**SCARTS Rulebook 2010 - Fall Revision**

SCARTS - STOCK CAR AUTO RACING ON TURBO SLIDERS - 2010 RULEBOOK

This is the rulebook for the 2010 SCARTS Racing season on Turbo Sliders Version 2.0. SCARTS stands for Stock Car Auto Racing on Turbo Sliders, a league formed to simulate NASCAR. For 2010, SCARTS has two series: the Full Throttle Cup Series and the Rising Star Series. The following standards are to be followed by EVERY racer during scheduled league events to help keep the races flowing smoothly and accurately to realism.
--------------------------------------------------
SCARTS RACING SERIES OVERVIEW
In 2010, the two SCARTS series are the Full Throttle Cup Series and the Rising Star Series. Here is an overview of both.

-FULL THROTTLE-
The SCARTS Full Throttle Cup Series is the premier series in SCARTS, featuring the bulk of our racing community. Full Throttle is in its fourth fulltime season and there is a vast majority of drivers who have raced either all four years, a few years, or even just starting this year. The Full Throttle season lasts 20 races, 14 regular season and 6 playoff races entitled 'The Chase'. There is a vast majority of racetracks designed especially for SCARTS run during the course of the year. Drivers who have raced awhile and rookies who have earned respect in the Rising Star Series are able to compete. Since it's the premier league, we expect a high level of maturity (on track and verbally) at all times. Any problems may get you kicked out of some of these events. For more information on the Chase playoff format, there is a section about that later in the rulebook.

-RISING STAR-
The Rising Star Series is essentially a 'developmental series' for rookie SCARTS drivers and those who have yet to breakthrough in Full Throttle Cup. This series (in 2010) follows the final 12 races of the Full Throttle calendar so the tracks run mirror that of Full Throttle. The Rising Star event gives the guys in that race valuable track time to learn how each course races and to practice racing skills for the newer guys. Rookies who impress in this series may be allowed to move into Full Throttle Cup races as long as they race fair for the most part and follow the rules properly. Everybody that was outside the Top 6 in points after Race #8 of Full Throttle or didn't win during that stretch were elligible to compete in Rising Star.
--------------------------------------------------
ENTRY LISTS
Entry lists will be posted for each race 'at least three days before a raceday.' Some lists will have a poll included inside for the SCARTS community to give their input on what days to race on as listed in the poll options. The choice that wins will be made the official raceday by Noon the day before the race. For 2010, the Rising Star Series directly corresponds with Full Throttle Cup, meaning that we will run a Rising Star race and immediately follow it up with a Cup race within a day or two.

Every driver should reply to the entry list with their entry into the race and the car sponsor they would like to drive in the race. This makes it easy for the server admin to prepare the server accurately in advance of each event.

Signing the lists aren't mandatory, but admins will NOT stop the server to pick a desired car for somebody that wasn't announced in advance. That is the driver's fault for not announcing his entry and ride on the entry list so we don't want to hear complaining.
--------------------------------------------------
RACE EVENT FORMAT
All of the SCARTS series follow a common race format: a practice session, qualifying, and the race. Each of these are described in detail below.

-PRACTICE-
The time announced for each race will always be the scheduled START TIME for practice. This means, all drivers are expected to be in the server before the scheduled time. This cuts back on wasted time for file transfers and quickens the event. (A 5:00pm EST start means, arrive BEFORE 5pm, or you will miss practice.)

The practice session allows drivers to practice qualifying, fuel runs, and close quarters racing before the race. Every practice will be 10 minutes long (not necessarily long enough to make a full fuel run), assuming we accurately stick to scheduling. The results of practice will set the order in which people will qualify in the next session. More on that in the 'Qualifying' section.

Practice is to be respected which means, if you are goofing around on the track like hitting people on purpose, or sitting idle anywhere where your car can be an obstruction to others, you will get in trouble or perhaps a refusal to qualify or even race.

*Practice Format:
- Once practice starts, late arrivals will be refused entry. NO restarts allowed.
- Each practice is 10 minutes long unless stated otherwise.
- Fuel will be activated to test fuel runs. Startfuel changes are allowed.
- Ghost mode is off.
- The fastest time you hit in practice will reflect your qualifying order. See below.

-QUALIFYING-
Following the practice session, qualifying will be held to determine the race starting order. Each driver will be given 'two full laps' to hit the fastest laptime possible. The quicker of the two laps will be accounted for as the qualification time. Qualifying will follow practice directly after. Noone may leave to run additional laps.

SCARTS has a 12 driver limit for races, so in the event we have over 12 players, we will run 'knockout qualifying'. Drivers in the top 8 in points from the previous race will be guaranteed a start in the next race while everybody else will be at risk to leave the server if their qualifying lap is slower than everyone else's. That elligibility may fluctuate from week to week so keep up to date on the standings in the event we have knockout qualifying.

