C-main

A C-main is a race for drivers who qualified with slower times than those competing in the A-main and B-main events, giving them a chance to race and potentially advance to higher-level competitions.

In motorsport events with many participants, organizers divide drivers into different races based on their qualifying performance. Think of it like sorting players into different skill levels - the fastest qualifiers race in the A-main (top tier), the next fastest group competes in the B-main (middle tier), and drivers with the slowest qualifying times participate in the C-main.

The C-main serves an important purpose beyond just giving slower qualifiers something to do. It creates opportunities for drivers to gain valuable racing experience and potentially improve their position in the overall event. Many drivers use C-main races to practice their skills and work their way up through the ranks.

Most race formats include a "bumping up" system that makes C-main races competitive and exciting. Typically, the top two or three finishers from the C-main earn the right to advance to the B-main, usually starting from the back of that field. This advancement opportunity means drivers in the C-main have real incentive to race hard rather than just going through the motions.

C-mains are particularly common in radio-controlled car racing, dirt track racing, and other grassroots motorsports where large fields of competitors are typical. For example, at a local RC car event with 30 entries, the fastest 10 qualifiers might race in the A-main, the next 10 in the B-main, and the remaining 10 in the C-main.

This system ensures that every participant gets meaningful track time and a chance to compete, regardless of their qualifying performance. It also helps develop racing talent by giving less experienced drivers opportunities to race against others at similar skill levels before potentially moving up to face faster competition.