Official 2001 MSTRA Rules and
Regulations
Current as of
12/12/2000.
Overview:
- Eligibility Requirements, Joining League and League Setup.
- Division-Specific Competition Rules.
- Weekly Competition Schedule.
- Points System.
- Competition Rules.
- Tallying Results.
- Determining Finishing Order.
- End of Season Awards.
1. Eligibility Requirements, Joining League and League Setup.
In order to be eligible to join MSTRA, one must:
- Possess or have access to a Macintosh computer.
- Possess or have access to a copy of NASCAR Racing for Macintosh.
- Possess or have access to a valid e-mail account and Internet access system.
In order to join MSTRA, you must e-mail Jeff Brown, the league director, at mstra-admin@postmark.net. The mail must include:
- Your name as you want it to appear on MSTRA's official Web site.
- Your home town and birthdate, to be given at your discretion. This is to be used on your Profile page on the MSTRA Web site.
- Your method of control (i.e. keyboard, steering wheel, joystick).
- A valid e-mail address. This is necessary for MSTRA officials to contact you with late-breaking information and weekly race setups.
- Your preferred car number. Depending on the division, different number rules may apply.
- Your sponsor, number, and make of car. Any American make of car is eligible, however in the game your car will be represented on paper as a Ford, Chevrolet or Pontiac chassis.
- A mail attachment of your car compressed, preferably with StuffIt. This will be used to represent your paint scheme on your Profile page.
If any information changes during the season, e-mail Jeff Brown at mstra-admin@postmark.net and request the changes.
In order to prepare your computer for MSTRA competition, you must make sure you have the current software. This includes:
- All 2000 MSTRA approved tracks. These can be found at links offered on the Software page.
- The official 2000 MSTRA car set. This can be downloaded on the Software page.
In addition, for each race, a trackname.txt file may be offered on the Software page, as well as mailed out to each MSTRA member. This file will be used to modify track settings (i.e. starting field) of the track used that week. It needs to replace the existing file in the NASCAR Racing:Data:TRACKS:trackname folder. You may wish to save the old file, and place it back in the folder for the remainder of the season. This will not be a weekly occurrence, but you will be notified when this file is necessary.
You will also be responsible for setting the game up to standard weather conditions prior to running your race. Weekly setups will be announced in the weekly MSTRA e-mail.
There are four divisions of MSTRA competition.
- MSTRA Winston Cup Series (WC). This is the highest echelon of MSTRA competition, with difficult competition and moderate-length races over a schedule following the NASCAR Winston Cup Series schedule. Events will follow the true event by one week, so that the race settings can be set to follow that week's true race conditions.
- MSTRA Busch Grand National Series (BGN). This is designed for drivers with Winston Cup aspirations but less success, with moderate competition and shorter-length races over a schedule following the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series schedule. Events will follow the true event by one week, so that the race settings can be set to follow that week's true race conditions.
- MSTRA Short Track Series (STS). Formerly known as the MSTRA Pro Stock Division, this series runs an 18-race schedule consisting of short tracks (under a mile in length). This series is known for difficult competition, close racing, and a need to stay on one's toes.
- MSTRA Dirt Challenge (DC). This division runs an eight (8)-race schedule exclusively on dirt tracks. Competition will be close and moderately difficult, and races will be short (50 laps).
2. Division-Specific Competition Rules.
Since divisions of MSTRA differ in many ways, the following should make clear any major differences you should be aware of.
Car Sets: The MSTRA WC and BGN divisions will feature car sets of the current top drivers of the respective division. The car sets will be updated as necessary throughout the season. The STS and DC divisions will feature a car set composed of the league's drivers, and field sizes will be dependent upon entries.
Number Rules: In WC and BGN, any number from #00 to #99, up to two digits, may be used. In MSTRA and DC competition, no number rules apply. Your car must have a one- or two-digit number for car-set purposes. However, your car can bear a number of infinite digits, include letters, or can be a symbol, as long as the two-digit number is present on the car in some form. A number must appear on the roof panel and doors; however, a number on the front and rear of the car is not required.
Chassis Rules: In WC and BGN, four car makes are eligible for competition: 1998-2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1998-2001 Ford Taurus, 1998-2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, and 2001 Dodge Intrepid R/T. Dodge drivers should set their chassis to Ford (the Dodge is modeled after the Ford body). In STS, any American two-door production car is allowed. In DC competition, bodies are specified (spec) IMCA-style modified chassis with an option of Ford or Chevrolet engines.
Tire Rules: In WC, BGN and STS, only Goodyear tires are approved for competition. In DC, Hoosier tires will be used on all entries.
3. Weekly Competition Schedule.
Race weeks for MSTRA events run from a Monday to a Sunday. This should provide you with enough time to run the race and turn your results in. The final deadline for race results will be the next Monday, by approximately 6:00 AM EST. This should provide adequate time for you to run your race and send in results.
On Monday morning, you will be contacted by e-mail to notify you that settings for the next event have been posted. If any files are to be downloaded, they will be declared at that time.
After Monday, you have the remainder of the week to run your race. The benefit to an offline league is that you are able to race at any moment of free time you prefer. As long as your results are turned in, you may race at any time.
Sending results into the MSTRA offices is detailed below in Section 4.
The MSTRA point system differs depending on division.
