**NEW SCARTS Rulebook 2009**

Welcome to SCARTS Racing, an oval racing league for Turbo Sliders version 2.0. This league closely follows NASCAR and its three top series. SCARTS consists of the Rough & Ready Truck Series, the Phenom Series, and the top level Full Throttle Cup Series. The SCARTS rulebook is to be followed closely by all competitors, drivers and administrators alike.
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SCHEDULE
Two races are run each week for SCARTS, typically a Full Throttle Cup race as well as either a Phenom or R&R Truck Series race. Phenom and R&R Truck alternate each week, but there may be a few weeks during the season that we will not run a FTC race so we may double up Phenom and Truck.

Unless specified differently, races typically start at 8:15pm Eastern standard time, with the server going up 15 minutes in advance to gather racers and prepare the race lineups. To announce the racetimes, an admin on the SCARTSRacing forum will post an entry list stating the racetime, race analysis, and times to run a 15 minute practice/qualifying session (will be explained later). It is the driver's responsibility to check that entry list to know when they can show up to run the extended practice.

There is a printed schedule for each series listing the tracks to be run during each series. Future dates and times may or may not be updated regularly but I will try my best to do so.
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PRACTICE
A 15 minute practice session will be scheduled two or three times before each race. It is a driver's responsibility to show up at a scheduled 15 minute practice time or you will be limited to a 20 lap practice.

During this practice, a driver may practice qualifying laps as well as racing. The session is NOT in ghost mode so you can practice in traffic with others. I want each practice/qual session to have equal racers so one session doesn't have any advantage over another. You can run as many laps as you want, but you will not be able to learn about fuel mileage in this practice, as it'll be disabled.

If you cannot make any of the sessions or you fail to sign up, you have the option of a 20 lap practice session. You can NOT run more laps than that.
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QUALIFYING
SCARTS simulates a NASCAR qualifying session. The first lap is an "up-to-speed" lap since the laptimes will obviously be longer than a full speed lap. Once the driver completes his up-to-speed lap, the clock will start. The driver now has 2 full laps to run the fastest lap he can. The best of two laps will be the time that is counted as the qualification time. Those not on track must wait for their turn in pit lane, as only one car is allowed on the racetrack at a time. The order in which the game places you on the grid at the start of qualifying will be your qualification order.

Qualifying is recommended to be able to compete so you aren't slowing us down in the race by wrecking alot. If you fail to practice and continue to wreck and call cautions in the race, we may park your car. So if you'd like to compete the full distance, participating in prac/quals will greatly improve your comfort level in the race.

When the qual session first begins, cars will be lined up on the grid. The order you are sitting on the track is the order you will go out to qualify. Please don't rush out of your grid spots too quickly after the green light so we can see who qualifies in what spot.

I am running qualifying on a trust basis. Ghost mode will be deactivated so you MUST NOT go playing around on the racecourse or roughhousing in the pits. If your car ends up as a roadblock or any sort of distraction to the driver on track, you will be DQ'd from qualifying as well as the race.

Qualifying MUST ALWAYS follow the practice session. Noone is allowed to leave and practice more laps before it.

The starting grid for the race is set from the fastest lap to the slowest lap.
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THE RACE
Each SCARTS race is modelled off of NASCAR. Here is an explanation of everything you need to know.

-RACING STYLE-
SCARTS is a FAIRPLAY league, meaning we don't tolerate rough driving of any form. The racetracks are designed to be 'raced' so there is no excuse for any ridiculous driving. Here is a list of moves not tolerated in SCARTS.

*Shoving into the apron
If you push somebody off the course to hog a lane for track position, that is a CHEAP move to pull on someone and you WILL get penalized for it. A move like that will most likely place you last car on the lead lap at the next caution or end of the race. You may also face a suspension.

*Divebombing
You are NOT allowed to send your car deep into a turn to hit somebody and figure that is a legal pass. Its NOT! If that happens, you obviously didn't set up your pass properly. If you get caught even once for doing that, you will get sent to the last car on the lead lap either when the caution flies or at the end of the race, whichever is the case. Whether the move is intentional or not, you will receive the penalty.

