Home Schedule Results Standings Fan Guide Track Info Driver's Area Partners
2008 South Texas Speedway Official Rules

General Rules

PREFACE

  • These rules are written with the intent of making racing at South Texas Speedway (STS) an enjoyable experience for participants, their families, friends, and fans. STS officials will enforce these rules at all events to the best of their ability. It is ultimately the obligation of each driver to insure that not only their conduct but their crews, families, and fans conduct is maintained in a professional manner. Everyone entering the pit area is expected to know and abide by all rules set forth by STS managment.

    PIT ENTRANCE
  • Everyone entering the pit area must sign an insurance release form. All participants entering the pit area must purchase a pit pass. The pit pass arm ban must be worn at all times in the pit area. Pit Entrance Cost will be $20 for spectators / crews and $25 for drivers.
  • Anyone entering the pits under the age of 18 must have a minors release on file. The minor release must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

    GENERAL RULES
  • Alcohol - There will be no alcoholic beverages or controlled substances allowed in the pit area before or during the racing program. Anyone caught in the pit area under the influence of drugs or alcohol will be suspended. There will be no tolerance, if the track officials feel someone is under the influence or drugs or alcohol that person will be asked to leave the pit area immediately.
  • Fighting - Any participant touching a STS Official in anger will be suspended from the race track for a period of time to be determined by track management. Any driver, owner, mechanic, family member of fan that takes part in any demonstration or fight on STS property will be subject to suspension and fines. The first offense for fighting will be 4 weeks suspension from being on the property and a $100 fine. The second offense for fighting will be permanent suspension for the entire season and a $500 fine before they can return the next season.
  • No Firearms Allowed - The carrying of firearms on STS property will result in permanent suspension of the entire team and arrest of all parties involved.
  • Personal Belongings - All persons entering the pit area do so at their own risk. All personal belongings such as but not limited to tools, vehicles, racing equipment are not covered by STS insurance. STS will not be responsible for the loss or damage to personal belongings.
  • South Texas Speedway Property - STS is private property. Any person on this property without the permission of STS management is guilty of trespassing and is subject to the penalties prescribed by Texas law. Through paid admission and pit pass sign in you have been given permission to be on STS property for racing purposes. However, the management of STS reserves the right to revoke and cancel this permission at any time your presence or conduct is not in the best interest of the sport of auto racing, your fellow competitors, the fans, management or employees of STS. Anyone that is asked to leave the pit area will be escorted by the DPS officers off STS Premises. Anyone coming onto STS property is expected to follow all State and Local Laws, anyone caught breaking the law will be subject to arrest and prosecution. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE PROFANITY, PROFANE SIGNS, OR PROFANE GESTURES IN FRONT OF FANS, OFFICIALS, OR MANAGEMENT.
  • Press Box - The press box is off limits to all participants at all times unless permission is given by the General Manager.

    RULE BOOK DISCLAIMER
  • No expressed or implied warranty of safety shall result from publication of, or compliance with the rules. They are intended as a guide for the conduct of automobile racing and in no way a guarantee against injury or death to participants, spectators, others. STS will assume no responsibility for injuries, loss of life or money as a result of participating in a STS event. All STS participants agree to waive the right to sue STS owners, managers, or officials for injuries, death, or damage to property due to decisions made by STS.
  • Any interpretation or deviation of the rules is left to the discretion of STS management. Their decision is final!

    INSURANCE
  • STS carries insurance for the race track, car owner, driver , sponsor, spectator, and employees. Insurance is in force only if the participant was signed in at the pit gate on the day of the injury. Claimes will be covered only to the limits of our coverage and STS will not be liable for claims above the coverage amount. Any claim of injury must be reported to the track general manager on the day it happened or the injury will not be covered by the insurance policy.

    RACE TRACK OPERATION AND PROCEDURES
  • Drivers are required to attend all drivers meetings.
  • Speed limits in the pit area, entrance ramp, and exit ramp is limited to 10 mph.
  • Spectators, pit crew members, drivers, and owners are not allowed on the track, fences, walls, racing surface, or infield. Do not go onto the race track without being told to do so by a track official.
  • After heat and feature races the top five cars must report to the designated tech area. Driver and only two (2) crew members are allowed in official tech area. If a car finishing in the top three does not go to tech after the race that driver will be automatically disqualified. No Exceptions!
  • Each week will be a draw for starting position. Draw will end at 6:45 each Saturday night. Anyone failing to draw will be required to start their heat race in the rear. The feature will be lined up by the results of the heat races.
  • It is the drivers responsibility to know the racing schedule and their proper place in the line up. Participating cars must be in the staging lane before the end of the race prior to theirs. No race will be delayed for an unstaged car.
  • Any driver and car that fail to make the heat race they have been assigned will not be allowed to compete in the next heat race.
  • Once the cars enter the race track the General Manager / Race Director has full control. All decisions during the race will be finalized by the General Manager.
  • Any car taking the green flag in a race will be counted as a participant in that race. If they fail to complete a lap they will still receive last place points and money. If a driver takes the green flag they will not be allowed to change race cars if they wreck on the first lap.
  • During the race or practice any car that can not maintain a safe speed will be black flagged.
  • Any driver who in the judgement of the officials, engages in rough driving.... deliberately running into, blocking, or swerving in front of another car.... may be subject to being black flagged.
  • Any car causing a caution (yellow flag) will restart at the rear of the field. If it can not be determined which car caused the caution in a multi-car accident then all cars involved will go to the rear. No racing back to the yellow flag! Restarts will go back to the last completed green flag lap. A completed green flag lap is defined as a lap where all cars on the lead lap have passed over the start finish line.
  • A traffic cone will be used for all restarts. All cars should stay in line behind the leader on the restarts. Any car attempting to pass before the cone will be docked a position. If a car advances multiple positions before the cone then that car will be docked every poisition advanced before the cone. The cone will be positioned in the middle of the back straight away.
  • No Driver may stop his or her car on the track to argue or discuss the race with the race officials. Anyone going to another drivers pit area or car may face disciplinary action by officials.
  • If a car goes to the pits then returns to the race they must start in the rear of the field. Once a car has enter the track only the driver is allowed to work on the car under caution or red flag condition but the car must be parked in the infield. If the fire crew, a pit crew member, or anyone other than the driver works on a car, that will be considered a pit stop and that car will be required to restart the race at the rear of the field.
  • Any car that is involved in three wrecks in the same race will be black flagged. Any car involved in two solo spins in the same race will be black flagged. Any car that does not obey the black flag for three consecutive laps will be disqualified for the entire night.
  • Tech officials may choose to inspect any car at any time for any reason, without prior notice. Any car not meeting the rules for their class will not be allowed to race. The track will not furnish gaskets when motors are torn down.
  • If a car is found illegal after heat races that car must return to tech before the feature race with necessary changes made.
  • All cars are subject to inspection upon entering the pit gate for compliance with the rules. The General Manager can disqualify any car for appearance, tech, driver ability, or safety.
  • In the event there are not enough cars for any one class the program will be adjusted in the best interest of all parties.
  • All complaints must be taken up with the General Manager. Any driver, crew member, or owner complaining to the track officials maybe disqualified for the night.