After qualifying, we will choose pitstalls in the order of speed from qualifying. More on that in an upcoming section.

*Qualifying Format:
- Fuel off
- Two qualifying laps, the faster of the two counts.
- The warmup lap begins as soon as you leave your pitstall. The next time by the start/finish line starts the two lap clock.
- The order to qualify will be dependent on your fastest lap from practice. The slowest car will qualify first and go in order of next fastest, to next fastest, to fastest. Then afterward, those who missed practice may take time.
- One car on the track at a time. Everyone else must wait in pitlane. Those not supposed to be on the track will be DQ'd from qualifying and possibly kicked from the event if the current qualifier's run gets affected.
- We will run 'Knockout Qualifying' if we have over 12 players time in. The top 8 in points from last race will be guaranteed a spot, while everyone else is at risk to miss it.
- Pitstalls will be selected following the session in the order of fastest to slowest.

If for some reason qualifying ever gets cancelled due to server problems or time constraints, the starting order would be set by current series points from most to least.

-RACE-
The race will follow immediately after qualifying concludes. Before the race starts, fuel will be reactivated and the ability to modify startfuel will be as well. Admins will not tolerate people trying to rush the race start. Make sure to get in your starting order from qualifying. It will be announced in the server more than once before we start. More details on the race will be explained in an upcoming section of this rulebook.
--------------------------------------------------
KEY THINGS TO KNOW FOR RACES
Before racing, there are some important things to discuss before entering into a race.

-RACING STYLE-
SCARTS is a racing series you can't take lightly and immaturely. We are a fairplay league which thrives on players who love competition and can live without cheating and rough gameplay. This unique community of players allows us to be able to simulate NASCAR in many ways. If you are someone who likes to bend the rules, cut people off, and cheat your way to victory, you won't last in SCARTS and you won't be welcome.

-ADMINS-
Admins in SCARTS races will be notated with asteriks ** around the player name. These guys are considered role models of SCARTS and vow to uphold the rules of the league by punishing those who bend the rules. Admins have the right to issue out black flag penalties as well as judge racing behavior for penalties following each race. No retaliation on admins will be tolerated in the races at any time for any reason. The only retaliation allowed is for on-track situations only, never administrative decisions you are upset about.

-FLAGS-
There are several colored flags we will use during each SCARTS race. They mean pretty much what you think they mean from many kinds of motorsports, but here they are detailed below.
- Green Flag: When green is out, we are racing for position.
- Yellow Flag: When yellow is out, we are pacing on the racetrack as a result of somebody wrecking and calling 'YEL'
- Red Flag: When red is out, we are stopped on the racetrack waiting on somebody.
- Black Flag: When 'Black Flag' is called, it is directed at one particular driver as a penalty for an action on the racetrack. More details about black flags in an upcoming section.
-White Flag: When white is out, its time to let it all hang out, ONE TO GO!!!

-PITSTALLS-
As the 2010 SCARTS season moves along, new tracks will be released with upgraded pitlanes. Most tracks will have space for 20 stalls, but at the very least 12 will be used since its our player maximum for SCARTS league events. Those 12 stalls are numbered visually on the track so its impossible to get confused.

Following qualifying before the race, pitstalls will be chosen by players in the order of fastest qualifying time. Its advantageous to get a good lap in to pick a good pit stall for easy entry, exit, or both for that matter. Even with less than 12 players, drivers will have full freedom to choose any of the 12 pitstalls that are numbered. Whichever stall you choose, you MUST stick to that numbered stall for the entire race.

During caution flags, once YEL is stated, people may start filing into pitlane single file. The pitstall numbers count down from 12 to 1. Once you hit the pit entry line, if your pitstall is #7-12, drive in the left lane down the pits until you reach your stall. If your stall is #1-6, drive in the right hand lane until you pass Stall #7. Sorting this out will prevent problems with people running into each other.

You MUST park your car completely in the box (all sides of your car must be inside the box). Yes guys, INSIDE the box. You may need to practice pitting properly to avoid losing time. This will be fully enforced during yellow flags where multiple guys pit. If you are caught pitting illegally, it will be a tail end of the line penalty on the next restart. If you are pitting by yourself under caution, admins won't be so picky if you are a little bit off in your box since you'll be tail end anyways.

Practice, practice, practice pitstops. Currently all pitlanes in SCARTS have equal pitlane speed limits, so you can practice at any track to get the hang of pitting efficiently. (Bristol may vary.)

