RULES

NGQMA Race Rules

All races are run under the NASCAR Youth Series rulebook and USAC procedures unless NGQMA rules below specifically modify them.

Click the button to go to the NASCAR Youth Series rulebook.

NYS Rulebook

Practice

Open Practice is from the Friday before an event to Saturday morning. The Race Registration page will specify when Open Practice is closed on Saturday.

Schedule of Events

  • Practice → Driver/Handler Meeting → Heats → Lower Mains → A Mains.

  • All drivers/handlers must attend the Driver/Handler Meeting to race.

  • Weather or car count may modify schedule.

Membership, Registration & Fees

  • You must be a current NASCAR Youth Series member and a member of NGQMA to earn points.

  • If we are not your home club, you must be a current NASCAR Youth Series member and a member of another NYS/USAC club to race.

  • Online registration deadlines apply.

Handers & Safety Checks

  • Handlers must sign waivers and zero tolerance forms at registration to compete.

  • Cars need a valid NASCAR Youth Series/USAC safety sticker.

    • No sticker after heats = tail of lowest main.

    • No sticker after mains = DQ.

Rookie Classes

  • Red Rookies are required to run a locked rear axel.

  • If a rookie is struggling to line up or go bumper to bumper, the Race Director may put them at the tail so the race can continue.

  • No aggressive driving or dive-bombing. A rookie will first be given a warning, but may result in a penalty if the behavior continues.

Tires

  • Right side tires must be marked after heats or qualifying. This is the handlers responsibility.

  • If there is a lower main you may run a different tire.

  • You must run your feature race with your marked tires from the heat race or qualifying.

  • No right-side tire changes in feature races unless damaged and approved by Race Director or Tech Director.

Heat Race Lineups

  • Heat grids are random by pill draw.

  • Passing points are awarded in heats to determine main event lineups.

  • Ties in passing points are broken by who had the better heat finish.

Warm-Up Laps

  • Red Rookies will not run warm-up laps at any time.

  • Feature races will have a 30 second Warm-Up Lap session before the start of the race. Following this session the cars will lineup and start normally.

Race Time Limit

  • There will be a 20 minute time limit for all heat and lower main races.

  • Time will begin from the first green flag.

  • Time continues through a yellow flag

  • Time pauses on a red, then continues with the next yellow flag.

  • Last completed lap when time ends will determine finish unless the the checkered flag is taken.

  • If time stops under green flag conditions, race will continue until the next flag with that flag ending the race. Finishing position will be last lap completed.

Table listing lap counts by class, division, heats, lower mains, and A-Main for various motorcycle classes.

Race Procedure Rules

Strikes / DNF / DQ

  • DQ — Chief Steward may disqualify a driver for:

    • Flagrant or deliberate rough driving

    • Disobeying flags

    • Signaling to driver by handler under green

    • Making repairs/adjustments on track

    • Improper safety equipment

    • Defensive driving — 2nd offense (blocking)
      (Note: Race Director has final authority on conduct calls.)

  • DNF — A driver is scored as Did Not Finish for:

    • Car operated in an unsafe manner

    • Three chargeable strikes in a race

    • Loss of driver-related safety equipment

    • Oil/fluid on track under green/yellow

    • Loss of ballast during a race

  • Strikes are counted during a race for on-track incidents that violate conduct expectations (definitions per NGQMA/USAC conduct standards; see full rulebook Appendix II).

Medical Red & Track Work Rule

  • If outside EMS treats a driver and transports them, a signed medical release is required to return to racing.

  • Under medical red, no work on cars; once released, work may resume as directed.

  • NGQMA Work Rule applies: car must be on ground rolling within 5 laps to continue.

Tech Procedure

  • Top 3 finishers are impounded for tech.

  • Random classes may be selected for additional tech inspection.

  • Tech decisions during race events are final for championship points.

  • If DQ’d post tech, you may not drop that race from season points.

Hot Chute / Staging Rules

  • Must have a wristband to be in the Hot Chute, Staging Area, or the Pits.

  • No tire warmers or heat guns in staging/hot chute.

  • No fueling, cranking engines, or driving through staging lanes.

Zero Tolerance Code of Conduct

  • Zero tolerance for unsportsmanlike conduct (verbal abuse, threats, aggression).

  • Violation may result in zero points and/or suspension, as determined by NGQMA officials.

  • Complaints must be submitted in writing within 48 hours.

  • If DQ’d for breaking the Zero Tolerance code, you may not drop that race from season points.

Scoring & Approach Rules

  • Do not approach scorers in the tower during events about calls or scoring — this can lead to DQ.

  • You may always speak respectfully to the Race Director to understand a call, but calls are final.

  • Scorers determine lineup positions and finishing order (manual or electronic scoring).

Order of Finish

  1. Lead Lap Finishers

  2. Lead Lap DNFs

  3. Lapped Finishers

  4. Lapped DNFs

  5. Disqualified Cars (DQ — scored after DNFs; points based on finish order)

  6. Did Not Start (DNS) — did not take green

  7. Did Not Attempt (DNA) — signed in but didn’t attempt

  8. Technical Disqualification (TDQ) — no race points

Drivers’ Finishing Rules Explained

  • A DNF car is ordered by laps completed and then last green flag running order.

  • Three strikes in a race = DNF (not DQ).

  • Disqualified cars are scored after DNFs for that race.

NGQMA Points System

Red and Blue Rookies do not compete for points as they are training classes.

There are 10 points races in the season. Final championship points will be decided from your driver’s 8 best finishes.

You are awarded points for your finishing position as well as passing other cars. The charts below break down how the scorers will calculate those results.

A chart illustrating steps for a certain process, with rows numbered 1 to 8 and columns numbered 1 to 8. The chart contains numbers from 39 to 67, with some cells shaded in gray and outlined in black.
Table illustrating passing points structure for heat races, with finishing positions 1 through 8, corresponding points for each position, and notes on how points are awarded based on number of cars.

Tie Breakers

Ties in points are broken by:

  1. Most A-main wins

  2. Most second-place A-main finishes

  3. Most third-place A-main finishes
    … and so on through finishes.

Rainout & Cancellation Policy

  • Heats Completed, Features Rained Out
    If all heat races or qualifying positions are completed and a full race lineup has been set for every class, and a rainout occurs before the feature races, the finishing order will be based on the established lineup.
    This lineup order will be used as the official finishing order and will determine points for that race day.

  • Heats or Qualifying Not Completed
    If all heat races or qualifying are not completed for all classes, the event will be called and rolled over to a scheduled rain makeup day.
    No official finishing order or points will be awarded until the makeup race is completed.

Final Authority

  • NGQMA Race Director and Officials have full authority on race conduct, scoring, and points application.

  • All decisions are final and may not be protested on-site (follow written protest procedures).