[admin]

1/26/23 4:30 PM USAC ANNOUNCES RULE UPDATES FOR 2023 SEASON

https://www.usacracing.com/news/silv...or-2023-season



USAC ANNOUNCES RULE UPDATES FOR 2023 SEASON

Speedway, Indiana (January 26, 2023)………USAC has announced a number of rule updates and enforcements to be implemented beginning with the 2023 season for USAC’s Silver Crown National Championship, AMSOIL Sprint Car National Championship and NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship.

Rule updates were discussed and voted upon by USAC competitors during the annual competition meetings held on December 12, 2022, at USAC headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind.

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ALL SERIES RULE UPDATES

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SAFETY EQUIPMENT: 317.M (SPRINT), 417.M (MIDGET) & 222.I (SILVER CROWN)

RULE: On Board Fire Systems - It is strongly recommended that each car have built-in operable fire extinguishing equipment with a minimum content of five (5) pounds located inside the car and within the wheelbase. On board fire systems should meet SFI Specification 17.1. This will be evaluated for future mandate.

NEW FOR 2023: Fire suppression systems are highly recommended for all competitors in all divisions. The systems will be analyzed throughout the season and may be a possible requirement in the future.

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REPOSITIONING: 1310.D (SPRINT), 1410.D (MIDGET) & 1211.C (SILVER CROWN)

RULE: A car determined to have jumped the initial start will be immediately penalized one row for the subsequent start. Third-place starter will cross to outside front-row.

NEW FOR 2023: Previously, an initial start that was called back due to a “jumped” start resulted in a yellow flag and a complete restart in the same order.* Now, a car determined to have jumped the initial start will be immediately penalized.

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BACKUP CARS: 1311 (SPRINT), 1411 (MIDGET), 1209 (SILVER CROWN)

RULE: Teams may use a backup car any time between qualifying and the start of the A-Main. The use of a backup car must be approved by the technical director. If a backup car is introduced before qualifications and makes original drawn position in qualifying order, there is no penalty. If qualification spot is missed or a qualifying lap is still available, one lap can be taken at the end of the line and cannot start in top 50% of feature field. Same penalty applies for backup car attempting to qualify on time but without having transferred transponder to correct car.

NEW FOR 2023: The “cannot start in top 50% of feature field” penalty will now also be applied for any backup car attempting to qualify on time but without having transferred their transponder to the correct car.

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USAC AMSOIL SPRINT CAR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RULE UPDATES

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CAR CONSTRUCTION & BODY: 303.K

RULE: Left-side cockpit panels may be 36 inches high as measured from the bottom of main frame tube at the engine plate and projected rearward 21 inches. Left-side opening must be at least 10 inches vertically at its narrowest point, and at least 20 inches horizontally.

NEW FOR 2023: Left side cockpit panel size has increased from 34 inches high to 36 inches high.* Now, the left-side opening must be at least 10 inches vertically at its narrowest point, and at least 20 inches horizontally.

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TIRES: 309.A

RULE: Hoosier 105/16-15 Medium and 105/18 HARD are the only approved right rear tires in National competition. At the introduction of new Medium tires, a burn off period for existing inventory will be determined.

NEW FOR 2023: At the introduction of new Medium tires, a burn off period for existing inventory will be determined.

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TIRES: 309.B

RULE: Burn off period for existing left-rear tire inventory will be determined; SC12 will become only permitted left-rear tire. Front tires must be Hoosier.

NEW FOR 2023: SC12 will become only permitted left-rear tire. Front tires must be Hoosier rather than all four corners..

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USAC NOS ENERGY DRINK MIDGET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RULE UPDATES

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CAR CONSTRUCTION & BODY: 403.M

RULE: Left side cockpit body panels may be a maximum of (34) inches high as measured from the bottom frame tube. Opening must be at least ten inches vertically and 20 inches horizontally, and not distract drivers vision determined by chief steward.

NEW FOR 2023: The maximum height of left side cockpit body panels has been decreased from 36 inches to 34 inches high as measured from the bottom frame tube. The opening must now be 10 inches vertically and 20 inches horizontally rather than 150 square inches.

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TIRES: 410.D

RULE: New D. National Midget Tires (LF- D12, D15) (RF-D12, D15, D20) (LR-D12, D20) (RR-SP3 only). SP2 right-rear tires will be permitted through May 31, 2023. Right-rear tire will be stamped to be run during qualifications, heat race, and feature. Changing tire will result in being put to the tail of feature. If a tire is punctured, it must be verified by series official and replaced with a used tire.

NEW FOR 2023: SP3 only on right rear. However, SP2 right rear tires will be permitted through May 31, 2023. Right-rear tire will be stamped to be run during qualifications, heat race, and feature. Changing tire will result in being put to the tail of feature. If a tire is punctured, it must be verified by series official and replaced with a used tire.