-YELLOW FLAGS (CAUTIONS)-
When someone crashes into the retaining wall or collects other players in a crash, drivers can call a yellow flag to slow down the field into pace laps. Once yellow flag (YEL) is called, the field is frozen in their current running position. Whatever position the caution caller is when he gets back up to speed will be his current running spot, it isn't necessarily last place. Drivers must slow up as soon as yellow is called, no racing to the line.

Once the field is caught up single file, the race admin will call out 'PIT'. This represents pit lane being open for pit stops. The field may choose to pit or not to pit, however the driver who called the yellow flag will be required to make a stop in pit lane and take 'at least' a splash of fuel. It will be ok to gain position in the pits if you are the yellow caller.

If a driver makes a pitstop before pitlane is announced as open, the driver will get a lap down penalty.

So after pitstops open up, the next time the field reaches the backstraight, each driver will park sequentially from 1-12 in the order they reach the stalls. This grid forms the double file restart correctly so that players are positioned in the right lines for the upcoming restart. Odd positions such as 3rd, 5th and 7th are required to restart in the inside lane while even number positions (2nd, 4th, 6th) restart in the outside line. The first person to the line will park in #1 always, 2nd place will park in #2, 3rd place in #3, and so on until the whole field is caught up and in their correct numerical place. Also at this point, any lapcars given a lap back may do so and then park in the next available number on the grid. Once the field is completely set, the admin will announce the restart and then at that point, the leader may choose to swap lanes with 2nd place if desired. Rows 2 and back must stay in their correct position for the restart. We will restart next time to the line unless the admin decides to add a lap for whatever reason.

Leading up to the restart, you may NOT pass the guy in front of you in line until after the start/finish line. Doing so will result in a lap down penalty handed out during the next caution or end of race.

New for 2010, you are NEVER allowed to call two cautions in a row. If you do so, you will go a lap down, no exceptions to it. If you call a third caution when you are already a lap down, you get booted. Think of it as a three strike rule for anybody calling multiple cautions in a row.

Cautions are now legal the entire length of the race except for the final lap.

-BLACK FLAGS-
As mentioned above, black flags are issued to drivers who commit a violation to the rulebook or make unsportsmanlike moves around fellow racers. Only a race admin with asteriks next to their player name (i.e. **Burnout**) are allowed to give out black flag penalties.

Here are some examples of what will get you a black flag penalty:
-> Passing the car starting in front of you before the start/finish line at the race start.
-> Passing the car restarting in front of you before the start/finish line on each race restart.
-> Shoving somebody below the apron cutting off their driving line.
-> Failing to pit while under caution if you are the caution caller.
-> Parking in the wrong pitstall number.
-> Pitting while pits are closed or right after a person calls YEL.
-> Ramming other racers in pitlane at full speed. Honest accidents will not be penalized.
-> Miss the committment cone (if present) and caught doing so.
-> Calling multiple cautions in a row (2-in-a-row = lap down, 3-in-a-row = kick)

-RED FLAGS-
Occassionally, an admin may call a 'red flag' during the race. These are allowed during the entire race except for Green-White-Checkered finishes. These are ONLY TO BE CALLED by admins, and they will usually be for players who have unexpected disconnections from the server or for issuing penalties. If a red is called, positions are frozen the moment RED is called in the server, and we will all halt on the double file restart grid along the backstretch. Any non-admin that has to leave for some reason, pull your car off the track and mention that you have to go (maybe type 'wait') and the admin will announce the red flag. DON'T CALL IT YOURSELF.

----------------------------------------------------------------
THE RACE
As stated above, the race will follow immediately after qualifying's conclusion. Being on time is important as we will start the race punctually. Before the admin 'starts the race', you may make adjustments to your Startfuel for the start of the race. This section describes the format for each SCARTS race.

-PACE LAP-
The first lap of the race will be a pace lap in the starting order set from qualifying. Competitors are required to stay in line during the first lap and not accelerate until the race leader gets around near the start/finish line. You may NOT pass the guy in front of you in line until after you pass the start/finish line. Passing the guy beside you is legal if your line gets a run. The polesitter will have lane preference at the start. The outside polesitter will start in the lane opposite the poleman.

Those taking off at the start ignoring the pace lap will be booted from the server. YOU MUST pace.

-LEADING A LAP DURING THE FIRST 20 LAPS-
The first 20 laps of each race will be an opportunity for every driver to earn five bonus points for the championship by leading one of the first 20 laps. Changing startfuel before the race is your chance to strategize for how to get up front during that period. Once 20 laps are completed, the lap bonus disappears. (NOTE: Rising Star Series road course races will have a 10 lap window for bonus points instead of 20.)

-HALFWAY BONUS-
Racing for halfway is a race in itself as somebody can earn another five bonus points for leading that lap. The official halfway mark will be announced in the race if its unclear as to when it is in a 201 lap race for example.

