Short Version
To lessen the caution flag, Xcel features will be counting caution flag laps starting immediately.
The feature this week at Hamlin will be extended to 30 laps (from the originally set length of 20 laps) and the caution flag laps will count toward the 30 lap event.
There will be an Xcel Drivers meeting for all race teams and you will have the opportunity to comment on the policy change.
The Long Version
The Issue:
There is one problem that has been a consistent damper on the series – a lack of green flag racing.
The series promotors are aware, the race teams are aware and, in the stands, if you sit next to the fans of racing who are not families of Xcel teams you will notice that they are aware as well.
This has led to tracks being a little sour on the series and Xcel Chassis owner Doug Borger has been taking corrective actions incrementally in an attempt to remedy the problem.
Some of those steps to date include working with people who are spinning frequently by communicating, single file restarts when there are multiple cautions, changing the area where the start zone is and having a three-spin rule when needed.
Without specifically saying, one of the tracks made it clear that it is a problem and will be going forward if not solved. It has been a factor in tracks adding us to the schedule and generally not a favorable look for what is otherwise a terrific series with talented drivers and some great racing.
Case in point:
Last tour race at Hamlin was cut short after a series of yellows elongated our feature over 20 minutes and it was just half way.
Spin rules, single flag restarts are helping, but still there are nights when the class is just not on par and caution after caution fly.
The Next Step:
After some careful consideration, here is where this is leading..
The races at the AMA sanctioned events on our calendar this year will see our division racing alongside motorcycles. It is a fit that is beneficial to both classes. We get to be a part of the venue and they gain the advantage of our division running in the track in places giving them an opportunity to have more racing lines. Racing at the Bloomsburg Fair and BAPS are alongside the AMA.
When Xcel attends those events – caution flag laps will count. This is already part of the program and was/is a condition of our involvement.
Starting this week at Hamlin, caution laps are going to count.
To soften the down side of this, Xcel is going to elongate the feature from 20 laps to 30 laps. If the race is green all the way you will have 10 extra laps, but if it goes the direction it did last week, caution laps will count and a total of 30 ‘competition’ laps is all that will determine the contest.
At the descretion of the race directors, if there is an incident that requires time to clean up, cars may come to a stop on the front and the lap counting will stop.
There is going to be an Xcel Drivers meeting at the trailer this week and YOU will have the opportunity to comment on this at that time.
Goals for Implementation:
Be clear that no one wants this. Xcel included, but it is going to be tried on the idea that it will help the series become a healthy thiving class that race tracks want to see drive into the pits.
Some of the stated goals include:
- Preventing drivers who could have continued from bringing out the caution to help their individual cause
- Prompting teams that are seasoned in the class to help those struggling in a mentorship way with setup and driving tips
- Implementing a two-spin rule on occasion if someone is having a bad night and needs some help retiring from the show
- Putting more focus on clean passes and less on winning from the first turn type of driving
Understandable, this is often a learner’s class in some respects no matter how you implement rules there are still going to be incidents. There have been times in the past when there were ‘rookie’ class races, AND that has been discussed with it being too much of a time factor so it was shot down.
Again, it isn’t a first-choice solution, but the time has come and this is not intended to be a permanent change.
