Guide to oval racing at Race2Play

Since oval racing is more of an American form of motorsports many may not understand some of the less spoken rules of oval racing. I will touch on as many as I can here so newcomers to oval racing will have more knowledge prior to their first races.

TPSCC addon specific items
- The front row qualifiers may need to quickly accelerate off the grid to catch the pace car as fast as possible. This is to avoid a "driving too slowly" penalty which will force you to start in the rear of the field.
- Always give the pace car a little room. It sometimes accelerates and brakes erratically.
- Under caution and pace laps, use the TAB key to see other driver's names. The name in yellow signifies the driver you should stay behind.

Oval racing rules
- You should not pass cars before the Start/Finish line on a start or restart. Hold your position until after you have crossed the line. There are exceptions to this rule; Cars in the high lane may pass cars lined up in the lower lane, and you may pass a car for safety reasons such as a car that had a mechanical failure or a near spin. (see below for more information on this)
- When a full-course caution is first thrown, you should not continue to race for position. Hold the position you have and prepare to gently slow down. Stay at speed, or near speeds, to avoid being run over from behind. (see below for more information on this)
- During a caution you have to wait for the pits to open. This is usually after the pace-car has picked up the leader. You will be notified in your chat window when the pits are open.
- If you are a lap down to the leader at the time of the caution, you are not allowed to pit on the first lap that the pits are open. You should stay on the track behind the pace car until the next lap around where the pits will then be open for lapped cars.
- When lining back up for a restart, lapped cars line up to the inside lane while lead-lap cars will line up to the outside lane.
- When exiting the pit lane, you should stay on the apron (off of the racing surface) until you reach the back straight. The prevents you from being run over by a car traveling 100 MPH faster than you.

Maybe some guidance about lap leaders giving laps back to drivers a lap down? Tom Malanga and I were so far ahead at Bristol Saturday that we were told to pull over and stop on the apron to let guys by. I was pretty surprised by that, but we managed to give laps back without crashing each other by trying to slow before start/finish. Maybe something hard-written in the rules about this situation, and what circumstances have to be in place for a car to get a lap back? Obviously, our particular situation was because of the small field and to get those guys back on the lead lap and keep things competetive, but if there were just a few more cars on the track, there could have been a mess.... The explaination in the Lucky Dog rule is pretty sparse..

What I have always done in other leagues as it relates to the leaders allowing lap cars to get a lap back, is to have the leaders, when possible and when safe to do so, is to move to the high side of the track, with lap cars going to the low side when attempting to get laps back.

A lot depends on position of the leader when the caution waves and such, but it is usually an effective way for cars to get a lap back.

tks,

Are we talking about a "Lucky Dog" type scenario or multiple cars a lap down or cars more than a lap down?
I was already out of the race by the time this happened that's why I'm asking.
I've been offered my lap back by a leader but it's normally their call on that.

When we Did give back those laps Bob...and stoped.It really messed me up.I had been fighting so hard to get my laps back that i missed pits being open. then I went a lap down right after giving them back..that sucked!!Because i had a car that might have won.I have no promblem giving laps back..but stoping on the track to do so!!

I'm really asking because the last time I ran stock cars online way back in the FRL and WROK/SMEB, I was still racing back to the yellow. Long time ago...

It is at the leaders discretion if he wants to slow enough to allow lapped cars to get a lap back or not. In fact, a lapped car that can not see the leader probably should not be thinking about getting that lap back.

It's a touchy subject. I'd like to see some people get their laps back, but I dont think it is a big enough deal to make any specific guidelines for. Just use common sense and be safe.

A few thoughts on "giving laps back". First of all, Tim is spot on with the observation that, if a lapped car is not within touch of the leader, then there should be no attempt or expectation RE giving a lap back. What's within touch? Generally, within less than 10 car lengths or half a straightaway (whichever is shorter) would be my feeling...others may differ, but it has to be a relatively short distance. Another consideration here would be the number of lead-lap cars between them - if more than one or two, then I'd vote "no"...too risky.

Secondly, EVERYONE has to remember that it is totally the leaders option. Attach no expectation here. Now, this trods all over the team traditions that populate other forms of racing, but that's the way it is...and should be. If the leader doesn't give your lap back, get over it real quick and get back to your race. You aren't sitting in his seat, you don't have his perceptions at the moment..and its an option, not a right, right?.

Trying to give a lap back is also more difficult when chat is discouraged during the event. In the heat of the battle, the leaders intentions may not be clear...and even moreso, the intentions of the car trying to get that lap back may not be clear, either...heck, you may not even know he's a lap down (not easy to recognize quickly in rF).

In short, I'm simply not in favor of the practice. We are here to compete, each to his maximum within his abilities (apologies for the masculine pronouns - think gestalt), and the concept of "giving a lap back" just doesn't fit. If you are a lap down and are faster, then race for it - with the recognition that you ARE a lap down, and have responsibilities to conduct yourself with respect to the lead position. And if you are the leader in that spot, you likewise have a decision to make - it may be wise to let that car go for the moment and not risk it. If you are faster later in the tire run, things will take care of themselves. If not, then you both are better off (but prepare yourself for a race later).

Like the gestalt reference there, Greg.

I think that all the points are very well taken and demonstrate the need for TS. I think TS is very useful in all form of R2P's racing but more so in the stock cars.

I agree completely Greg and Joe.
It is really circumstantial but in the heat of battle it's difficult sometimes to help out (look at the long threads about lapping in road racing and the hold your line theory). Joe has a very good point about TS. It was a bit coincidental that I started using TS when I started racing stock cars, but now I can't live without it. & it is an absolute must in oval racing; even when practicing at the track with a couple of guys, it is SO useful. I also noticed how reassuring it is to be running a race with TPSCC & having Tim on TS-- under yellows we often get clarifications and other important info. That's exactly how it is in real life when teams have a direct communication link with Nascar, IRL, etc even the FIA I believe. At the fun run in Alabama, Tim was not on TS and I found myself missing him. That sounds shady but you know what I mean...