Race Procedures Rule Book

General DNQ Rulebook Update

Race Procedure

Starting Field

• The standard starting field consists of 20 karts.
• If 22 karts are entered, all 22 will start.

Practice Sessions

• For classes without a B-Main, practice will be 8 minutes.
• For classes with a B-Main, practice will be 8–10 minutes.
• The top 16 drivers from qualifying transfer directly to the A-Main.
• Four additional karts transfer from the B-Main to complete the field.

Mandatory Equipment

• Raceceivers are required for all classes.
• Transponders must be mounted at the bottom of the steering column.
• For karts with a left-side mounted rotor, a shield is mandatory.
• LR bumper covers are required in all classes except USACK.

LR Bumper Covers

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

Kart Numbers

• Kart numbers must be large enough to be read clearly from the tower.
• A minimum size of 9 inches by 9 inches is recommended.
• Drivers are responsible for making sure their number is visible, readable, and properly placed before going on track.

Predator Classes

• Drivers in Predator classes are prohibited from using their hands to operate the throttle.
• Violations will result in disqualification.

Driver Requirements

• Drivers must hold a valid permit or driver’s license.
• Each driver is allowed two substitute drivers per season.
• Substitute drivers may not be used in the final race.
• Each driver's worst finish from Races 1–7 will be dropped when calculating season points.
• After Race 7, no additional races may be dropped.

Race Conduct

Driver Changes

• If a driver change occurs, the kart must start at the rear of the field.

Point Scoring

• Drivers must complete at least one lap to receive points.
• Karts not scored during the feature or B-Main will not receive points, regardless of starting position.

Final Race Protests

• All protests related to the final race night or championship titles will be handled exclusively by the series.

Penalties and Fines

• Drivers and owners must settle all fines before being allowed to return to racing.
• Fines may be applied to the driver, the owner, or both.

Rough Driving

• The three-spin or wreck rule applies to all drivers.
• Rough driving will result in a warning, with the driver being sent to the back.
• If the behavior continues, the driver may be parked for the remainder of the night.
• Rough driving penalties may carry over to the next race.
• A driver may be assessed a penalty requiring them to start at the rear of the field at the next event if the series determines the prior conduct warrants additional discipline.

Series Judgment

• The series reserves the right to review and make judgment calls on any on-track contact deemed:
• unnecessary
• avoidable
• excessive
• detrimental to fair competition
• Penalties may be issued at the sole discretion of the series.

Claims, Protests, and Penalties

Predator & Ghost Engine Claims

• Drivers and owners may claim one Predator engine per season.
• A driver/owner may also have their engine claimed once per season.

Engine Part Protest

• The cost to protest an engine part is $200.
• The winner of the protest will keep $100.

Tire Protest

• The cost for a tire protest is $200.
• $100 goes toward testing and $100 is awarded to the winner of the protest.

Transponder Responsibility

• Drivers are responsible for their transponders during events.
• Damage to a transponder will result in the driver being required to replace it for $100.
• Transponder holders are available from the series for $10.

DQ and Trophy Policy

• Drivers disqualified from an event are required to return any trophies they received.
• Failure to return a trophy will result in a fine to cover its replacement.

DNQ Penalties

• If a kart is less than 5 lbs underweight, the driver receives last-place points.
• If a kart is more than 6 lbs underweight, it results in a DQ with no points awarded.
• Failure to weigh after a race will also result in a DQ with no points.
• For technical violations:
• a failed surge test or failed fuel test results in last-place points
• tread depth under 1/16 inch results in a DQ with no points
• tires testing below the required durometer specifications result in a DQ with no points

DNQ Race Procedure

• Practice begins at 6:30 PM and serves as qualifying.
• The top 16 drivers from qualifying transfer directly to the A-Main.
• The top 4 finishers from the B-Main also transfer to complete the A-Main field.

Restarts / Race Flow

• Races will feature up to three choose-cone restarts.
• The final five laps will always use a choose-cone restart.
• During restarts, drivers must stay in line until crossing the finish line.
• Any driver seen ducking under other karts before the finish line, as verified by video, will be sent to the back.
• Drivers may pull off the track to make adjustments under yellow, but must restart at the back of the field.
• Lucky dogs will be awarded based on timing and scoring at each caution.

