League Rules

Drivers should read through the WSRL rules before participating in any league events. All changes to league rules will be posted on this page and the Announcements Section of the Message Board.

Table of Contents

1. Rules and the WSRL

1.1. The Spirit of the League

The WSRL is a group of friends who enjoy sim racing. The intent of these rules is to support that enjoyment by providing a understandable framework of rules for participants that encourages clean driving, green flag racing and healthy, fun and respectful competition among all members of the group.

1.2. Remembering Why We're Here

The WSRL understands that drivers are here to compete and race hard against each other. That's a big part of the fun of sim racing and it's encouraged in the WSRL. These rules are not intended to muzzle drivers' instincts or discourage hard racing. They are here to ensure that while we race hard, all participants understand what is expected.

The WSRL "Bar-B-Que Rule"

Race your fellow drivers hard and treat them with respect both on the track and in chat, such that if you were to get up from your computer and walk into your own backyard, and everyone from the race was there having a BBQ, you would feel comfortable facing them and joining them for a good time.

The Admins are here to enjoy sim racing, too. They are volunteers who have lives and better things to do than review grievances and replays and argue with drivers over penalties and appeals. In an effort to minimize their work and the impact on their time, all drivers are reminded to exercise discretion, race with respect and remember: The drivers in the WSRL are your competition, NOT your enemies.

1.3. Green Flag Racing

No one enjoys running parade laps when they could be racing. And a string of cautions is definitely not fun. As you read through the rules, you will notice that most of the attention paid centers around caution flags and the incidents which bring them out. Because cautions are not fun, they receive special scrutiny when the replay is reviewed. Accidents happen, this is understood. But to avoid cautions and possibly penalties it is strongly recommended that drivers use these rules as a guide, along with common sense, situational awareness and their best judgment.

1.4. Sportsmanship

All drivers are expected to exercise good judgement and good sportsmanship both on-track in the race server and on our Discord.

1.5. League Staff

1.5.1. League Owner, Admin & Chief Executive Officer

The League Owner & CEO acts as administrator overseeing all aspects of league operations. Management of league finances, the website, facebook account, league Discord, store, url registration and web hosting fall under the responsibility of the Owner / CEO. In addition, driver packets and staff management are the responsibility of the League Owner & CEO.

The League Owner & CEO is Bob Beltrami (bob[at]wsrlracing[dot]com).

1.5.2. Replay Review Committee

The Replay Review Committee is a panel that reviews any grievance / protest filed for an incident. If a committee member is involved in the grievance, they will not be reviewing the incident. The Committee's judgement is final.

1.5.3. Competition Committee

The Competition Committee is a group that discusses potential changes to cars, tracks, weather, fuel, tires and other settings or issues that impact league events.

1.6. Drivers

1.6.1. Application Process

To join the WSRL, prospective members must follow a 2-step application process outlined on the Join Page. iRacing members who correctly complete the league application process will receive the official league welcome e-mail and the link to our Discord, usually within 72 hours.

1.6.2. Membership

Membership in the WSRL is structured similarly to a driving club, without the dues or expiration. Drivers are welcome to race at all WSRL events and are are not limited to the series on their initial league application. Membership in the WSRL does not expire and drivers do not need to reapply before or after the racing season, or if they have been inactive.

1.6.3. Rejection or Termination

WSRL is a private racing club and administration reserves the right to refuse any applicant(s) for any reason or no reason and can revoke any driver's membership at any time without notice for any reason or no reason.

2. Technical Inspection and Pre-race Information

2.1. Paint:

Drivers are encouraged to paint custom paintjobs for each of their cars, within iRacing conventions. Please submit car files to TradingPaints.com.

2.2. Use of Chat:

Excessive and/or unnecessary voice or text chatter during green flag conditions is strongly discouraged. Too much chatter can cause confusion and act as a distraction for other drivers in the event and may result in a driver's chat being muted, a Black Flag or even removal from the event.

Under yellow flag conditions, the chat rule is relaxed. However, to allow drivers to prepare for green, unnecessary chat is strongly discouraged on the last lap under caution before taking the green flag. Race related chat is acceptable.

