Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Bad me for not attending a WoO race in a couple years until last Friday night at Williams Grove, but what is with the WoO restart rules and these double and single file restarts and the switching back and forth with each new caution flag?  I have been attending sprint car races on and off for 50 years and how the WoO owners ever agreed to those rules is beyond me.  Double file restart unless unless no laps are completed after a double file restart, then it is a single file restart?  After a caution, double file restart unless the car(s) involved do not the guardrails and require the assistance of a tow truck to restart the race?  But if the cars involved require a tow truck then a single file restart?  No double file restarts in the last 5 laps of the A-main events?  I am sure I don't have all these rules correct, but how in God's name did these guys ever come up with such a convoluted restart system in our country's highest level of sprint car racing? 

I think it's pretty simple - on any flags, double file restart and if there is another flag before a lap is scored, it goes single file. In a race 20 or more laps, single file for any restarts within the last five laps, in a race of 19 or fewer laps single file for any restart in the last two laps.

There's nothing in the rulebook that addresses any other situations you've spoken to, though they do reserve the right to change it and I know they have before due to track conditions, other factors, etc.

Thanks for the explanation.  I guess I probably made it more complicated that it really was, but there were several caution flags nearly back-to-back and it seemed quite confusing.  Like I said, after one of the yellows the Johnny Gibson or Bruce Ellis actually said that there was some kind of stipulation about whether the stopped car had hit the guardrail or not that factored into the type of restart.  So other than that, I think I got it.

I think the rule is this: If there's a yellow or red on a double file restart "due to contact" the next restart is single file.  If a car just stops and there was no contact causing it I believe they stay with the double.

They also will change to all single file restarts if track conditions give one lane a big advantage, such as rubber down or rough conditions.  

Johnny usually follows along here maybe he'll chime in and set us all straight.  

I've been to quite a few since the new rules and it is pretty easy to pick up on after a couple of times.  I personally love the rules and enjoy the double-file restarts.  Of course, I don't have any $$ tied up in equipment either so it makes it more enjoyable and less costly for me. 

As some have alreay eluded to, they can call off the double file restarts whenever they deem necessary.  One example is if the track takes on rubber and provides a clear advantage to one lane and not the other.  They will go to single file at that point.  I have absolutely no problem with that at all.