The FFRL is a PG-13 league and the overall goal is to bring friends and family together, have some fun, make new friends and experience some good, competitive racing. The FFRL hasn't forgotten that drivers are here to compete and race hard against each other. That's a big part of the fun of sim racing and it's encouraged in the FFRL. These rules are not intended to muzzle drivers' instincts or discourage hard, clean racing and respectful competition. Just the opposite, they are here to ensure that drivers understand what is expected.

The admins and members of the review committee are here to enjoy sim racing, too. They are volunteers who have lives and better things to do than review replays for cautions and argue with drivers over grievances and penalties. In an effort to minimize their work and the impact on their time, all drivers are reminded to exercise discretion, race with respect and remember the rules.

Scoring will be based on the Winston Cup points system for each Cup Series. The Thursday Night Series uses the FFRL Custom Points system unless otherwise noted by the series.  Drivers not able to attend a race can receive provisional's if notice is posted in the selected area on the FFRL Community Forums prior to the close of that nights event.

In the event of a tie, the championship will be decided in the following order of consideration; most wins, most top 5's, most top 10's, most races participated in. If a tied condition still exists, the championship will be determined by a head-to-head race off between the tied drivers. The league administrators will determine the track and settings used for the race off.

1.1 Provisionals - For each Cup Series, provisional points are awarded 1 position below last finishing position.  Drivers can use up to 5 provisionals prior to the start of the "Chase for the Cup".  During Chase mode, provisional points are not granted.  In the Thursday Night Series, if using Custom Point System, 1 pt is awarded for provisional points.  Up to 3 provisionals are permitted throughout the length of the series.

2.1 FFRL Server/Ventrilo/Driver - Information such as server IP's, passwords, ventrilo passwords, driver(s) emails, or personal information regarding the FFRL or it's drivers is strictly confidential to the FFRL and it's drivers. Abusing such information is a banable offense and will NOT be tolerated by any means.

2.2 Driver Name - The "handle" that you input on your application will be used throughout the FFRL.  This handle must be your driver login, forum name, and seen on ventrilo so others recognize who is who.

2.3 Forum Account - All drivers will be registered to the forum boards upon approval of membership. Account creation will be made once approval of your application.  Your "handle" on the application will be used as your login name.

2.6 Punctualness - Each event starts with 90 min practice followed by qualifying and then a 10 minute happy hour. Drivers not logged in prior to the conclusion of qualifying will not be able to enter the event.  Servers will not be reset.  Drivers not in their car at the end of happy hour for the start of the race will have to wait until they are given the "green start". 

2.7 Connection quality - It is the responsibility of each driver to assure the league and his/her fellow driver the best possible connection.  If any driver has been informed by the Race Administration that he/she is warping, the driver either has to go to the rear of the field and discontinue close racing or move to pit road and wait for the connection quality to improve.  All servers, starting with the 2010 season, will allow a max latency of 350.  Once the 350 has been breeched, the software may disconnect the driver.  The race administration has the right to eject a driver if they persist in competitive racing or refuse to leave the event.

2.8 Race Inspector - The FFRL uses an anti-cheat detection client called "Race Inspector".  After their first month, drivers are required to pay the yearly fee of $6.00 (.50/month).  Or pay in 3 month segments.  If you have paid your fees with another N2003 league and can have it confirmed by Race Inspector, the fees will be waived until the expiration date.

2.9 Conduct -  Driver will not flame (yell at and/or insult) another driver before, during, or after any event. If a driver feels another driver has acted inappropriately, they should contact the admin through private email. The forum and race chat will be monitored and censored by the admins. We suggest each driver turn on chat logging within their "player.ini" file.  This option logs all conversations that come acrross your chat window and even whispers.  Flaming, offending and disrespecting another member or potential member will not be tolerated. Penalties and/or suspension can be administered because of flaming violations. Private messages in the game, forum or email to insult or threaten another driver could call for an instant dismissal as well.

Chat logging instructions: With windows explore, navigate to your Papyrus install directory.  Under the "Player" folder, open up the file named "player.ini".  Scroll down until you see the following:

[Misc]
log_chat_to_file=0 ; Log chat pad to a file

Changing the "0" value to "1" will turn on chat logging.  After your next online event, you will see a file in the main directory labeled "chat_YourName__.log".

2.9.1 Language - Foul and/or abusive language will not be tolerated.

2.10 Car Files - All drivers are allowed to start with 1 car file per series.  A maximum of 4 Cup and 2 Thursday Series are available with the purchase of VMS funds. All N2003 car files MUST be named as follows: The season of the FFRL followed by an underscore then the drivers number followed by an underscore then the version of the file; A, B, C or D.  Example: "FFRL9_17_A". Car files may be compressed (default N2003 setting) or uncompressed. Any car files submitted with nudity or artwork in bad taste will be refused at the sole discretion of the FFRL staff. Please submit car files to admin@ffrl.org.

5.1 Event Practice - Practice session prior to the events race runs from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm EST. “Hot lapping” is only permitted in the first ½ hour of practice, 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm EST. The remainder of that time, drivers are encouraged to adjust their setups (if an open setup series), tire wear runs, and practice running in traffic.  All drivers should exercise courtesy and caution as if under race conditions.  Drivers causing grief by continuing to “hot lap” through the remaining hour of practice may be told to park their car for the remainder of the session by the race administration.

