COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Every driver in a World of Outlaws Sprint Series event earns points toward the season-long championship battle. Those points are tallied, and eventually a champion is crowned.

Ninteen times since the Sprint Series was founded in 1978 that champion was Steve Kinser. He’s back on top again this season, but the most competitive field in series history is chasing him down, led by Craig Dollansky, who is only six points behind going into the J.D. Byrider World of Outlaws Nationals this Thursday and Friday at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The points system, maintained by Jason Orth, awards drivers not only for winning, but also for being consistently in the hunt from event to event. Points are earned simply by qualifying, but the further a driver lasts into the night will increase the total points accumulated.

For example, if a driver starts the A-main in a single-day race, or on the final day of a multi-day event, he or she can’t leave with less than 102 points while a winner is awarded 150 points. In addition, a driver who leads the most laps in the A-main is awarded four bonus points and a driver who attempts to qualify but fails to reach the A-main receives 75 points.

On a qualifying day event, or preliminary, a driver can earn no more than 40 points for winning or finish with less than 17 points for coming in last in the A-main. A driver who attempts to qualify but fails to reach the A-main in a preliminary event receives 10 points.

Lastly, the season-opening Outlaws Down Under in Australia won by Donny Schatz was a special event that required much effort and expense for each team to attend. Therefore, all drivers were awarded a flat 150 points no matter where they finished, even though their positions are recorded in the standings. For example, Daryn Pittman finished fourth in his new Titan Racing machine, but still earned 150 points and was credited with a top-five finish. In addition, some drivers were unable to attend the races in Australia, but were awarded the 150 points upon entering the races at Volusia Speedway Park last month, including Terry McCarl and Mark Kinser.

The points also will be posted on the World of Outlaws Web sites each Tuesday during the season. To see the latest standings each week go to the World of Outlaws Sprint Series Official Web Site, http://www.theworldofoutlaws.com.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Series is brought to the fans across the country by several sponsors and partners, including series sponsors Hoosier Racing Tire, VP Racing Fuels, and The Outdoor Channel. Promotional Partners include AMB i.t., RACEceiver, HUMMERSGONEWILD.COM, Zippo Lighters, The University of Northwestern Ohio, and Timberwolf. Slick 50 is an Associate Program Sponsor and Contingency sponsors include DART Machinery, MSD Ignitions, and Wrisco Industries.

Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the point system:

For a single-day race, or on the final day of a multi-day event:

Finish Points
1. 150
2. 146
3. 144
4. 142
5. 140
6. 138
7. 136
8. 134
9. 132
10. 130
11. 128
12. 126
13. 124
14. 122
15. 120
16. 118
17. 116
18. 114
19. 112
20. 110
21. 108
22. 106
23. 104
24. 102
(25th and beyond receive 102 points)

For a qualifying day event, or preliminary:
Finish Points
1. 40
2. 39
3. 38
4. 37
5. 36
6. 35
7. 34
8. 33
9. 32
10. 31
11. 30
12. 29
13. 28
14. 27
15. 26
16. 25
17. 24
18. 23
19. 22
20. 21
21. 20
22. 19
23. 18
24. 17
(25th and beyond receive 17 points)

• Four points will be awarded to the lap leader in the “A” Feature in a single-day event or on the final day of a multi-day event.
• 75 points will be awarded to all World of Outlaws Sprint Series competitors who attempt to race, but do not qualify for the “A” Feature in a single-day event of the final day of a multi-day event.
• 10 points will be awarded to all World of Outlaws Sprint Series competitors who attempt to race, but do not qualify for the “A” Feature during a qualifying-day event.