    PROTEST RULES
  • Only drivers can file a protest.
  • Protest must be specific to alleged rule violation.
  • The tech officials decision is final. No appeal is allowed.
  • Protest must be made in writing by the protesting driver, not later than 15 minutes following the completion of the event in which the alleged violation occured. The written protest must be presented to the pit manager with the protest fee of $200.
  • After protest has been filed, the car in question will be impounded. No one is allowed around the car until after the tech officials have inspected the car for the alleged violation. If tear down is required the driver and two crew members will be allowed to touch the car. If the driver refuses to go through tech for the protest then the driver will be disqualified for the night and will not be allowed to race until the protested parts have been checked.
  • If the inspection reveals a rule violation, the driver will forfeit all points and money accumulated for that night. The illegal car will have to be re-inspected before being allowed to complete again. The $200 protest fee will be returned to the driver that made the protest.
  • If the technical inspection reveals the protested car as being legal then the $200 protest fee will go to the protested driver.
  • South Texas Speeway reserves the right to accept or reject any protest.
  • No protest on scoring will be allowed.

    SAFETY RULES
  • When involved in an accident on the race track stay buckled up until the fire crew tells you it is OK to exit the car. Exception to the rule: If the car is on fire exit the car immediately.
  • All drivers must wear an approved racing helmet and approved fire suit while on the race track. No coveralls allowed.
  • Fire extinguishers are mandatory in the drivers compartment within the reach of the driver. The driver must be able to reach the extinguisher when buckled in the seat and the extinguisher must have an operating gauge.
  • Any car exhibiting a dangerous condition (flat tire, oil or fuel leak, fire, loose body parts etc.) will be black flagged.
  • Any car that is jacked up to be worked under must be supported by jackstands.
  • All gas tanks and batteries must be securely mounted with metal mounts, brackets, or straps.

    REGISTRATION
  • All Cars must be registered.
  • All drivers must be registered before they can get on the track.
  • All drivers must be at least 18 eighteen years old or 15 years old with notorized consent of parents or legal guardian.
  • Each driver must register their number and retain that number for the full year. There will be a $25 fee when registering numbers. There can be no duplication of numbers in each class. Whenever possible, the driver may retain the same number from year to year. The driver has one week after the rules meeting to register his / her number. After one week numbers will be first come first serve. All new numbers will be on a first come first serve basis.

    PIT PARKING SPOTS
  • Any driver that intends on running the full racing season at STS will have first option to buy pit spots. The pit parking spots will cost $20 per spot. WINNINGS
  • All winnings are payable to the driver only. No one else can receive winnings for the driver unless we have written authorization from the driver on his or her driver registration form. The person receiving payment must sign for winnings received. We will pay cash at the end of each racing event. Please allow sufficient time for scoring to be completed and pay to be dispursed. Any driver not picking up his/her pay after the event can pick it up at the pit box the following week. After 4 weeks the cash is subject to donation into the class points fund.

    FLAG RULES
  • Green Flag - Start the race. The race will start off of turn 4 with the drop of the green flag. The pole position starts the race.
  • Crossed Flags - One-half of the race is complete.
  • White Flag - One Lap to finish.
  • Checkered Flag - End of Race
  • Yellow Flag - Caution, slow down, close up field, and hold position. Do not resume racing until green flag is displayed.
  • Red Flag - Stop. Stop the car in a safe manner so the cars behind you do not run into you and cause a larger wreck.
  • Black Flag (Rolled up and pointed) - This is a warning.You are doing something wrong and if you do it again you will be black flagged.
  • Black Flag - Pull into the infield immediately. There maybe something wrong with your car or you have violated the rules. Failure to obey this flag will get a driver disqualified for the night. We will stop scoring a driver once 3 black flags have been given.
  • Blue w/yellow stripe Flag - This is the move over flag. The leaders are coming up to lap you and you must move to the bottom of the track and allow them to pass.

    Any questions or comments call Owen Pittman at 361-548-0669.

    • Copyright 2008 - South Texas Speedway