5.2 Restarts - A race will only be restarted; (1) if within or on the first 6 laps 25% of the field is out of the race due to accident (damaged or retired cars do not count toward the 25% ), (2) if the race server crashes, (3) or 50% or more of the drivers are disconnected. If one or more drivers suffer from any form of connection troubles that can result in loss of track position or individual disconnection, but the aforementioned criteria for a restart are not met, the results of that race are final and cannot be disputed. A caveat to this rule is that an administrator can decide to restart a race at any time solely for the sake of playability and enjoyment for all.

5.3 Chatting - During the qualifying session and green flag conditions there will be no chatting other than auto chat messages. There will be no chatting under yellow conditions on last lap before green except auto chat messages. Drivers are to prepare for the restart and fall in line. Only AUTO CHAT messages will be tolerated under green like; Sorry, Thank you, Pitting this lap, etc... Ventrilo users should keep chatting during green flag conditions to race related chat only. Under yellow flag conditions Ventrilo users are to be considerate of the others on the voice chat and allow time for spotter’s instructions to be heard. All none race related chatter on Ventrilo should come to a halt before turn 3 on the last lap of yellow.

5.4 Blocking - Allowed only in the last 3 laps of an event, blocking is described as changing your line to match the movement of the car behind you, thus preventing that car from attempting a pass. Example: If you are running a stable line in the low groove and the car behind you moves to the high groove, then you move to the high groove to impede his progress or break his momentum, that is blocking. Blocking before the last 3 laps of the event will result in a 20 point penalty per lap.

5.5 Your Pit Box - When entering and exiting your pit box, you are permitted to use the pit box (providing there is not a car already in it) before and after yours. At no time may drivers drive through the entire line of pit boxes to reach their own, or to exit the pits. Not following correct procedure to enter/exit your pit box may cause you to have to re-pit.  After exiting their pit box, drivers should use the far right lane for exiting pit road.

5.6 Using the Apron - On ovals, cars are not allowed to use the apron as a racing lane or as a passing lane. On most ovals there is a yellow or white line that designates where the racing line ends and the apron begins. All cars must stay above the line except when qualifying, when it may be used to run fast lap for pole position. Instances that may force you below the line, avoiding an accident, etc.. will be judged by the Race Administration.

Penalties:
1st offense – sacrifice position
2nd offense – black flag
3rd offense – park car

5.7 10 Laps to Go - All drivers 1 lap down or more must pit the 2nd or 3rd time by to allow lead lap cars to race for the finish.  Failure to pit by the drop of the green will result in a black flag. 

5.8 Intentional Wrecking - Flagrant and intentional wrecking at any time during an official league event will not be tolerated. This is otherwise known as "punting". Using this type of system to gain on the field, or payback a driver,  is considered as unsportsmanlike conduct.

Penalty:
1. Driver is ejected and DQ’d from race without provisional points.
2. Driver benched the following race WITHOUT provisional points.
3. Void of receiving ROTY award.
4. Void of receiving Sportsman award.
5. Driver put on probation for the remainder of the season with all Series in the FFRL.
6. Further aggravation could lead to ban.

The opening series of the FFRL was called the Pro Cup Series.

5.9 No Passing until Backstretch - At the drop of the green, there will be "no passing or forward advancement" on the car in front of you until after exiting turn 2.  This rule was put in place for the 2010 season to deter against jumps on starts/restarts and over-aggressive racing into turn one (1).

Cars that are damaged may move down to the inside lane allowing the driver to pass.  Drivers on the lead lap do not have to stay in position with the line of lapped cars to their left and vice versa for those that are lap(s) down.  Remain in check to the driver directly in front of you.

Rule stays in effect until the exit of turn 2 and NOT in the axis of turns 1 and 2.  Passing the field prior to the exit of turn 2 can result in the Race Administration to instruct you to fall back to final car.

Passing on the start is permitted if that start falls into the last ten (10) laps of the race.

Drivers or Teammates abusing the rule by allowing a driver in front to gain a jump on the field will result in the driver being issued a black flag for "setting" the race and placed on probation for the remainder of the year for all series within the FFRL.  The driver may be required to submit a replay showing their throttle/brake input.  Failure in submission of the replay falls into the rules and guidelines of "2.5 Replays".

5.10 Jumping the Start - Accelerating faster than pace speed before the drop of the green is considered as "jumping the start". Another example of "jumping" is staying back in the field and timing it so that when the green drops, you're on top of everyone. Both methods are illegal moves in the FFRL and in NASCAR. Pace speed is announced on the opening laps of the race.  The Race Administration allows a 5 mph buffer due to internet and replay.  If found over the 5 mph safety zone, you will be considered as jumping the start.

Complaints alleging violations must be made within 24 hours after race completion in order to be considered by the administrators. Complaints are only accepted via email at admin@ffrl.org A detailed explanation of events is to be provided, including the lap numbers in which the incident took place.

The league administrators will rule on all violations. All judgments made by the administrators are final. All penalties will be assessed at the discretion of the administrators. To be able to reach a fair judgment the participants will be responsible for providing a replay of the incident in question. As such it is advisable for all race participants to retain a replay of each event for a minimum 24 hours. The replay submitted should show two laps prior to the incident through two laps following the incident. Do not submit an entire race replay. If a full-length replay is provided to the administrators, it will be discarded and not used in reaching a final judgment.

Rules updated and revised January 2010.