2.2.1. Flaming:

No abusive chatter (flaming) will be tolerated. Should you find yourself involved in an incident, or don't like the way someone drives, do not key your mic or key in comments to curse or air angry or abusive chat during the race or in post race chat. See Post-race Misc if you are interested in filing a grievance.

2.3. Points System:

Points will be based off the 2011-2015 point system as scored by NASCAR®: 43 points for 1st, 42 for 2nd, and so on down to 1 point for 43rd. You will receive 1 bonus point for leading a lap, and 1 bonus point for leading the most laps. Drivers that show up for the Practice and/or Qualifying sessions but do not race will NOT receive points for the event. Drivers must race in race events to receive points.

2.4 Keep Weeks

The WSRL counts 17 races of the 20 race season. Drivers who attend all 20 races in a season see their lowest 3 point scoring races dropped as the season nears its end. Starting in Week 18, the scoring system will automatically drop the lowest points race from any driver who has attended the previous 17 events. For drivers who do not attend 18 or more events, their points are not affected.

3. Series Race Settings

3.1 Cars

  • Tuesday Series: NASCAR Trucks
  • Friday Series: Gen 4 Cup

3.2. Common Race Settings

  • Session Name: WSRLRacing.com
  • Practice: 130 Minutes - Begins at 5:05PM Pacific
  • Qualifying: 10 minute / 2 lap lone session begins at 7:15PM Pacific
  • Setup: Fixed
  • Starting Type: Rolling
  • Weather: Forecasted (realistic)
  • Duration: 40% of NASCAR Cup Distance
  • Starting Track State: Practice Session: Moderate Usage (50%); Qual Session: Carry over; Race Session: Carry over
  • Full Course Cautions: On (Off at Road Courses)
  • Fast Tows/Resets: 0 (None)
  • Fuel Capacity: 80% on Tuesdays | 100% on Fridays (45% at Superspeedways in both series)
  • Tire Sets (Race Session): 4
  • Restarts: Double file - lapped cars start at the back
  • Green-White-Checker Finish: 3 Attempts
  • Driving Aids: Disallow all driving aids (but clutch assist OK)
  • All Admin Commands In Use - Including Driver Remove / Ban. Please note: Black flags, disqualifications and other driver penalties assessed by the sim are final and will not be cleared.
  • Event specifics (track, distance, setup, etc.) are available in the schedule and/or the Drivers Meeting.

The fixed setups are the track-specific .sto available in-sim at iRacing.com.

3.2. Drivers Meeting

The Drivers Meeting (DM) for all WSRL Series events will be posted at the forum at the beginning of each week. The DM provides all relevant details for each event.

4. The Race

4.1. Pace Speed & Pace Laps:

Drivers are required to run a smooth, stable pace speed, maintaining control of the race car. Example: If pace speed is 60mph, drivers are expected to run 57-62 mph not 40 or 70mph (unless you are catching the field). During the last lap before the restart, drivers must maintain a close interval between their car and the car in front while maintaining a smooth pace and are expected to use the f3 screen to view the interval.

4.2. Starts and Restarts:

Starts and restarts are challenging for drivers as they accelerate through the gears, bring tires up to temperature and sort the field out. The start/restart is controlled by the leader and he/she may accelerate as the iRacing sim allows, within the restart zone. All drivers should be aware and prepared. All drivers are reminded not to change lanes until car is over the start/finish line. Starts and restarts should NOT be viewed as an opportunity to pickup positions. In an effort to minimize cautions and get back to racing, league administration recommends that drivers exercise discretion and not attempt any passes until on the backstretch. Exercise patience, wait until you can make a clean, fair pass and show respect to the other drivers. If a car is slow on a start/restart due to a missed shift or other circumstance that finds them off pace, a pass is acceptable as soon as it can be done safely.

4.3. Racing Groove and Holding Your Line:

At most tracks, it is possible for two competitors to run side by side in the racing groove for many laps without incident when each driver knows what is expected. When running side-by-side, both drivers must "hold their line" (AKA stay in their respective groove) until the pass is completed or denied:

  • The inside driver must maintain a line in the low groove and must not drift up into the outside car while in the turn or straight, and must provide room in the high groove for the outside car.
  • The outside driver must maintain the high line through the turn and straight, leaving room in the low groove for the inside car.

