AACA judging can be a bit perplexing to the uninformed.  We first need to examine what has to happen in order for a vehicle to win a First Junior award at an MCA national meet. Here is how that works:

When the vehicle first enters the show field it is awarded 400 points. In AACA terms, 400 points is a perfect score the standard of perfection, so to speak. However, the vehicle only gets to keep those 400 points until the judges arrive, whereupon points will be DEDUCTED from the car for faults of authenticity and/or condition. Example: If a vehicle received 24 points in deductions, the net score of the vehicle would be 376 points.

In order to win a First Junior award TWO things have to happen: 1. The vehicle needs to score a minimum of 365 points; and 2. The vehicle must be within 10 points of the highest scoring vehicle competing   for a First Junior award in that particular class.

In the example above, the 376-point car has fulfilled requirement number one by achieving the minimum score of 365 or higher. Now it must also score within TEN points of the highest-scoring vehicle in that class also competing for the First Junior award. If the highest-scoring vehicle has achieved 386 points or less, then the 376-point vehicle also wins first place. The same requirements apply in the senior division except that the minimum points jump from 365 to 375. Any vehicle receiving First Junior or Senior then advances to the next level and no longer competes for the award it just won.