Race Completion / Weather / Tech

• If all karts at the track fail tech inspection, the purse will roll over to the next event.
• A race will be considered official if it reaches the halfway point.
• If a race is rained out after qualifying but before racing is halfway completed, finishing positions and payouts will be based on qualifying results.
• Exceptions include:
• Milltona 50
• final race of the season
• All-Star Race

Conduct

• Competitors are prohibited from grabbing another kart or driver during a race.
• Violations result in being parked for the night.
• Raceceivers are mandatory for all drivers.
• Drivers without a raceceiver will not be allowed to compete.
• All karts must also have a bumper to participate.

Restart Procedure / Jumping the Start

• During all starts and restarts, the leader controls the field and sets the pace to the start/finish line.
• The 2nd place kart may not beat the leader to the start/finish line.
• If the 2nd place kart’s transponder records before the leader’s transponder, and the leader has not caused a delay or issue, the restart will be called back and another restart attempted.
• Karts in rows behind the leader may not pass the karts in front of them before the start/finish line unless there is an accident, mechanical issue, or another clear problem affecting the kart ahead.
• Getting out of line before the start/finish line in order to make a pass is illegal.
• Any driver who improves position or positioning before the line by jumping out of line will be subject to penalty.
• If a driver knows they made a mistake on a start or restart, that driver must immediately stop and give the position back to avoid penalty.

Contact / Forced Off Track Policy

Short Track and Darlington Layouts

• If a driver is pushed or forced off the track during a Short Track or Darlington race, that driver must contact the series within 24 hours by Facebook message.
• A decision will then be made if supporting evidence is available.

Admitting Fault / Giving Position Back

If a driver makes contact with another kart and pushes that driver off the track, the offending driver may admit fault and correct the issue by doing one of the following:

• Performing a stop-and-go in a safe, open part of the track
• Going to the rear of the field on the next restart

The series will accept either action as an acceptable form of giving the position and/or advantage back.

If neither action is taken, the driver who caused the contact will receive last-place points for the event.

The series reserves the right to review:

• video
• scoring
• any other available evidence

Slide Job / Outside Lane Responsibility

• Drivers attempting or receiving a slide job are expected to use reasonable judgment and avoid avoidable contact.
• Drivers in the outside lane should use caution when another kart slides up in front of them.
• Drivers are reminded that they do have brake pedals and are expected to make a reasonable effort to avoid unnecessary contact when possible.
• An off-track excursion will not automatically be ruled the fault of the inside kart.
• If the inside kart’s right rear is at or beyond the outside kart’s left front off the corner, the inside kart will not automatically be considered at fault for the outside kart leaving the racing surface.
• The series may determine that the outside kart contributed to the incident if that driver:
• remained full throttle with an obvious closing gap
• made no reasonable attempt to avoid contact
• drove through a developing slide job while expecting the inside kart to disappear
• The inside kart must still make a reasonable slide job and avoid reckless or intentional contact.
• The outside kart must also make a reasonable effort to react when a slide job is clearly developing.
• All rulings will be made by the series based on available video, scoring data, and the total circumstances of the incident.

2026 DNQ Points System

Base Points

• For classes with a B-Main, non-transfer positions will be scored beginning with 21st place and back based on finishing position.

Bonus Points

• Pole Position: +1 point
• Most Passes in the Feature: +3 points
• Ties for Most Passes go to the kart starting further forward.
• No bonus points will be awarded in the final race of the season.

Substitute Drivers

• Bonus points do not transfer from substitute drivers.
• If a substitute driver wins the pole or earns the most-passes bonus, those bonus points remain with the substitute driver and do not transfer to the primary driver or team.

Drops

• Each driver's worst finish from Races 1–7 will be dropped.
• After Race 7, no additional races may be dropped.

Final Race / Championship Procedure

• At the final race of the season, the top 4 drivers in the championship standings will be required to start at the rear of the field.

Substitute Drivers and Disqualifications

• Each team is permitted to use two substitute drivers during the season, provided the series promoter is notified before the event.
• Substitute drivers may not be used in the final race of the season.
• If a driver is disqualified (DQ) from an event, they will receive zero points for that race.
• A DQ finish may not be dropped from the season total.

Rookie of the Year

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

Specialty Cups

• President’s Cup
• Knupp Cup
• Clements Cup

These will be awarded based on the total points earned in each cup’s designated races or track layouts during the season.

Specialty Cup Tie Breaker

If two or more drivers are tied in total points for a specialty cup, the tie breaker will be:

1. Most wins in that cup’s designated races
2. Most top-three finishes in that cup’s designated races
3. Best single finishing position in that cup’s designated races

If a tie still remains, the series will make the final determination based on overall performance within that cup category.