Race Procedures: 2016 SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Tour Series – Updated 4.19.16

Initial Start:

1. Double file, once the Starter shows the ‘one to go’ signal, no scrubbing of tires, cars need to position nose-to-tail. Front row does not have choice ‘inside/outside’ on original start.
2. The front row must maintain “Pace Car” speed until they accelerate at the drop of the green flag.
3. No passing allowed until S/F line – You may not pull out of line until the S/F line.

Restart:

1. All restarts will be double file with the exception of the final 10 laps. Restarts within the last ten laps will be single file.
2. All cars one or more laps down restart behind lead lap cars.
3. When the ‘double up’ sign or directive is given, the leader will choose to start inside or outside. Everyone else will double up, odd positions on the inside, even positions on the outside.
4. On restarts the front row must stay even and must maintain Pace Car speed, once the front row enters the restart box, the leader can accelerate to restart the race anytime within the designated restart area. The second place car cannot go before the leader goes. The leader restarts the race.
5. No passing allowed until S/F line – You may not pull out of line until the S/F line for double or single file restarts.

Yellow Flag:

1. When the yellow flag is displayed stop racing, slow and maintain your position, proceed with caution.
2. Your restart position will be the position you were in when the yellow was displayed, as long as you were able to maintain your running position, or were in no way disrupted by the incident.
3. If you are involved, spin, slowed or your progress is disrupted by the incident, you will be positioned where you rejoin or blend back into the field – NOTE: the incident must play itself out before the order is set. If you pit, you will restart at the tail of the field.
4. Any discrepancies in line up will be determined by Race Control or may revert to the last completed green lap.
5. The initial yellow on the race leader plus the next two (2) yellow laps in each caution period will count, after which the yellow laps do not count.
6. Should a car not maintain caution speed, stop or enter the pits during a yellow, it will lose its running position. You must maintain your position under yellow.
7. If a driver deliberately picks up positions after the yellow flag is displayed they may be penalized.
8. Officials reserve the right to utilize the yellow to check cars that are suspect and are being considered for a black flag (leaks, smoke, sparks, etc.). After they are checked, if okay – they keep their position.
9. If a driver does anything to intentionally cause a yellow, it’s a minimum two-lap penalty.
10. DO NOT SCRUB YOUR TIRES IN THE AREA OF ON-TRACK SAFETY WORKERS.
11. CARS DO NOT RACE BACK TO THE FINISH LINE UNDER YELLOW,

EXCEPT FOR THE LAST LAP – Once the white flag has been taken by the leader, the next flag will be the checkered. If there is an on track incident, the yellow flag/light may be displayed – race to the finish on last lap, but be aware of the incident. Race to the finish cautiously unless the track goes RED.

If the RED is displayed on the last lap STOP, the finish will then be a green/white/checker – maximum (2) g/w/c attempts.

Red Flag:

1. Stop single file in a safe manner – if a car does not re-start on it’s own, it may be pushed started and maintain position.
2. NO WORK may be done on cars during red flag condition (5 lap penalty – no Lucky Dog for remainder of race.) – unless authorized by race control.
3. Positions will revert back to the previous completed green. Those deemed part of the occurrence that caused immediate red flag or cars that pit will be positioned at the rear of the field.

Ten Lap Rule:

1. Single-file restarts for last ten (10) laps, with lapped cars moved to rear of field, positioned in running order.
2. Last ten (10) laps must be racing laps; yellow flag laps will not be counted. No “Free Pass” within final ten laps.
3. Once the white flag has been taken by the leader, the next flag will be the checkered. If there is an on track incident, the yellow flag/light may be displayed – race to the finish, but be aware of the incident. Race to the finish cautiously unless the track goes RED.

If the RED is displayed on the last lap STOP, the finish will then be a green/white/checker – maximum (2) g/w/c attempts.

Free Pass Award:

1. On any yellow flag up to final 10 laps, the first car a lap down will be instructed to join the tail of the field, and gain back 1 lap. Any car causing a yellow will not be the recipient of the “Free Pass”.
2. The “Free Pass” car needs to drop back to the tail of the field as soon as they are notified that they are the “Free Pass”.
3. If the ‘Free Pass” car does not reach the rear of the field by the time the green flag is displayed to re-start the race, the “Free Pass” may be rescinded from that driver and he/she will remain one lap down.
4. No free pass in final ten laps.

Contact:

1. Any contact between competitors will be determined by SRL race control if any penalty will be imposed. If a driver is penalized for rough driving, he/or she will restart at the tail end of the field behind all cars for the immediate restart after the penalty.
2. Any competitor having contact with the race leader, resulting in the leader spinning and or being eliminated from competition will be penalized. Race Control has the right to call over the radio to rescind this policy if the leader is considered, only by Race Control, to be blocking, in which case the above Rule #1 under Contact will be in force.

Updated: 4.19.16