Updated Dec 2023
- The rules and/or regulations set forth herein do not express or imply warranty of safety from publication of or compliance with these rules and/or regulations; they are intended as a guide for the conduct of the sport and are in no way a guarantee against injury.
- All cars are subject to inspection at any time. Butler officials reserve the right to refuse entry to any car or driver determined to be unsafe or that does not meet the rules.
- The driver is the sole spokesperson for the race team and is responsible for their actions. Any drivers or crew members fighting will result in disqualification for that team and all points and monies for that evening will be forfeited. Striking an official will result in disqualification for the evening, forfeiture of all points and moneys for that evening, and up to a one-year suspension.
- Verbal abuse or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. No warning will be given. If violated, the team may be disqualified with all points and/or money forfeited for that night. Other penalties may be applied depending on the specific situation.
Appearance
- Numbers with letters are allowed. Letters are to be made large enough to be visible from the scoring tower.
- Numbers must measure a minimum of 22 inches high by a minimum of 15 inches in width. The thickness of the number must be no less than 3 inches.
- The color of the number must be contrasting with the car color.
- Numbers must be located on both doors and the roof of the car. Put the roof number so it can be read from the tower when the car is on the front stretch.
Conditions
- No alcoholic beverages or controlled substances are to be consumed before or during races by anyone entering the pit area.
- Butler Motor Speedway officials reserve the right to reject or allow the entry of any driver or car.
- Rule changes or interpretation of rules is at the discretion of track officials.
- The decision of track officials is final.
- Suspensions will be strictly enforced for fighting or any other acts the management of Butler Motor Speedway deem inappropriate. Any actions that need will be fully prosecuted of the law.
- Drivers are responsible for the actions of their pit crews. At no time will any competitor or crew member be permitted to enter another team’s pit area in a confrontation or threaten any speedway official. If you have a problem with another driver, then find a speedway official after the final race of the event where both of you can go to your competitor’s pit and have a discussion.
- Fighting will result in a $100 per punch fine, there’s no limit to this fine. This fine must be paid prior to the next entry to Butler Motor Speedway. The collected money will be donated to a local nonprofit organization.
- ALL dogs must remain at their owner’s trailer during the night’s performance on a leash. No pets allowed in the grandstands.
Race Lengths
All heat races will be 8 laps in distance.
A Main Features
Due to length of time and yellows a race has been on the track, features could be cut short on laps, this will be the discretion of Track Officials. There will be a time limit set for any race, if necessary.
- Four-Cylinders: 15 Laps
- Modifieds: 20 Laps
- Street Stocks: 20 Laps
- Sprints: 25 Laps
Race Procedures
- Typically, a maximum of 20 cars will start the A Main.
- Butler Motor Speedway officials due to time or car count factors may shorten races.
- Driver must attempt to start A or B main to be eligible for start money. Failure to start the A or B Mains will result in tow money only.
- Each car will attempt to group qualify.
- Cars must qualify in order determined by the lineup.
- If a car misses their turn in the lineup, they will only be allowed ONE qualifying lap.
- If your transponder doesn’t read, we will reinstall another one. If the person comes out to qualify without one, we will NOT install a new one. Resulting from a failure to have a transponder on when entering the track for qualifying will result in no qualifying time for the driver.
Racing Rules
- At no time shall any non-competing member, crew member, owner or other person associated with a race car be permitted on the racing surface following the start of a race and prior to the final lap without the express permission of a Speedway official. Failure to do so could lead to immediate removal from speedway property. This rule is in place for your crew member’s safety.
- Butler Motor Speedway officials reserve the right to request a doctor’s release at any time, for a said driver to participate at Butler Motor Speedway.
- The official start of a race is when the field enters the track. When determining the official start, one lap does not have to be completed. However, scoring for position does not begin until one green flag lap has been completed.
- All cars will need to enter the track under their own power to get start money and points.
- On a yellow or red flag that happens on the start of a race, any car(s) that enter the pits will go to the tail of the field, even though a lap has not been completed. All repairs or adjustments to cars must be made in the pits. This includes portions of the race run under yellow or red flag conditions. Violation will result in the car being placed at the rear of the field.
- Cars may only enter the track as directed by the pit steward.
- No electronic communication devices are permitted within the car other than Raceceivers.
- If a driver refuses the official’s order to take a certain position on the track (i.e. go to the back of the field), resulting in a delay of the race, he/she will be penalized one lap or will be Black-Flagged.
- When the black flag has been displayed to a racecar, scoring of the car shown the flag will stop.
- A driver meets rookie qualifications for his/her divisions if he/she raced in six or fewer races in a single previous season in that division.