Examples of the "racing groove" are available that include side-by-side traffic situations.

4.4. Entering Pits:

Use chat if drivers are close to you to let them know your intentions of entering the pits. Move down to the apron and enter pit road in a safe and controlled manner. When travelling down pit lane, use the outer most lane whenever possible. As you near your pit stall make the move to the inner lane only a few stalls ahead of yours. If you choose to drive down pit lane in the inner lane or drive through the pit stalls more than 2-3 stalls before your pit stall, and your actions impede a driver from easily accessing his pit stall, you will be penalized 2 points.

4.5. Exiting Pits:

When your crew has finished working on your car, exit your pit stall in the inner most lane and move to the outer most lane as soon as it is clear and safe to do so. As you exit, you must remain on the apron until you can safely enter the track. Do not drive onto the racing surface until you are clear of traffic. Use F3 to help gauge traffic when getting back onto the track. INCIDENTS EXITING PIT ROAD WILL BE JUDGED HARSHLY. Drivers on the track are also responsible for being aware of competitors entering and exiting pit lane.

4.6. Cautions:

The sim activates the yellow flag whenever it calculates that the conditions merit. The WSRL does not use Admin Cautions. Note: Causing a caution deliberately will be cause for driver penalty, up to and including suspension.

4.7. Taking the Caution:

When the yellow flag comes out, drivers should slow as indicated by their spotters and in a controlled manner. Drivers should NOT slow suddenly when the caution flies unless necessary to avoid contact with another car or the initial incident. The leader is responsible for slowing in a controlled manner, yet catching the pace car as quickly as possible. The field is to line up behind him, in order, as quickly as possible to prepare for pit stops.

All drivers should be aware of their surroundings, both ahead and behind, and drive accordingly. INCIDENTS UNDER CAUTION WILL BE JUDGED HARSHLY.

4.8. Incidents Without Caution:

It is possible for an incident involving contact not to bring out a caution. If you feel that an incident occurred that should be reviewed for a potential penalty, please file a grievance / protest (see section 5.1). After review, there may be a penalty for an applicable rule violation.

4.9. The "Lucky Dog" Rule"

The iRacing "Lucky Dog" wave around feature will be active and in effect.

4.10. Misc

4.10.1. Bump Drafting:

At super speedway races, bump drafting is allowed, but not recommended because of the high potential for incidents and cautions. It is easy to bump a car into a spin, so bump drafting should be done very carefully, if at all.

4.10.2. Passing Under Braking versus Dive Bomb Passing:

When you intend to pass under another car while entering a turn, it is best if you have your car alongside the other car well before the corner entry. If your spotter tells you "car high" before you enter the corner, it's a good bet (but not guaranteed) that you are far enough forward to continue the pass attempt. In passing situations, both drivers are expected to be aware of their situation and hold their lines. If you desire to make a pass while entering a turn, it is highly recommended that you run the low groove for at least 3-4 seconds prior to corner entry, so that the other driver can see your intentions in his mirror. Running the low groove is not a guarantee that he will allow you to pass, but it is an indication that you *desire* to pass him on the low side.

Once a car is along side, the rule for holding a line applies to both drivers. The driver being passed must maintain their line and the driver passing must maintain thir line.

Different than passing under braking, the "Dive Bomb Pass" occurs when the passing driver has not brought his car along side before the corner, but brakes late to press the pass, usually resulting in contact with the rear of the car ahead or sliding up out of the low groove into the side of the car ahead. There is no "Dive Bomb Pass" penalty in the WSRL as these circumstances are covered under Rule 4.3. Holding your line.

4.10.3. Blocking:

Allowed only in the final stages of an event, blocking is described as changing your line to match the movement of the car behind you, thus preventing that car from attempting a pass. Example: If you are running a stable line in the low groove and the car behind you moves to the high groove, then you move to the high groove to impede his progress or break his momentum, that is blocking.

4.10.4. Retaliation:

Retaliation is defined as responding to an incident by using your car to deliberately wreck or attempt to wreck another competitor. If you feel so strongly about your incident that you would take matters into your own hands, we ask that you save your replay of the incident and allow the League Admin and the Review Committee to handle the response. Any driver engaging in retaliation will face harsh penalty.

