ORCA Racing NASCAR Series 2008 Rules

Race Format For Veteran Leagues

1. Race Distances -

• Cup - 50%
• GNS and CTS - 40%

2. Driving Aids are OFF.
3. Fixed Setups
4. Yellow flags are ON
5. Double file restarts (unless there is <11 laps left then single file).
6. Realistic damage.
7. Fixed Weather (based on actual forcasts).

During the pace lap and restarts make sure you leave some space between you and the car in front. .5 to 1 sec is usually good. Do not lag behind. There is absolutely no passing allowed during the start or restarts until after you pass the start finish line (unless the car in front of you is way off the pace).  If you have to pass prior to the start finish line, you must pass on the outside or you'll receive a black flag.

Race Format For Rookie League

1. Race Distance -  30%
2. Driving Aids are OFF.
3. Fixed Setups.
4. Yellow flags are OFF.
5. Moderate damage.
6. Fixed Weather (Clear, 70 Degrees, No Wind.)

During the pace lap and restarts make sure you leave some space between you and the car in front. .5 to 1 sec is usually good. Do not lag behind. There is absolutely no passing allowed during the start or restarts until after you pass the start finish line (unless the car in front of you is way off the pace).  If you have to pass prior to the start finish line, you must pass on the outside or you'll receive a black flag.

Screen Name

You MUST use your first and last name when participating in any ORCA event. If your name is too long to register, use the initial for your first name, followed by your last name: J. Doe. Failure to enter the racing server with your real name will disqualify you from the racing event until changed. Any driver trying to use a nickname will be ejected prior to qualifying.

Race Participation

Drivers who miss 3 races in a row without contacting their Series Admin may be removed from the league. The goal is to keep rosters full all season and not participating without good reason will terminate your membership, allowing other drivers to move up a level and fill the vacant roster spot.

Cheating

The ORCA Racing Series DOES NOT tolerate cheating of any kind. If a driver is found to be cheating, he/she will be removed from the league IMMEDIATELY!

Super Speedways

DO NOT pass under the yellow line at Daytona or Talladega.  

Failure to comply with this rule will cost you -30 pts. This is a very dangerous and aggressive move which can easily cause a lot of people to retire early.

Chatting

During the practice session you can chat, but keep it to a minimum. During qualifying there is ABSOLUTELY NO CHATTING ALLOWED. Constantly breaking this rule will get you ejected from the racing server and/or the league. You can chat after qualifying has been completed. ABSOLUTELY NO CHATTING DURING THE RACE. Chatting causes warp and causes a distraction to the other drivers. If you must chat to an individual, use the whisper mode: "/#40 Good Run". Use your auto chat during the race to post race related information, such as "#40 Is Pitting, Pass High".

Under PLAYER INFO, you can configure your CHAT messages to say 
anything you want, as long as it's professional, just by hitting one of the number keys (0-9).  Two things you might want to program are "Sorry" and "No Problem". You can settle so many online arguments before they start just by showing the respect of CHATTING "Sorry" when you make a mistake. That will instantly let the other person know you have respect and you will most likely receive respect from them in return.

If you get wrecked during the race, don't show your frustration by calling people names, flaming, etc. 99% of all wrecks are NOT intentional, they're just miscalculated errors in judgment. Intentional wrecks are dealt with severely, so let the Administration deal with this type of incident, don't retaliate or you will be held equally accountable. Just remain professional, fix your car and get back on the track to gain valuable championship points if feasible. If you have a complaint with somebody, file your complaint to the League Admin. If you end up out of the race, please don't say "well I'm out; I'll see you guys next week". Just leave the race without saying anything.  

Flaming

Flaming will NOT be tolerated in this league. All ORCA members are required to act in a professional and respectful manner. Any member found guilty of using profanity and/or derogatory remarks towards another member on the racing server, forum, via email or during chatting sessions on Paltalk, depending on the severity and/or number of offenses, will either lose 100 points in the standings or be removed from the league.