- You will be allowed 2 laps from the time you arrive in the hot pit for a flat tire or lost parts, ONLY for A and B Feature’s.
Starts & Restarts
- Jumping on the initial start of any event. The front row will have two chances to start a race. If either driver jumps both starts, they will go to the second row for the next attempt.
- If you jump a restart, you will be put back 2 cars for every car you jumped on the next yellow or penalized at the end of the race, whichever comes first.
- When the leader plus 4 cars pass the finish line, it is considered a completed lap.
- Cars must be nose to tail. Any car with excess space in front to try to get a jump will be called for a jump start and penalized four positions.
- First lap restarts: Inside or outside row will move straight up to fill a void for a missing car.
- After the first lap restart: Form a single file lineup, nose to tail. Officials will correct the lineup when received from the scorers. Lap scoring will occur on the lead car. If a yellow or red flag appears, scoring will freeze and all cars that have crossed the start/finish line on the lead lap will be lined up in that order for the restart. All other cars that have not yet crossed the start/finish line will be lined up according to their order on the previously completed lap. Lapped cars will be placed at the rear of the field, lined up in their running order.
- Lead car(s) must maintain a consistent speed from when the caution light is turned off until the green flag is displayed.
- All heat races after 1 lap is complete will be single file restarts. There will be a cone on the front stretch, Do Not Pass Before The Cone.
Lapped Cars
- Lapped cars will be placed at tail of the field for restarts in order of their running at the time of the caution.
Flags
- If you are involved in an accident on the speedway at any time and stop on the track, you will be placed at the tail for the restart.
- If you are involved in 2 solo yellow flags during one race event, you will be disqualified from that event.
- If you are involved in a caution on the initial start, you will not receive your original starting spot back. You will go to the tail.
- Any car that does a 360 spin and does not bring out a yellow flag will continue to race where it falls in line. If any car does a 360 spin and keeps going, but is the cause of the accident, that car is to blame and will be sent to the tail of the field. The flag person will determine if a yellow flag is needed and will have final say why it was displayed.
- Under a red flag, all cars must stop and must not pass crash site. Cars that have ample time to stop, but still pass crash site and keep safety crews from reaching accident site in a timely manner will be disqualified for that race.
- A race is considered complete when the checkered flag is waved. If a yellow or red flag must be thrown after the checkered flag waves, the race is officially over, and the finish will be scored as follows. Any car that crosses the finish line before the caution appears will be scored in the position they cross. Any car that does not cross before the caution or red flag will be scored in the same manner as a yellow/red flag restart.
- With a black flag, if the black flag is waved you are disqualified from that race and must return to the pits. Failure to leave track will result in disqualification from all races for the remainder of the evening, and all points and money for that evening will be forfeited. Any car not running at a reasonable racing speed may be subject to a black flag for safety reasons.
- A driver may stop at the flag stand ONLY under the condition to address a valid safety concern. If a driver stops on the racetrack for any other reason or a safety reason is not verified, they will go to the tail.
- IF YOU STOP ON THE TRACK, YOU WILL GO TO THE TAIL. There is no “tap out” rule.
Driver Changes and Eligibility
- FOUR CYLINDERS: Driver changes are not permitted at any point. The car you register with is the only car you can compete in for that night.
- OTHER CLASSES: Driver changes are permitted only once per night per driver and must occur prior to the official start of a race. The official start of a race is defined as when the field enters the track, and scoring for positions begins after one green flag lap.
- If a driver wishes to make a change, either the driver or the crew chief must inform the officials of the change BEFORE cars are entering the staging area. You must allow ample time for the scoring tower to update their lineup. Failure to do so will result in loss of points and pay for that event.
- Once the race has officially started, no driver changes are allowed.
- The new driver, when switching cars, must start at the tail of the field.
- Points earned will be awarded to the driver who starts the race, regardless of any subsequent driver changes.
- If a driver changes cars, the car they initially started with is no longer eligible to be raced for the remainder of the night. No other driver, including the original owner, can race that car for the duration of the night.
- Eligible “Replacement” Cars
- For a “replacement” car to be eligible for a driver change, that car must have been previously registered to another driver and raced in a race that day. (Heat Race or B-Main)
- Driver Eligibility: Previous racing experience is required for drivers under the age of 16. Drivers under the age of 16 must seek approval, prior to competing. Drivers under 18 years of age must have a parental consent form signed by parent(s) or legal guardian(s).
- Driver Registration, payment, and Waiver forms must be submitted.
- No earnings will be issued until required W-9 tax forms are completed and returned. Drivers are considered an independent contractor and as such are responsible for all charges and taxes on any funds received.