Podium eSports Elite Series Rulebook

GENERAL RULES AND REGISTRATION

Series Registration Procedure

1. The 2019 Season Pass Fee will be $45. Season Passes will cover a Drivers Entry into every race on the Podium eSports Elite Series event. 2. Following each race, the Season Pass fee will be reduced $1.10, so following 5 events, the Season Pass would only cost $39.50 3. Upon registration, Podium eSports Administrators will be in touch within 72 hours to receive payment. 4. Drivers must hold a Class C 2.0 License or Above during the Podium eSports Elite Series Season 5. Season Passes in the Podium eSports Elite Series are non-refundable and non-transferable. 6. Drivers who are parked in an event, suspended, or banned will NOT receive a refund of any sort from Podium eSports. 7. Podium eSports reserves the right to park, suspend, or ban any Member they feel is detrimental to the Series as a whole due to actions on or off track. 8. Drivers are required to own a Season Pass before being allowed to Qualify for an event. 9. Ownership of a Season Pass does NOT guarantee that the driver will be eligible to race in the Feature for each event. Drivers still must Qualify into the races each week. 10. Driver numbers will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. Drivers will not be allowed to choose a number until their entry fee is paid.

General Rules

1. Drivers are responsible for the actions of anyone who may enter as a crew member, spotter, or team member. 2. The season will consist of 26 points races, with the addition of “Duels” prior to the Daytona event. 3. If Podium eSports Officials feel as if a driver is under the influence of Drugs or Alcohol, Podium eSports Officials may park that driver for the remainder of the night. 4. Verbal Abuse of any Podium eSports Administrator or Official will result in an immediate removal from the server, along with a minimum of a 6-week suspension from ALL Podium eSports Events. 5. Interpretation of rules, procedures or scoring positions by Podium eSports shall be final, non-appealable, and not litigable. 6. All rules and regulations in Podium eSports Elite Series rulebook are subject to interpretations by Podium eSports Administrators and Officials.

CAR APPEARANCE REQUIREMENTS

General Rules

1. All cars must have a clean and professional look. 2. Sponsors need to be kept PG and only feature LEGAL US products. 3. All sponsors and designs must be appropriate for broadcast. 1. No Corporate sponsors are allowed without written consent provided to Podium eSports 2. No drivers may alter a Corporate logo in hopes of bypassing any copyright issues 3. Any sponsors in the iRacing Paint Booth ARE permitted 4. Cars MUST be kept to the correct manufacturer (Ex. - A Ford Fusion cannot be changed to a Ford Mustang) 4. Podium eSports Elite Series Contingency Packs are required to be run at each event. Drivers are only allowed one “grace event” and then every event following that where decals are not displayed, those drivers will not receive points. 5. No other League Decals or Contingency Packs are permitted on track at any time. 6. Podium eSports Officials may park drivers if their sponsors or paint design is deemed inappropriate. Drivers that are parked from an event due to this reason will receive last place Points. 7. Paint Schemes may be asked for a submission to the broadcast team. If so, all drivers will be required to submit their paint schemes for the series. Failure to do so will result in driver default schemes showing on the broadcast.

Car Numbers and Names

1. All drivers must have clearly visible Car numbers on their cars each and every week. 2. Car Number colors must be different than the base color of the car. (i.e. – a white car is not allowed white numbers) 3. Driver Names are also required for each driver participating in the Podium eSports Elite Series. Driver Names must be clearly visible above both doors. 4. Names should reflect the Official iRacing Name OR “Nickname” assigned by the Podium eSports Administrators. 5. Names should feature the same characteristics as with Car Numbers. (Rule #2 under “Car Number and Names”)

Series Sponsors and Contingency Packs

1. Series Sponsors and/or Contingency Packs ARE required to be displayed each and every event. 2. A window banner may be created based on sponsorship and will be released before the season begins 3. Inability to place contingency packs and/or window banners on your car is NOT an excuse to run them. Gary Sexton and Scott Austin are both available if you need help placing the decals.

DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS SYSTEM

Showdown Format:

● Full points reset for Round 1 with bonus points based on Race Wins added (3 points per win) ● For Round 1: ○ Gold Division: Top 15 will begin the Showdown in Round 1 ○ Silver Divison: Top 12 will begin the Showdown in Round 1 ● Round 1 Tracks: ○ Darlington Speedway ○ ○ ○ ● Heading into the Final Round, Drivers who Advance to the Final Round will get 3 bonus points per win from Round 1 ONLY ● For the Final Round: ○ Gold Division: Top 5 Advance to the Final Round ○ Silver Division: Top 4 Advance to the Final Round ● Final Round Tracks: ○ ISM Raceway ○ ○ ● Champion based on Points ONLY ● No Bonus Points for Wins will be awarded in the Final Round, drivers can only carry Bonus Points from Round 1

Points System:

● Points are ONLY awarded if a driver takes a green flag for an event. ● Three (3) Drops will be allowed in the first 15 events of the season ● The final ten events can NOT be dropped ● Feature Winners that make the Showdown will get 3 Bonus Points in Round 1 (These will NOT be factored in until the Chase begins), same will happen when the Final Round begins but only wins in Round 1 will be factored in ● Drivers will be seeded by Bonus Points in Round 1, and the Final Round also (only 3 per win) ● No Driver automatically advances based on wins and wins ONLY give Bonus Points if they advance to the following rounds

Total Points Awarded Per Race for Gold Division:

1. 90 2. 89 3. 88 4. 87 5. 86 6. 85 7. 84 8. 83 9. 82 10. 81 11. 80 12. 79 13. 78 14. 77 15. 76 16. 75 17. 74 18. 73 19. 72 20. 71 21. 70 22. 69 23. 68 24. 67 25. 66 26. 65 27. 64 28. 63 29. 62 30. 61 31. 60 32. 59 33. 58 34. 57 35. 56 36. 55 37. 54 38. 53 39. 52 40. 51 41. 50 42. 49 43. 48

Total Points Awarded per Race for Silver Division:

1. 45 2. 44 3. 43 4. 42 5. 41 6. 40 7. 39 8. 38 9. 37 10. 36 11. 35 12. 34 13. 33 14. 32 15. 31 16. 30 17. 29 18. 28 19. 27 20. 26 21. 25 22. 24 23. 23 24. 22 25. 21 26. 20 27. 19 28. 18 29. 17 30. 16 31. 15 32. 14 33. 13 34. 12 35. 11 36. 10 37. 9 38. 8 39. 7 40. 6 41. 5 42. 5 43. 5 44. 5 45. 5 46. 5 47. 5 48. 5 49. 5 50. 5 51. 5 52. 5 53. 5 54. 5 55. 5 56. 5 57. 5 58. 5 59. 5 60. 5

PRACTICE & QUALIFYING PROCEDURES

Practice Procedures

1. Practice will be tied to the Qualifying Servers for each event. 2. All drivers within those servers are expected to treat it just like you would an Official Race Server on iRacing. 3. No intentional wrecking or spinning will be allowed. 4. Drifters will be removed immediately if this occurs. 5. Drivers resetting in the racing groove will be warned, then removed if it persists.

Qualifying Procedures

1. Podium eSports will attach the Qualifying Server to the Race when there are less than 60 total drivers for the Series OR Groups 2. Qualifying will be Single Car, 1 2 laps with a time limit 3. Driver MUST complete a Qualifying Lap within the first 5 or 10 minutes, based on Admins Discretion during the Qualifying Session 4. IF the Series is split into two divisions, Officials may have an extended Qualifying for the Gold Division for TV time