*Passing before the line
If you pass somebody on a restart before hitting the line, you risk getting a penalty if you don't slow down to correct the issue. It doesn't matter if you were pushed on the restart or if you did it intentionally, you MUST give that spot back WITHIN ONE LAP or you will get penalized at the next caution or end of race (whichever occurs next).

-ADMINS-
Each race will consist of two or more admins competing on the racetrack that will be responsible for catching drivers who race rough or violate the rulebook in any way. These admins are the only drivers allowed place blame AND issue penalties. They will be notated with two asteriks on either side of their name (Ex: [RCR]**Burnout**). There is a structure to this however. No black flags are to be called during a green flag run. They must be issued during the next caution flag or at the end of the race if that's the case. Admins may call out other admins on penalties as well, so nobody has invincibiliity from this rule. You are to obey the admin if they give you a penalty, talkback is NOT allowed.

If a non-admin calls out a driver on a penalty OR harasses them by placing blame and/or cursing, the complainer will go TWO laps down. No if, and, or buts about this. It is the admins job to do that, not the other drivers. Its just a time waster to listen to complainers.

-FLAGS-
*Green Flag: When we say we are under "green flag condition" that means we are at full speed racing others.

*Yellow Flag (Caution): If somebody crashes with other driver or self-wrecks himself (in the wall), a driver may type 'yel' to represent a yellow flag condition. When yel is called, ALL CARS must slow down to a reasonable pacing speed in a single file line. During this period, drivers may pit for fuel (refer to the pitting section). The driver who calls the caution MUST MAKE a pitstop and receive at least a splash of fuel. The caller may return the to racetrack in whichever position he leaves pit road from. No need to necessarily go the rear if you aren't. Once all the cars are lined back up, the race admin will say RS or RESTART. When this is called, we will return to racing once the field approaches the line. The leader has the choice to choose when to restart, but the restart must not happen before the pit entrance. Some tracks feature yellow barrels just outside the line. I'd like you guys to continue pacing until you reach the yellow line and green barrels (preferred, but not mandatory). Jumping position under caution is prohibited. You are not allowed to advance your position under caution until you hit the line at the restart. If somebody wrecks as the restart occurs, it is OK to pass them, just don't pass anyone who hasn't wrecked or you will get in trouble. If you do end up passing someone, it is your duty to let them back by WITHIN ONE LAP. If you fail to correct your jump, a penalty will be issued at the next caution or at the end of the race, whichever occurs.

In the final ten laps of each race, yellow flags are NOT ALLOWED. If you call a yellow in the final laps, your race will be ruled over at the lap you call it on, scored as last car on that particular lap. The field will ignore the caution and race to the checkered flag. If the caution caller gets upset and starts messing around with the leaders or driving backwards, they will receive a 25 point penalty with a race suspension on top of that, length dependent on how severe the infraction.

*Red Flag: This flag is called if someone has to temporarily leave the computer and are planning to return racing. Reds ARE NOT to be called to chew somebody out about an on-track incident. Calling a red for that bad reason will result in a one lap penalty to red caller. The penalty must be honored or you risk a kick. The moment RED is called, the field stops in place in the position they are running in. If a red flag lasts over two minutes, all competitors must make a 'mandatory pitstop' to refuel any wasted fuel. Overtaking is allowed during this period.

There may be an instance to remove a car from the racetrack so a RED may called. The guy who leaves his car on teh course without pulling to pit lane will receive no points. Its rude to leave the car on the track for whatever reason.

*Black Flag: This flag is issued if a driver makes an illegal move on the racetrack. It is ONLY to be called by one of the assigned admins for each race.
-Jumps somebody at the start of the race before all cars cross the line (Drive through)
-Jumps somebody on a restart before the leader crosses the line (Drive through)
-Enters the pit without taking the time to slow down some (Drive through)
-Call a RED for chewing a driver out (Lap down)
-Calls a yellow flag and doesn't pit when the admin says PIT (Lap down)
-Enters pit lane during caution at the wrong time (Lap down)
-Hit cars in pit under caution (End of longest line)
-Sloppy pacing, fighting on track (End of longest line)
-Races rough with others in the race (Up to admin)

When an admin issues a driver a black flag, the penalty MUST be honored or you WILL be parked for the remainder of the race and kicked.