4.11. The Cardinal Sins:

A "Cardinal Sin" represents an unforgivable error in judgement, an action so inconsistent with the values and principles of the league that immediate, severe action will be taken, resulting in suspension or expulsion from the league AND even a protest filed with iRacing.

At this time, there are two Cardinal Sins in the WSRL:

  • Flaming
  • Retaliation

5. Post-race Misc

5.1. Driver Grievance / Protest Process:

5.1.1. Filing a Grievance / Protest:

During our races there will be a share of incidents, which are nothing more than accidents. Sometimes we just have to suck it up or even leave an event if our car is badly damaged. The Admin is an active racer in league events and is not taking note of issues. They do not review the race replay, either. Drivers caught up in incidents that involve rules violations who want a penalty applied must e-mail a proper grievance to bring any issue to the attention of the Admin.

If you feel that another driver has caused you harm on the track or has driven in a manner that is in violation of WSRL rules you are encouraged to file a grievance with the Admin: Send an e-mail that includes a clip from your replay (you will need to save it prior to leaving the race server) containing at least 1/2 lap before the incident, and 1/2 lap afterwards. Be sure to include the lap number and/or replay clock time of the incident and a description of what happened. All grievances must be received by the Admin within 24 hours of the conclusion of the race so that the committee can quickly address the protest. Failure to include required info will be cause for immediate dismissal of the grievance.

A proper protest / grievance e-mail must include:

  • A clip from the replay containing at least a half-a-lap before the incident, and a half-a-lap afterwards,
  • The lap number and/or replay clock time of the incident, and
  • A description of what happened.

Any response or appeal e-mail must be received by the Admin within 24 hours of the Incident. The e-mail is: admin[at]wsrlracing[dot]com.

5.1.2. How Driver Grievances / Protests Are Judged:

The Admin will receive the protest and replay and work with the Review Committee to determine what happened and apply penalties for rules infractions. All penalties levied will be posted on Discord.

Note, any member of the replay committee involved in an incident in question will not have a vote in a grievance or appeal. Appeal and grievance replay clips may or may not be reviewed by all replay committee members, depending on their availability.

5.1.3. Protests to iRacing:

Any member who fails to follow our grievance procedure and files a protest directly with iRacing will be indefinitely suspended from participating in WSRL events.

5.2. League-Initiated Actions:

Under certain circumstances the league administration may initiate action against a driver or drivers for actions detrimental to the League. These actions range from filing an internal Grievance / Protest with the League that can result in the loss of points, suspension from racing or expulsion from the league. In addition, a protest submission to iRacing may be processed.

5.3. Penalties and Other Actions:

After reviewing an incident, there are a number of actions that the league can take to penalize infractions, depending on the severity of the offense:

  1. Minor Points Penalty – Loss of 2-10 points
  2. Race Points Penalty – Loss of all points scored in an event
  3. Probation
  4. Suspension from League Racing*
  5. Expulsion from the League*

*Potentially including protest to iRacing

Repeated infractions by any driver who continues to disobey the rules is subject to termination from WSRL

After being processed by the Review Committee, any penalty handed down will be posted to the league Discord. No other notification is sent out to drivers receiving penalties.

5.4. Appeals

If a driver feels that a penalty or other adjudication has been made in error, it is the drivers responsibility to file an appeal with the Admin within 24 hours of the penalty being posted on Discord. Appeals must be submitted via email and clearly explain the reason for filing the appeal. The appeal submission will then be reexamined by the Review Committee. The decision of the committee is final.

5.5. Official Results and Standings

The unofficial race results and standings will usually be available on the web site by Saturday of race week. It may take several days to make results final. This timeframe allows parties time to resolve any protests / grievances and appeals before the official standings and results are finalized and posted.

6. WSRL Awards

6.1. Season Championships:

For each WSRL Series, at the end of the season the driver with the highest cumulative points total from official series races is crowned Series Champion. Series Champions are acknowledged on the Website Home Page and on the History Page.

6.2. Season Podium Finishers:

The Second and Third Place finishers in each Series are acknowledged on the Website Home Page.