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************* USAC SILVER CROWN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RULE UPDATES

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CAR CONSTRUCTION & BODY: 203.M

RULE: Left-side cockpit panels may be (36) inches high, measured from top side of lower frame rail. Opening must be at least 12 inches vertically and 25 inches horizontally.

NEW FOR 2023: Left side cockpit panel size has increased from 30 inches high to 36 inches high, measured from the top side of the lower frame rail at the engine plate.* Openings must now be at least 12 inches vertically and 25 inches horizontally.

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STEERING & SUSPENSION: 207.H

RULE: Kingpin tethers are mandatory & must be SFI approved.

NEW FOR 2023: The addition of Kingpin tethers is now mandatory.

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RED FLAG PROCEDURE: 1208.D

RULE: Once the entire field is refired after a red flag, yellow flag laps can again be counted.

NEW FOR 2023: Previous, after a red flag, laps weren’t counted until after the green flag was displayed.

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RESTARTS: 1212

RULE: All restarts will be single-file, nose-to-tail with no passing before the designated point on the track. Lapped cars will be moved to the rear in running order, with any pitted car returning behind them. The first car in running order that has been lapped will receive one lap back, as long as the car has not pitted or was involved in caution.

NEW FOR 2023: Lapped cars will be moved to the rear in running order, with any pitted car returning behind them. The first car in running order that has been lapped will receive one lap back, as long as the car has not pitted or was involved in caution.

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[Stevensville Mike]

Originally Posted by admin NEW FOR 2023:The first car in running order that has been lapped will receive one lap back, as long as the car has not pitted or was involved in caution.

NASCAR, take a bow.

[Jonr]

Originally Posted by Stevensville Mike NASCAR, take a bow.

Much to do about nothing. What to do with lap cars has been an ongoing conversation for years.
"Make them keep there spot"
"Send them to the back"
"Make them keep there spot unless it is the last 10 laps and then send them to the back"
"The leaders passed them everyone else needs to"
" They are slow and off the pace, send them to the back to prevent a big wreck"
"They need the chance to race their way back onto the lead lap"

I think that this is just another variant in the conversations that we have already been having.

[ThrowbackRacingTeam]

Not a fan of the new silver crown rules. 1.We don’t need hokey NASCAR rules infesting silver crown racing in regard to lapped cars.
2. They just shortened the races now by counting yellow laps after a red. If they are worried about running out of fuel, just allow them to add fuel under red.
3. Why allow the cockpit to become more enclosed? I hear of no fans that like enclosed cockpits on open wheel cars.
4. If you’re going to put in a rule that fans would like, there should be a minimum engine set back to get rid of the “cab forward” two seater look.
There are five main branches on the racing tree..the sanctioning body, the promoter, the car owners, the drivers and the fans. If the sanctioning body is going to allow input on rules, maybe listen to what all 5 branches think. Fans are never taken into consideration and it seems like less of them are showing up every year.

[Stevensville Mike]

Originally Posted by Jonr Much to do about nothing. What to do with lap cars has been an ongoing conversation for years.....

Agree, sir. Unless there is one, maybe two cars on the lead lap, letting a lone SC car get a lap back will never affect the outcome of the race. I mean, face it - you go a lap down at Springfield or any other big track, you are not going to be close to the leaders in the end whether you've been given a lap back or not. You are not on par that day either way.

What gets me here, though, is why NASCAR implemented this rule in the first place: It was for drivers' safety as cars raced back to the line when the caution came out. If memory serves me right, Dale Jarrett got spun and was sideways and dead stick on the track between Turn 4 and the line at Dover, or maybe Loudon, with his driver's side facing oncoming traffic. The cars were splitting him left and right at racing speed trying to beat the leader back to the line. One unsighted car/driver and it could have been serious disaster.

So NASCAR stopped that right there with the next race. When the caution comes out, the field is "frozen" and the first car a lap down gets the Lucky Dog award. They could have just reverted back to the last completed lap vice freezing the field via timing/scoring loops, but that is a different issue.

Later they implemented the "Wave Around" rule. IndyCar does it now, too. THAT is a pure gimmick. At least the Lucky Dog served a purpose of some sort - safety. With Silver Crown implementing the Lucky Dog, it is pure gimmick.

I dearly hope not, but you know what's more than likely next at the big 100 lap races don't you? It starts with "Stage" and ends with "Racing". Why have hot pits for SC action while laps are being counted?

But I agree, Jonr - this new rule really will not affect anything. It is just the trend and idea of where it came from.

[kcarm92]

Pretty dumb to add on board fire suppression, and then tell them they can enclose cockpit more, why not open left side back Upson driver has another way out instead of just top of cage.dont get me wrong the suppression deal is good ,but open up the side

[Hubie48]

Can't wait for Chet's take on the Lucky Dog.........

guys a piker