In looking at the Beaver Dam, WI points 2/3 of the way through the season, top 12 is:
1. 1250
2. 1200 1 Feature win
3. 1200 1 Feature win
4. 1250
5. 1250 1 Feature win
6. 1200
7. 1200
8. 1200 2 Feature wins
9. 1200
10. 1250
11. 1200
12. 1250 3 Feature wins
Now, of course thats dirt, can't say anything about asphalt, but it seems pretty even to me.
To say either motor is "junk" is foolish.
The 1250 has the blow through tech without being looked at advantage, along with being brand new, but the durability of a 25 year old 1200 and being able to work on it myself are much more important. You should see the physical beatings 2 of my 1200's have taken through their lifetime, and they still run great