MSTRA Winston Cup/Busch Grand National Series:
Points are awarded according to the system used in top NASCAR divisions. The race winner receives an automatic 175 points, with all positions to sixth separated by five (5) points (i.e. sixth place receives 150 points). Positions to eleventh are separated by four (4) points (i.e. eleventh place receives 130 points). All positions back are separated by three (3) points.
Bonus points are awarded for laps led (five (5) points per event), most laps led (five (5) points), and a pole position qualifying run (five (5) points).
MSTRA Short Track Series/Dirt Challenge:
The winning driver will receive fifty (50) points for his victory. All positions will receive points on a four-point separation basis. That is, second place will receive 46 points, third 42 points and so on. All positions lower than thirteenth (13th) will receive one point.
Bonus points are awarded for laps led (two (2) points per event), most laps led (two (2) points), and a pole position qualifying run (one (1) point).
No owners' points are offered in any division.
Penalties will result if rules are not followed.
There is no automated scoring or configuration system. As a result, you are responsible for setup of the week's racing. You are on your honor to set the racing up yourself. However, strict penalties will be incurred should it come to the attention of MSTRA officials that cheating is taking place.
Also, there is no limit on practice time. You may practice as often as you wish and race as often as you wish. However, as soon as the Sunday beginning the race week opens, you may only practice. Your first qualifying session with the MSTRA car set in use marks the qualifying for the race.
Before any practice sessions, make sure you set the game's Weather and Realism conditions to match those on the setup page. Realism will always include Random Breakdowns and Realistic damage, though you may use Braking Assistance and Automatic transmission if you prefer.
After practice, you must qualify. After qualifying, write down your qualifying speed and position.
Immediately following qualifying, proceed to the Warmup practice round. This is only if you are dissatisfied with your current setup and wish to change for the race. If you feel you do not need to dial the car in with the race setup, you may proceed to the Race mode. You are allowed to use different Race and Qualifying setups if you so desire.
After the race, press "F1" to reveal your average race speed. Write this speed down. Take down your position and the number of laps you completed (if you win, the margin you won by). If you are unable to finish, write down the reason and laps completed, then allow the race to finish in the Standings window.
If you win your race, please take a screen shot of the standings window, clearly showing your name atop the standings. Save this screen shot in case it is needed to verify your victory. Do not send this to MSTRA officials unless it is requested. Failure to provide a screen shot when requested will result in the results being moved to the end of their lap.
You may not run a second race in order to improve your finish. In the same way, you are allowed two qualifying sessions, maximum. You may restart the race at any time before the green flag, but after the green flag is thrown no restarts of the race are allowed.
After the race, send your results into the MSTRA offices. Launch your e-mail client and send an e-mail to mstra-admin@postmark.net. In it, include:
- Your name.
- Your starting position and qualifying speed.
- Your finishing position and average speed.
- Number of laps completed, or if the winner, the margin of victory.
- Any other information that may have changed that needs to be updated.
- Brief race reports may be posted to the weekly results, if you wish to add one.
By Wednesday following the race week's end, a Results page should offer current standings in all divisions. This date may vary considering limits of the league coordinator.
The results should arrive in MSTRA's hands by 6:00am Eastern Standard Time on the Monday following the posting of the race settings. You have until this time to make any corrections to your results. If corrections are requested (i.e. failure to list the laps led) by the administrator, there is no penalty. However, if you discover your results were incorrectly submitted (i.e. typed the wrong finishing position) yet only correct it after results have been posted at the Web site, a five-point penalty will be levied. It is your responsibility to check your results before you submit them. If the error is on the administrator's part, no penalty will be issued.
Results turned in late will be scored, but will be ranked in points and finishing order behind all other entries. Exceptions will be made in the case of mail-system failures where the results would otherwise have arrived on time. Results will be accepted up to one week late. Results for races several weeks prior will be acknowledged but not scored. (Revised 4/17/2000.)
Finishing order will depend on your performance in the simulator race. Even if you win your race, you may not win the overall event. Order will be determined on this basis:
- Number of laps completed.
- Finishing order in the simulator race.
- Average speed in the simulator race.
- Number of laps led in the simulator race.
- Qualifying speed for the simulator race.
Should two drivers match in these five criteria, a tie will be declared.
If a driver fails to finish a race, he will still be ranked despite his failure to complete all the laps. Example: Joe Driver crashes while leading with four laps to go. John Driver, who finished five laps down, will not finish ahead of Joe, as he has completed fewer laps.
There is no penalty for failures to finish. All drivers will receive the points they would normally receive had they finished in their position.
Awards are handed out following the MSTRA season for the following honors:
MSTRA Winston Cup Series Championship
MSTRA Busch Grand National Series Championship
MSTRA Short Track Series Championship
MSTRA Dirt Challenge Championship
These titles are awarded to the driver who scores the most event points in his or her division.
MSTRA WC Rookie Of The Year
MSTRA BGN Rookie Of The Year
MSTRA STS Rookie Of The Year
These titles are awarded to the top rookies in respective MSTRA divisions according to the following criteria:
MSTRA WC/BGN: top fifteen (15) races are considered
MSTRA STS: top ten (10) races are considered
The driver with the best finishes according to the above rules shall be named Rookie Of The Year (ROTY).
Drivers with prior championships in higher divisions are not eligible for ROTY honors in a lower division.
For rules clarifications contact Jeff Brown, MSTRA League Director, at mstra-admin@postmark.net.
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Last updated 2/28/2001 at 5:51pm.