RACE PROCEDURES

General Procedures

● All drivers must be on time in the server(s) to compete in the events for which they are scheduled. ● Any driver late to the Drivers Meeting will be giving an EOL Penalty. ● Any qualified car may be driven in any event by a registered Podium eSports Elite Series Season Pass Holder. However, the driver who starts the car in the race will be awarded driver points for the event. ○ Drivers who are being “subbed” for can NOT enter the event in another vehicle ○ The Driver taking over that car will run the Original Drivers Car Number ○ Trucks that have “fill-in” Drivers will be sent to the rear of the field when Pace Laps begin ○ As stated above, Championship Points will be awarded to the Driver who took over the car, but all Team Points will remain with the car ○ Drivers are only allowed to take over any other car three (3) times this season ○ This Rule is in place to help out teams who may have more than four (4) drivers and are close in points ○ Abuse of this Rule will be monitored and Podium eSports Officials reserve the right to deny any Driver this opportunity for any reason they see fit ● Only cars that are locked-in may be subbed for, Drivers can NOT “fill in” spots on the grid where there is room. ● No car will be permitted to continue in competition if, in the opinion of presiding Podium eSports Officials, the car is a hazard to the other cars in the event. ● A 1.5 Second Rule will be in place at track one mile or shorter, and a 2.5 Second Rule will be in place at tracks larger than one mile ○ If a driver is not running within the posted time above in association with that events leader, then they will be asked to come down pit road to either repair more damage or take tires to get within the above times ○ If the driver is still not within the times above in association with that events leader, then the competitor will be asked to park ○ This does NOT include drivers who are off tire sequence with the leaders, only those who are on the same tire sequence, or with substantial damage ● There will be NO resets allowed. ● Weather will be Dynamic across all servers when all sessions are within one server. (Heat Race Servers or Gold Division Servers) In the event where Practice & Qualifying servers are separate from the Race servers, then Default Weather will be used. (Rule Amendment made on December 27th, 2018, NOTE: Was in the 2018 Rules package, but was somehow omitted from 2019.)

