Beyond the Flag set to introduce new power rankings formulas for 2018

By Asher Fair | Feb 8, 2018

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - JULY 01: Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 DEWALT Flexvolt Toyota, leads the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400 Powered By Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 1, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sarah Crabill/Getty Images) /

A new racing season brings new changes to Beyond the Flag. Have a look at the power rankings formulas we are set to introduce for 2018.

It seems like the 2017 IndyCar, NASCAR and Formula One seasons were just coming to a close back in September, November and November, respectively.

Now here we are approaching the start of the 2018 NASCAR season on Sunday, February 18th with the Daytona 500 as well as the start of both the 2018 IndyCar and Formula One seasons shortly thereafter with the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, March 11th and the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, March 25th, respectively.

As far as our weekly writing series go, we have one major change planned for two of our most popular series in each sport. We have planned to change up the way we do the team and driver power rankings following each race.

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As opposed to written power rankings after each race in each of these three series this year, our plan for the 2018 season is to provide a statistical summary of each race’s action before providing formulated power rankings that take into account many different factors and variables.

These power rankings, which are set to be calculated for both drivers and teams, will likely be compiled by plugging in these formulas into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

These factors are set to include, but possibly not be limited to, standings position, overall points, finishing position in most recent race, points earned in most recent race, average finishing position in recent races, average finishing position throughout entire season, wins, podium finishes, top 5 finishes and top 10 finishes.

For NASCAR, stage wins and playoff points are also set to be factored in. For IndyCar, the road and street course formula and the oval formula are set to be based on statistics from road and street course races and oval races, respectively. Naturally, certain factors will be weighted more so than others to determine each week’s rankings.

Do make special note of the fact that only full-time drivers and teams will be factored into these formulas. There are set to be 32 full-time Cup Series drivers, 20 full-time Cup Series teams, 20 full-time IndyCar drivers, 10 full-time IndyCar teams, 20 full-time Formula One drivers and 10 full-time Formula One teams this year.

The exceptions to this are that all 21 IndyCar road and street course drivers are set to be factored into the road and street course formula and all 21 IndyCar oval drivers are set to be factored into the oval formula.

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Are you excited for the release of our new power rankings formulas for the 2018 NASCAR, IndyCar and Formula One seasons, or would you rather see power rankings involving written explanations about drivers like we did last year? See how this year’s power rankings work out and then make the call.

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