4/10/2016
Cedar Lake Speedway Procedures for Traditional Sprints
With the UMSS Traditional Sprint Car Series season opener at the Cedar Lake Speedway likely to get underway with a double header (two complete programs) on April 15-16, here are the normal race procedures Traditional sprint teams can expect at the track during our scheduled 13 appearances in 2016.
All Traditional sprint car drivers will draw at the pit sign-in gate at CLS when they enter the pit area. Chris Stepan usually handles the draw process when you sign-in. He will read off a draw number and record it on his master list. When draw cut-off ends, CLS redraws another number and that number becomes the baseline in determining heat race lineups. For example, you draw 234 out of 300 at the gate. The redraw number is 225. You would be in the top nine numbers drawn for all divisions and very likely be sitting on the front row of a heat race. This is how CLS handles the draw for all weekly divisions in determining heat race lineups.
All race lineups will be entered in the CLS Speednet computer and posted in the pit area on the lineup board along with all of the other divisions. UMSS may have a dry-erase board in the pits as well indicating the lineups and other information at a designated area, but the Speednet lineup printout from CLS will be posted in the normal manner for weekly divisions at CLS.
The vast majority (possibly all) of the Traditional sprint car shows at CLS will run heat races and a feature only. The scheduled distances are 10 laps for the heats and 25 laps for the feature. If necessary, we may have to run a B Main depending on car count. The car count cut-off for the number of heats is 16 or less equals two heats, 17 or more equals three heats. Although not likely, if we reach a car count number in excess of 28 cars or more we may have to run four heats and a B Main. The number of cars scheduled to start the feature race each night is 20. At their discretion, CLS may add cars to the feature and pay start money up to a total of 24 cars should the need arise.
Heat races will line up according to the draw as indicated in #1 above. Feature race lineups will be based on passing and finishing points earned in the heat races according to the UMSS point chart in the rules. The top four drivers in points following the heat races will redraw for the top four starting spots in the feature. The remainder of the lineup will be determined by points earned in the heats and will line up highest to lowest. Rookies who are racing in their first three shows for the season will start tail-end in each race. The tail-end starting requirement for rookies is waived after three nights unless the driver elects to continue to start tail-end in each race OR they simply are not ready to take their designated starting spot based on their inability in their first three races to show they have reasonable control of their car. The UMSS has done this for several years, and it has worked very well. Seldom does a rookie driver need to go past three races. We've had a few elect to start tail-end for a few more shows, but I cannot recall anybody being told they needed to after their first three shows. IF ANY driver for some reason (possibly a mechanical issue) wants to start tail-end in the feature race, please make sure you report this to a CLS or UMSS official as soon as you can so we can adjust the starting lineup accordingly.
Scoring transponders are REQUIRED at CLS. CLS has their own MyLaps transponder scoring system that was in use for the first time last season. It generally worked very well. They also have about 20 transponders for rent each race night should a driver not have one OR his/her transponder is not working. On some nights CLS rents out all of them based on demand, so IF you do not have a properly working scoring transponder you should definitely make sure you rent one early in the evening. Cars without properly working scoring transponders are scored manually, and although we will make every effort to accurately score the car, there are no guarantees you will be placed in the proper running order on a restart should you not have a properly functioning scoring transponder. CLS tests the transponder scoring system during hot laps. We'll let you know if yours is not working. If you do not hot lap and come out for your heat race and it is not working, we will of course let you know so you can remedy that situation for the feature.
GRP is planning to be on hand for all UMSS events at Cedar Lake Speedway and will help coordinate race lineups and procedures from his position in the west side tower. Other UMSS officials will be located in the pit area and/or infield during the evening assisting with the racing program. Ron Bernhagen will be at CLS for most of the Traditional sprint car shows. UMSS will be in charge of teching our cars. The CLS track scales will be in use for the top five finishers after each heat race and feature event. With the exception of how CLS handles the draw for weekly divisions in determining heat race lineups, everything else is standard Traditional sprint car racing procedure that all competitors who have raced with us in the past are used to. All other UMSS rules will be in effect. If you have any questions on race night, please contact one of the UMSS officials on hand.
We look forward to getting our season underway soon and want to thank everyone for their upcoming support. Best of luck to all teams throughout the 2016 racing season, and here's hoping it is another safe, successful and enjoyable racing season!
Article Credit: Greg Parent, UMSS Media Director