Intentional Wrecking

Keep your cool at all times on the track. Any driver found guily of intentionally wrecking another driver, depending on the severity and/or number of offenses, will either lose 100 points in the standings or be removed from the league.

Blocking

Clean blocking is allowed with 10 laps to go in order to protect one's position during the race. Clean blocking is defined as allowing another driver room for a timely and defensive response. Any attempt to block that clearly is the cause of another's misfortune will result in disciplinary action.

The responsibility for being patient and waiting for an opportunity to make a clean pass rests on the driver attempting to make the pass. No one is obligated to simply move aside to allow another car to pass. Every driver on the lead lap has the right to continue to race his/her established racing line. If they do so, that DOES NOT constitute blocking.

Blocking is defined as suddenly changing the racing line in an attempt to cut off and prevent an obviously faster car from making a pass. The act of blocking is considered unacceptable, unsportsmanlike and overly aggressive racing behavior.

If enough evidence is collected to prove you repeatedly tried to block a driver, a penalty will ensue.

1st Blocking Offense: -30 points and a stern warning. 
2nd Blocking Offense: One-Race Suspension.
3rd Blocking Offense: Removal from the league.

Caution Flags

Racing back to the line is no longer allowed in ORCA. When the caution comes out, all drivers must slow to pacing speed. Racing back to the line is only allowed with 10 laps to go.
Failure to comply with this rule will cost you -100 pts.

Pitting

When pitting, drop to the bottom groove and slow down making sure to enter the flat portion of the pit entrance at a safe speed so you don't spin up onto the track in front oncoming traffic. When entering the pits be sure to let the other drivers know what your intentions are by using the auto chat. Once in the pits be aware of other drivers entering/exiting their pit stalls. When exiting pit lane again use your auto chat to let drivers know that you are exiting the pits. Stay below the white line and enter on the back straightaway making sure the track behind you is clear. Stay in the low groove until you are up to speed. Make sure you are aware of each tracks pit speed. All black flags for speeding will be served.

Lapped Traffic

We all have bad days and there will be times when you go down a lap or more for whatever reason. When this happens please give way to those drivers that are on the lead lap. Give them plenty of room to get by you. It's okay to fight to get your lap back or to fight to stay on the lead lap, but if you just can't do it please give way. Do not race people that are not on the same lap as you. Use your auto chat to let the leaders know where to pass you (i.e. high or low) then give way. The favor will be returned to you some day.

Connection Issues and Warping

It is each driver's responsibility to make sure their connection is optimized for online racing. Now we all know there is this thing out there called WARP. If you are warping really bad during the race please do everybody a favor and exit. You should consider warping as an electrical problem with your car. You can not race with a bad electrical problem. There will probably even be times when you get booted from a race because of your ISP. This is just part of racing online. If you are warping really bad during a race then please show common courtesy towards your fellow drivers and disconnect.

There may even be times when there is a problem with the server. I know there has been a time when a major storm is crossing the country and the server just doesn't act right. Whenever there are problems visit your league Forum. There we will discuss what to do and decide whether or not to re-schedule the race. Hopefully this will be a rare problem.

If you lose your connection to the race you are allowed ONLY ONE re-connect, due to latency slow down when someone re-connects to the server. If you continue to re-connect and enter the race, you will be disqualified from the race results.

Warp induced incidents will not warrant a penalty for the first offense, but each incident that is induced by warp thereafter will be penalized accordingly.  If your warp generates a lot of complaints, you will be asked to park it.

Provisionals

I understand that there are situations and emergencies when you will not be able to race. Because of this each driver will have 5 provisionals to use. When you use a provisional you will be awarded last place points. Provisional points will be a set amount and will be based on the number of drivers on the roster at the start of the season. After all 5 of your provisionals have been used, you will no longer earn any points for missing a race, so use them responsibly.

Note: Drivers suspended from a race will not receive provisional points.

Racing Goal

The primary focus of ORCA is to reduce the number of error-induced caution periods, thereby increasing the number of laps run under green flag conditions. This is the motto and main reason for the creation of this league; to assemble a collection of the cleanest, most skilled drivers in online racing, and enjoy the highest level of competition in an environment conducive to green flag racing.

