Ever see a 0.000-second margin of victory?

David S.
By David S. Wallens
Oct 3, 2023 | SCCA, spec miata, Runoffs, SCCA Runoffs

Photography Courtesy SCCA

After nearly 40 miles of racing, the SCCA lists the official margin of victory at 0.000 seconds. The contest? This past weekend’s Spec Miata title race at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs.

After the usual Spec Miata excitement–including a 40-odd-minute delay to fix the barrier after a first-lap crash–Preston Pardus (on the right) and Nicholas Bruni crossed the Virginia International Raceway finish line side-by-side.

Timing & Scoring initially listed the margin of victory at 0.003 second.

The SCCA explains the revision:

But at the Runoffs, when a race comes down to miniscule measurements of time, stewards head to the high-speed camera setup specifically for this purpose — which is exactly what happened. What did the stewards find? An absolute dead heat. So for the first time in the 60-year history of the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, dual National Champions were crowned, and teammates Pardus and Bruni celebrate together.

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Comments
Toyman!
Toyman! GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/3/23 11:26 a.m.

Not that close, but when Curmudgeon and I both ran E-Mod in autocross I lost to him by .007. Probably the most fun I've ever had at an autocross. 

.000 is pretty impressive. 

 

Pete. (l33t FS)
Pete. (l33t FS) GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
10/3/23 11:28 a.m.

Yes, at a rallycross, EvanB and I had the exact same time.  Winner was decided by who had the fewest cones.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 11:41 a.m.

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

That’s pretty darn close. 

Tom1200
Tom1200 PowerDork
10/3/23 11:43 a.m.

First, that's really cool they did that.

I've lost at autocross by .001 before.

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 12:00 p.m.

Does this mean that SCCA T&S needs to add one more decimal to its timing system? 

Floating Doc (Forum Supporter)
Floating Doc (Forum Supporter) GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
10/3/23 12:32 p.m.

I didn't realize that dead heats were super rare in auto racing. Makes sense with the degree of timing accuracy. 
In horse racing, we time to 1/5 second, but the photo finishes are much more precise. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
10/3/23 12:34 p.m.

For one-car-at-a-time competition–autocross, rallycross, time trial, etc.–I can see it happening. But when putting cars side by side on a road course?

FWIW, closest NASCAR Cup finish is 0.002 second with Ricky Craven beating Kurt Busch at Darlington in 2003.

camopaint0707
camopaint0707 Reader
10/3/23 12:35 p.m.

thats unreal

triumph7
triumph7 HalfDork
10/3/23 12:58 p.m.

Spec Miata?  Did the winner have the fewest dents?

Tom1200
Tom1200 PowerDork
10/3/23 1:12 p.m.
triumph7 said:

Spec Miata?  Did the winner have the fewest dents?

They were surprisingly tame. The winners slightly touched coming down to the finish.......they were both trying to side draft.

They were both deserving as they displayed great sportsmanship in the interviews.

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