-PITTING-
As the field is racing under green flag, drivers may choose to make pitstops whenever they want. New for 2010, you may make a pitstop at whatever speed you want to enter pitlane, as long as you aren't caught missing the committment cone. That penalty will be handed out by an admin on the next caution if you are caught. Drilling it into your heads now, YOU MUST ENTER PIT LANE WITHOUT HITTING OR MISSING THE COMMITTMENT CONE!!!

As described in the yellow flag section, pit road will be closed when somebody calls the yellow flag (YEL). Pits will remain closed until the race admin gives the ok to open the pits saying PIT. Pits remain open after PIT is announced, so drivers can choose to pit after the main PIT statement while still pacing under caution.

Drivers must also park in their assigned pitstall chosen after qualifying. Drivers must completely park in their pistall or admins may call the driver out on a 'tail end of the line' black flag penalty.

Once pitstalls open under caution, the next time by the field will park along the grid placed in the backstretch to set the double file restart. Drivers will park in that grid sequentially in the order they reach the grid (not to be confused with pitstall number choices.)

-GREEN WHITE CHECKER-
New this year will be three attempts at a Green-White-Checkered finish (a two lap shootout to the checkered flag after a caution). If a competitor calls a YEL near the end of the race and we are not able to restart by 2 laps to go, we will pace the race to the checkered flag and then do our first GWC attempt. Pacing it to the line will keep check on people cheating their fuel expecting the race to go GWC before completing 100% distance. The caution caller will not be allowed to call another caution after that, but others may if they wreck. If the restart hits the final lap, yellows are again banned and the caution caller will be parked. The yel must be called on the first lap of the restart, and it will be reviewed on tape. The caution caller will be placed last car on the lead lap for every ensuing GWC restart. The GWC restarts will be planned ahead of time in the server so that we can race them if necessary, and they will be fuel free.

-LUCKY DOGS-
The first car one lap down of the leader may be granted a free pass to earn one lap back when the caution comes out. If a caution caller already a lap down calls a caution, even if he is the first one a lap down, earning a lap back won't be allowed. Drivers can only earn a lap back if somebody else calls the YEL. The 'lucky dog' driver must restart the race last car on the lead lap always, even if the driver doesn't pit.

Other cars a lap down may choose to take a 'wavearound' as well given that they do NOT make a stop in pitlane to take fuel.

-LAST LAP-
Once the white flag is drawn to signify the final lap, no cautions are allowed to be called. Those who wrecked may not block the racetrack to ruin the final lap for everyone else.
------------------------------------------------------
POINTS SYSTEM
SCARTS has adjusted its point system for 2010 and it is common for both Full Throttle Cup and Rising Star. Whoever scores the most points during the course of the season will be crowned the season champion. So finishing well and earning bonus points may assist in helping win the championship. For 2010, exhibitions will NOT earn you bonus points in any way. They are to be all-star races for the best of the best in SCARTS and that alone.

The Full Throttle Cup Series though has a special system which represents the Chase for the Full Throttle Cup. The first 14 races are the opportunity to position yourselves in the Top 5 in the series standings. Those five drivers will then compete for the championship with points reset for the final six races. Each driver's points will be reset to 2000 points with every win earned during the first 14 races being five bonus points added into the total. So if someone makes the Chase and has three wins, that person will have 2015 points to begin the six race playoff. The driver who earns the most points in the six Chase races will be the Full Throttle champion. The racers who missed the Chase will retain their points from the first 14 races and continue to race amongst themselves for 6th place to end the year.

If qualifying is ever cancelled due to time constraints to get the race started, we will start the races by points standing from most to least points. Drivers without points will start in the back in order of connection to the server. Only the first race of the season will be points set by last year's final standings in all three series.

For 2010, drivers are entitled to score EVERY point they earn unless there is a big issue with one driver's behavior brought up after the race. If so, a panel of admins will discuss the issue and ARE ABLE to dock points if the infraction is unanimous.

If you want details on the exact values earned for every position, visit the Points System in the SCARTS Information section of the forum.
------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY
SCARTS may not sound like fun with all of the mandatory rules, but lemme tell you, you won't experience a more unique and true-to-life racing simulation in the Turbo Sliders universe anywhere else. The rules are to create order in our series in favor of fairplay and competition. Rough racers in the Turbo Sliders community are not welcome if they choose to act as so. All we ask is to understand all of these rules and we will have a blast in 2010 and beyond.
------------------------------------------------------
VERSION
-2010 SCARTS Rulebook, Version 2.0 (September 11, 2010)

TEMPORARY POST:

I need to add in a section about black flag appeals. I'll do it this weekend.