Supporting goals to achieving this:

1. To provide incentive for drivers to use more on-track care; paying more attention, backing out of dangerous passing situations, giving other drivers more room, and staying focused.
2. To provide incentive to de-tune hot and loose setups into an easier, more drivable condition that is safer for everyone.
3. To reward clean, consistent drivers that race within their means and don't take unnecessary risks.

The Fear Factor

Real NASCAR drivers have an excellent reason for tuning their cars for stability and exercising extreme caution on the track: threat to life, limb, property, and livelihood. As tragically demonstrated in the first Winston Cup race of the 2001 season at Daytona, even the best of drivers are subject to the brutal physical laws of high speeds and high forces. This very real element of danger plays a key role in every NASCAR race; it inspires drivers to race as cleanly as possible, avoid dangerous situations, bring a stable car to race, and spend more time driving in a defensive manner. Accidents do happen, and several yellow flags come out in the course of an average race. However, the extraordinary risk associated with "drawing out a yellow" acts as the primary tempering factor amongst a field of highly competitive sportsman.

Online racing is totally void of this element of danger. There is little incentive for any given driver to back out of a dangerous pass, or run a stable and easy setup if a faster, looser one is at hand. When one combines accurately simulated speeds and physics of a genuine NASCAR race with a complete lack of danger or consequence, an inordinate number of wrecks, spins and associated miscalculations are virtually assured.

The Online Solution

In the absence of mortal danger in online racing, creating an artificial sense of danger or consequence is the only way to effectively reduce careless driving, directly proportional to the number of yellow flags. The formula is simple: increasing the level of consequence for mistakes reduces the level of carelessness. More care, attention, and focus leads to reduced number of caution periods.

What can we use for "danger"? Season points. Every driver in this league is driving for points, and those that have ambitions for season championships value those points above all else.

The Penalty System

Infractions Committee:

A committee of ORCA members known as the Infractions Committee (IC) will been appointed by the League Admin with the sole function of penalty distribution. The IC will review replays of every official season race and will use the information contained on those replays to determine which racing incidents can be fairly penalized. The IC will conduct itself in a manner that maintains as high a degree of impartiality, fairness, and objectivity as possible. The initial findings of the IC are never final, and can be appealed.

All penalties will have to carry a majority vote to be ratified, and members involved in an incident cannot vote on that particular issue. All drivers will be sent an IC report. Each incident that is assigned penalty points will be written up with lap number, car number(s) involved and short description of the reasoning behind the ruling.

Appeals Committee:

A committee of ORCA members known as the Appeals Committee (AC) will been appointed by the League President with the sole function of reviewing driver appeals. If the AC overrules the IC's decision a Racing Deal will be appointed. It is not the job of the AC to accuse, but to only grant an appeal. Think carefully before disputing a call and ensure that your confidence level is high that the initial call was in error before disputing it.

In order to process an appeal, drivers must send the AC their replay of the incident being appealed and a short description of what happened. If a driver is unable to submit a replay, the appeal will still be conducted, but could severely damage the outcome because a driver's own replay can show something that members of the AC might not be able to see.

The Appeals Committee decision is final and will not be open for discussion. Drivers that publicly or privately dispute the AC's decision may be removed from the league.

Infractions and Penalties

1) Penalties will be tracked over a 12-race period.
2) Being penalized 150 championship points during a 12-race period will result in a one-race suspension.
3) While serving a suspension you will no longer receive provisional points.
4) After being penalized 150 points & serving a one-race suspension, your penalty points will be reset to zero.
5) After the end of the 12-event racing period, all accumulated penalty points will be removed & all drivers will once again begin with zero penalty points for the next 12-event racing period.

Causing 4 or more incidents in a race will result in an automatic suspension.

NOTE:  Entrance fees are non-refundable and will not be returned if ejected from the league.

