Race Procedures Rule Book

General DNQ Rulebook Update

1. Starting Field and Practice

• Standard starting field: 20 karts.
• If 22 karts are entered, all 22 will start.
• Classes without a B-Main receive 8 minutes of practice.
• Classes with a B-Main receive 8–10 minutes of practice.
• Practice begins at 6:30 PM and serves as qualifying.
• The top 16 qualifying drivers transfer directly to the A-Main.
• Four B-Main finishers transfer to complete the field.

1. Mandatory Equipment

• Raceceivers are required for all classes and all drivers.
• Drivers without a raceceiver may not compete.
• Transponders must be mounted at the bottom of the steering column.
• Karts with a left-side mounted rotor must use a shield.
• LR bumper covers are required in all classes except USACK.
• All karts must have a bumper to participate.

1. LR Bumper Covers

• LR bumper covers may be tack welded or bolted to prevent movement.
• The left rear tire must remain covered throughout the race.
• If the cover moves, comes loose, or no longer covers the tire, the kart may be penalized or parked until corrected.

1. Kart Numbers and Driver Requirements

• Numbers must be large enough to be read clearly from the tower; 9 by 9 inches is recommended.
• Drivers are responsible for visible, readable, properly placed numbers.
• Drivers must hold a valid permit or driver’s license.
• Each driver may use two substitute drivers per season, including in the final race.
• Each driver’s worst finish from Races 1–7 is dropped for season points; no additional races may be dropped after Race 7.

1. Class-Specific and Race Conduct Rules

• Predator-class drivers may not use their hands to operate the throttle. Violations result in disqualification.
• Driver changes require the kart to start at the rear of the field.
• Drivers must complete at least one lap to receive points.
• Karts not scored during the feature or B-Main receive no points regardless of starting position.
• The three-spin or wreck rule applies to all drivers.
• Rough driving results in a warning and being sent to the rear; continued behavior may result in being parked for the night.
• Rough-driving penalties may carry over to the next event.
• Competitors may not grab another kart or driver during a race. Violations result in being parked for the night.

1. Penalties, Fines, Claims, and Protests

• Drivers and owners must settle all fines before returning to racing.
• Fines may apply to the driver, owner, or both.
• Final-race and championship protests are handled exclusively by the series.
• Predator and Ghost engines may each be claimed once per driver/owner season.
• Engine-part protest cost: $200; the protest winner keeps $100.
• Tire protest cost: $200; $100 goes to testing and $100 to the protest winner.
• Drivers are responsible for transponders. Damaged transponders must be replaced for $100; holders are available for $10.
• Disqualified drivers must return event trophies or pay a replacement fine.

1. DNQ Penalties and Technical Violations

• Less than 5 pounds underweight: last-place points.
• More than 6 pounds underweight: disqualification and no points.
• Failure to weigh after a race: disqualification and no points.
• Failed surge or fuel test: last-place points.
• Tread depth under 1/16 inch: disqualification and no points.
• Tires below required durometer specifications: disqualification and no points.

1. Restarts and Race Flow

• Up to three choose-cone restarts may be used.
• The final five laps always use a choose-cone restart.
• Drivers must remain in line until crossing the finish line.
• Ducking under another kart before the finish line, verified by video, results in being sent to the rear.
• Drivers may make adjustments under yellow but must restart at the rear.
• Lucky dogs are awarded according to timing and scoring at each caution.

1. Restart Procedure and Jumping the Start

• The leader controls the pace to the start/finish line.
• Second place may not beat the leader to the line.
• If second place’s transponder records first, and the leader did not cause a delay or issue, the restart is called back.
• Karts may not leave their line to pass before the line unless an accident, mechanical issue, or clear problem affects the kart ahead.
• Drivers who recognize a start or restart error must immediately stop and return the position to avoid penalty.

1. Contact, Forced-Off-Track, and Slide-Job Policy

• On Short Track and Darlington layouts, drivers forced off track must contact the series within 24 hours by Facebook message.
• A driver who makes contact and forces another kart off may correct the advantage by a safe stop-and-go or going to the rear on the next restart.
• If neither action is taken, the responsible driver receives last-place points.
• The series may review video, scoring, and other available evidence.
• Drivers involved in slide jobs or outside-lane incidents must use reasonable judgment and avoid avoidable contact.
• An off-track excursion is not automatically the fault of the inside kart.
• Rulings consider video, scoring data, and the total circumstances.

1. Series Judgment

• The series may review contact deemed unnecessary, avoidable, excessive, or detrimental to fair competition.
• Penalties may be issued at the sole discretion of the series.

1. Race Completion, Weather, and Technical Inspection

• If all karts at the track fail technical inspection, the purse rolls over to the next event.
• A race is official after reaching the halfway point.
• If rain ends a race after qualifying but before halfway completion, finishing positions and payouts are based on qualifying results.
• Exceptions: Milltona 50, the final race of the season, and the All-Star Race.

1. 2026 DNQ Points System

• 1st: 40; 2nd: 37; 3rd: 35; 4th: 33; 5th: 31; 6th: 30; 7th: 29; 8th: 28; 9th: 27; 10th: 26; 11th: 25; 12th: 24; 13th: 23; 14th: 22; 15th: 21; 16th: 20; 17th: 19; 18th: 18; 19th: 17; 20th: 16; 21st: 15; 22nd–35th: 6 each.
• For classes with a B-Main, non-transfer positions are scored from 21st backward by finishing position.
• Pole: +1 point.
• Most feature passes: +3 points.
• Ties go to the kart starting farther forward.
• No bonus points are awarded in the final race.
• Substitute-driver bonus points remain with the substitute driver.

1. Drops, Substitutes, and Disqualifications

• Each driver’s worst finish from Races 1–7 is dropped.
• No additional drops occur after Race 7.
• Each team may use two substitute drivers if the promoter is notified before the event.
• A DQ receives zero points and may not be dropped.

1. Final Race and Championship Procedure

• At the season finale, the top four championship drivers must start at the rear of the field.

1. Rookie of the Year

• Rookie points use the 2026 DNQ points system.
• Rookie totals use each rookie’s best five finishes.
• Bonus points do not transfer to Rookie of the Year totals.

1. Specialty Cups

• President’s Cup, Knupp Cup, and Clements Cup are awarded using total points from their designated races or layouts.
• Specialty Cup tie-breaker: most wins, most top-three finishes, best single finish, then final series determination based on overall performance.