Joe and Tommy both had the same total score of 30, Uncle Tommy would win because he had a driver that finished with the best place – Robby Gordon with a 1st place. (Hey, it could happen.)
What if I can only get 9 other people to play?
Well, then each Team Owner (10 including yourself) gets to pick 4 drivers. (Note – 3 driver names will remain in the container and not make a "team")
Scoring is handled the same.
What if I have 20 people who want to play the Daytona 500 Team Owner Challenge?
Well, that’s fine. However, each team owner (21 which includes yourself) only picks two drivers and the total team score is determined as explained above. (Note – one driver name will remain in the container.)
Good luck and happy race viewing!
Fast Eddie —