Driving Recommendations

Clearly, we can't impose a rule on everything. We can't penalize every single mistake. Trying to do so would create a season consisting primarily of contempt, ill will, and bickering over a hundred-page manual of very specific rules. None of us want a league that has all the fun factor stripped away by rules, regulations, and boring limitations on driving bravado. By the same token, drivers can educate themselves on some basic principles for clean driving and greatly reduce the potential for accidents in the first place. This section is devoted to driving recommendations; tips and expectations that drivers should follow in order to limit the chances that they will end up with a wadded up car, hurt pride, and fewer season points. The more drivers that internalize and follow these recommendations, the fewer yellow flags we will have to endure, and the fewer penalty points that will need to be handed out from resulting accidents.

Pace Laps

Maintain a reasonable and safe gap when pacing. Don't ride the bumper of the guy in front of you (remember driver's ed?). A good rule of thumb for a safe gap is a .5 to 1.0-second interval. Use the F2-spacebar command to see a live interval report. Note that it is always the responsibility of the guy behind to keep his car out of the rear bumper of anyone in front.

Gap accordingly. Maintain a line that is staggered off the car in front. If for any reason the car in front of you stops suddenly, running a line higher or lower than him gives you a reliable and safe "out". Just slow quickly and carefully, and slip past him. Form back up behind him when the guys behind you are settled down.

Pace leaders: do your best to maintain a steady pace speed that matches that of the pace car. If you are the leader, you may not lag behind the pace car by more than 1 second on the backstretch. Note the speed of the pace car on the backstretch and maintain that speed through the final turn before the restart. When the pace car pulls off the track do not accelerate or decelerate, maintain the pace car's original speed as you approach the green flag. Never touch the brakes as you approach the green flag. Real NASCAR drivers are no longer permitted to jump the green flag. When the green flag drops, accelerate smoothly away. Failure to comply with this rule will cost you -30 pts.

If you are in line behind the leader, stay between .2 and .5 seconds behind the car in front of you in the final turn before the restart. Do not lag back in order to get a jump on the leaders. When the green flag drops you may begin to accelerate. If there are more than 10 laps left in the race and you are 1 or more laps down, move up beside the leaders on the inside line. Even if you don't care about getting your lap back, the guy behind you may. The leader on the inside may not pass the race leader before the start/finish line, lag back in order to get a running start, or accelerate or decelerate right before the green flag drops. Failure to comply with this rule will cost you -30 pts.

Lappers: If there are less than 10 laps left in the race when the green flag drops and you are 1 or more laps down, you must voluntarily drive down pit road on the second pass after the caution flag comes out (because those not on the lead lap cannot pit on the first pass). In real NASCAR the lapped cars are placed at the back of the field during a restart, if less than 10 laps are left, to give the leaders a chance to race each other to the checkered flag without interference. Lapped cars are required to drive down pit road (you are not required to stop) if less than 10 laps are left when the green flag drops. Failure to comply with this rule will cost you -30 pts.

During the last lap of pacing in a caution period, spotters of lapped drivers give their guys the go-ahead to move up to the front of the pack in double-file formation. Be aware that if you're in position on the lead lap, there may be lappers trying to move past you safely and quickly to their positions on the inside front. It is strongly recommended that ALL drivers on the lead lap maintain higher-than-usual lines on the final caution lap. Give those lappers plenty of room to get up to their starting positions safely. It must be noted that it is still the lapper's responsibility to move up with caution. Failure to use caution and wreck someone on the lead lap will cost you -30 pts. 

Complaints

Watch your P's and Q's because if you're constantly being complained about by your fellow racers to your League Admin, you could be removed from the league.  The League Admin has the authority to remove any driver for disrupting the league.

Disclaimer

Intended for play only within the 50 United States (and the District of Columbia). U.S. law governs this promotion. Only open to U.S. residents, 15 years of age or older. Void in all U.S. Territories (e.g. Guam and Puerto Rico) and where prohibited by law. If you are a resident of a state that prohibits online gambling, you are permitted to purchase and be a participant in the league, but not eligible to win any of the promotional prizes.