AREA iRacing Announces Key Rule Updates for the Upcoming Season
February 13, 2025 —
Following multiple administrative meetings and a dedicated team owner meeting with the League Voted Council (LVC) present, AREA iRacing is implementing several rule updates and clarifications for the upcoming season. These changes aim to improve competition integrity, team management, and driver accountability across all series.
Incident Point Adjustments
After reviewing past seasons and gathering feedback from drivers and officials, the following changes will be made to the wreck score system:
Racing Incident (No Fault Found): No change to points (0).
Shared Fault / Failure to Slow for an Incident (ARCA Brake): +1 point added to wreck score.
These adjustments are designed to clarify responsibility in on-track incidents and ensure drivers remain aware of their actions in close racing situations.
Wreck Score Carryover
All drivers will start the new season with 0 wreck score, except those who finished with 6 or more, who will start with 1 wreck score.
Drivers returning with:
2 or 3 wreck score will serve an EOL (End of Line) penalty in their first race back.
4 or more wreck score will serve a drive-through penalty in their first race back.
These updates ensure that incidents from the end of the previous season are held accountable while allowing drivers a fresh start with responsible on-track behavior.
Team & Charter System Updates
One of the most discussed topics in the off-season meetings was the charter system and team management structure. The following changes have been made to streamline team operations and improve competitive balance.
Off-Season Team Sign-Ups & Charter System (6.8)
Returning teams with 51% or more starts from the previous season retain their Returning Team Signup Period.
Teams may only retain the number of cars they fielded last season.
Teams meeting the participation threshold (51%) and not relegated may sell their spots, pending approval from the League Voted Council (LVC) and AREA Competition Board.
The LVC will oversee all team transactions and act as an intermediary for team owners.
If no team applies OR no team is approved for a relegated charter, it rolls over to the next season, but the last-place team in standings will still be relegated unless they maintained 85% or higher attendance.
These changes ensure that the charter system remains competitive while maintaining fairness for long-standing teams.
New Team Sign-Up Period (6.9)
After Returning Team Signups, New Team Signup & Open Signups will begin.
This period lasts a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 7 days at AREA’s discretion.
New teams must submit driver and operational details, after which LVC will oversee and collaborate with current series team owners, however LVC will have final say on approvals.
This process aims to regulate new team entries and maintain the competitive integrity of the league.
Team Disqualification & Charter Market Oversight (6.10 & 6.11)
Teams below 51% participation lose their Returning Team Signup Period rights.
If all teams exceed 51% participation and more than 32 team spots are eligible, the last-place team in points loses their Returning Team Signup Period eligibility.
Relegation is waived if the last-place team maintains 85% or higher attendance.
The LVC oversees all team sales but final decisions on relegated charters remain with AREA leadership.
Teams cannot regain a lost charter through direct reinstatement and must reapply if spots are available.
These measures solidify team accountability and reinforce competitive commitment across the board.
New Driver & Registration Rules
In addition to team-related adjustments, AREA iRacing is implementing changes to driver registration and participation rules.
Unchartered Drivers Losing Their Spots (7.4)
After three consecutive unexcused DNS (Did Not Start), league officials will reach out to the driver.
If the driver does not respond by the fourth missed race, they lose their spot.
A removed driver must re-register and can only return if a spot is available.
Registration Deadline (7.5)
Registration will now close after Week 11 of the season.
These adjustments ensure active participation.
Number Assignments (7.6)
Returning chartered drivers will retain their existing car numbers.
If a driver wants to change their number, the process reverts to the previous system based on team standings from the prior season.
This ensures stability in car numbering while still allowing flexibility for drivers seeking a change.
Conclusion
These rule updates have been carefully crafted after extensive discussions among the AREA administration, the LVC, and team owners. The primary goal is to maintain the integrity of the league, encourage participation, and ensure fair competition for all drivers and teams.
The AREA iRacing team appreciates the dedication of its members and looks forward to another exciting season with these refinements in place.