*White Flag: This notates the final lap of the race. Again no yellow flags are allowed as its within the final ten laps.

*Checkered Flag: Race is over, a winner is crowned.

-PITTING-
During a race, you will need to pit for fuel. There are some rules to follow here.

Under green flag condition, pitting is allowed at any time. If you already entered the pits when the yellow flag was called, you receive no penalty. If you enter pit lane after 'yel' is stated, you get a one lap penalty.

During a yellow flag period, before anyone can make a pitstop, a race admin will call PIT, representing that pit road is now open. At that time, cars may choose to make a pit stop to fuel up sacrificing track position to the drivers who choose to remain pacing on the racetrack. A driver CAN NOT choose to pit before PIT. The lap PIT is called, we will pace for another two laps and then we will restart. You MAY pit after pit road opens, but we would be restarting the race green pretty shortly after you do, so you must pay attention to when pit road opens or you could find yourself not caught up with the field in time. If you pit before pit lane opens, you will go a lap down.

-LUCKY DOG-
When a yellow is called, the first car one lap down will earn a free pass to get a lap back. If only one driver is lapped and is several laps down at that point, the lucky dog earns them ONE LAP BACK on the field. The race admin doesn't have to wait on the free pass car to catch up before PIT is called. Its up to him. The free pass is NOT allowed for the guy calling the caution. Its up to him.

-EARLY ENDING RACES-
SCARTS races go the full 100% distance all of the time. No races end early, but there might possibly be a weird instance where we might schedule the race over at an earlier lap if something significant occurs such as a rule dispute. Lag is NOT an excuse.
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SCORING
All the series in SCARTS follow an identical scoring structure outlined in the 'Points System' post here on the forum. There are two opportunities for bonus points in each race, listed here below:
1. Lead the first lap of the race (+5 points)
2. Lead the lap at the halfway mark of the race (+5 points)

In the event that qualifying isn't held, there will be no first lap led bonus.

Drivers must start their car in the race to earn driver and owner points. Drivers receive full points for each race unless penalties are put on him or the driver leaves before the halfway mark. If somebody leaves before halfway, they earn HALF of the total points that they would. If somebody leaves their car anywhere between the two walls on the racecourse, you will earn no points for the race (that includes the apron). If you are wanting to leave, you must retire your car in the infield, not on the course or pit lane.

The SCARTS Full Throttle Cup Series uses a Chase format similar to that of NASCAR. The top five drivers in the standings after 14 races is granted a spot to compete for the championship in the SCARTS Chase for the Full Throttle Cup. The Chase is six races long and completes the FTC season. Those five drivers get their points reset to 2000 points with 5 bonus points for each victory amassed during the 14 races. The 2000 points is a nice round number to work from when the Chase starts and is an impossible value to reach for people outside of the Top 5.
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OWNER POINTS
In each of the series, a driver may decide to share a car with another driver if they don't wish to race the full season, or know they won't be able to. If somebody decides to split a ride with someone, they need to set a primary driver and secondary driver for it. The secondary driver must compete in AT LEAST 25% of the races during the season (5/20 races in Cup, 4/16 races in Phenom, and 3/12 races in Truck) but they may run more due to the primary driver's willingness to share more races. In turn, the primary driver must race NO MORE than 75% of the races.

-SCORING-
The points system used for the driver points will be used for owner points as well. In FT Cup, there will be no points reset in the owner standings. This system will simply be the total points earned from each race for the car number throughout the season. That car number must be in the race for owner points to be given to it.
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SUMMARY
SCARTS may sound like alot of rules, but lemme tell you, without them this style of racing will be messy, boring, and no fun. Thanks for your interest in SCARTS!!! Boogity, boogity, boogity lets go racin' boys!!!

-SCARTS Rulebook Version 4a (Updated: September 23, 2009)

***UNDER CONSTRUCTION*** ***RULES BEING DISCUSSED***

BURN: Rulebook edits should be out in up to a week!

We're discussing in-race calls for the most part. Including flags, warning, probations, etc.

Rulebook Update (September 23, 2009)

*New section regarding rough racing and the racing style.
*New pitting information under caution.
*Not allowed to pass before you cross the line on a restart throughout the event.

That sounds better, now we can get a better feel for any rough racing situation.