Race Procedures ○ iRacing Pace Car and Flag Rules will apply within all events. ○ Cautions will be Admin Controlled and called by Chief Competition Director Kyle Barnes unless otherwise announced in the Drivers Meeting that night. All caution flags are discretionary calls made by Race Control in an effort to maintain a green flag condition when safe to do so. (Rule Amendment made on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: Change made following the 2019 S1 Updates allowed for Admin Controlled Cautions) Updated January 26th, 2018 ○ Anytime the Caution is waved ALL drivers need to go Single File in the order iRacing has put you in and move to the inside of the racing surface allowing the Lucky Dog a clear way around ○ No car may pass the pace car unless directed to do so by Race Control OR iRacing. Any car passing the pace car unapproved will be assessed a one (1) lap penalty. ■ During a given caution period only one (1) car is eligible for the “Lucky Dog” per caution period. That car may be any number of laps down to the leader but the Lucky Dog will go to the first eligible car. If the first eligible car was part of the incident on the track which resulted in the current caution period, or the car eligible for the Lucky Dog pits/wrecks, this car will forfeit their privilege and this privilege will not be passed on to any other car during the same caution period unless iRacing chooses to do so. Once the car passes the pace car, that car must restart at the tail end of the longest line. ■ Vehicles on the rear of the lead lap, in front of the race leader, and immediately behind the pace car may be directed to pass the pace car and proceed to the rear of the longest line. These vehicles may not advance until directed by the race director. ■ IF the above-mentioned drivers were waved around due to a glitch they may pit, if they were waved around to catch the tail of the field before a “One to Go” signal then they may not pit. Officials will announce whether Wave Arounds are allowed to pit or not ○ All drivers should stay in iRacing’s order until Podium eSports Officials review the incident(s), you need to pit, or an Official tells you otherwise. ● For 2019, an “Equal Fault” Rule will be used in the Podium eSports Elite Series and will work as follows: ○ This rule will place equal fault on the two or more, initiating drivers who brought out the caution ○ Those drivers will be given an “EOL” Penalty and both will be given a strike ○ The only exceptions will be Netcode, Intentional Contact, and Aggressive Driving ○ Race Officials may issue penalties during the race under green flag conditions for incidents that do not bring out a yellow. Furthermore, Race Officials may issue penalties ‘post-race’ after reviewing replays for any rule violations. ○ In special cases where the actions of one driver were more egregious than the other, then Officials can step in and act as they see fit to override the “Equal Fault” Rule (Ex. = intentionally causing car contact to cause a caution, dive-bombing another driver from 1.5 or more car lengths back, etc.) ○ Otherwise, Officials will remain out of making calls that could be questionable for either party ○ This rule is in place to prevent inconsistencies from one Race Control Official to the next ○ Race Officials reserve the right to call “Racing Deals” with stack-ups, pit mishaps, or anything outside of normal racing contact the racing officials deem appropriate as a ‘racing deal’. (Rules Amendment added on January 26th, 2018. NOTE: These calls we made during the 2018 Qualification Series in certain instances. We’re simply putting it in writing as requested by some drivers.) ● A “Tapout” Rule will be used and will work as follows: ○ In the event of an accident, both drivers will have two laps to choose to “Tapout” to an accident ○ The driver who decides to “Tapout” will be given an EOL and One Strike ○ The other driver will be allowed to blend-in wherever iRacing places them ○ This provides drivers a chance to call their own accidents in an act of good faith ● If “Netcode” is the cause of a Caution any and all drivers involved in the “Netcode” collision will be sent to the rear of the field, but drivers caught up will not. For example: Driver A and B have a “Netcode” collision and both spin. Driver C had nowhere to go and is also collected. Drivers A and B would receive EOL Penalties without Strikes, however, Driver C would be allowed the iRacing Blend Rule Updated January 26th, 2018 ● EOL’s will be given out within the first 3 laps of a caution period. Drivers receiving EOL’s will NOT be eligible for Lucky Dog or Wave Arounds. (Rules Amendment added on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: This was the case for most all situations during the Qualification Series, simply putting it in writing as requested by some drivers.) ● If ‘netcode’ is deemed the cause of the accident, neither of the drivers will be penalized and may merge in where iRacing tells them to. ● “ARCA Brake Rule” is now in place and will work as follows: ○ When the caution is waved ALL Drivers need to ease off the gas and onto the brake, iRacing freezes the field at the point of caution so no reason to stay in the throttle. ○ Only Drivers that are in the middle of a wreck should be driving out of it. (Example: If a Driver slowed down someone could possibly come across the track in front of them, whereas if they hit the gas they can clear them before they do) ○ Drivers who never lift off the throttle at the point of caution and hit a parked or slow-moving car, after the main wreck has finished, will be Disqualified from the race. ○ Drivers that have spun or wrecked on the track should NOT move their cars until there is a clearing. Drivers who move into traffic as they try to get going again and cause contact will be Disqualified. ● Any arguing about a call made by a Podium eSports Administrator or Official, whether thru voice or text chat, will result in an immediate removal from the Race Server, no exceptions. ● A Three-Strike System is in place for 2019 and will work as follows: ○ Strike #1 = EOL ○ Strike #2 = EOL for Equal Fault OR Stop-N-Go for an egregious accident ○ Strike #3 = Parked for the Remainder of the Event ● Any driver who intentionally stop on track and force Race Control to throw a caution will be parked for the remainder of the event. (Rules Amendment added on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: Previous penalty was a 5-lap Hold, but due to us moving to Admin Controlled Cautions the penalty has been increased.) ● Any driver who intentionally causes a caution by stopping on track or intentionally spinning will be parked for a minimum of 5 laps ● iRacing’s Black Flags, such as Passing Under Yellow and Speeding, will be in effect and will NOT be cleared unless it is a glitch or a mistake by a Podium eSports Official. ● Drivers who lie about their Black Flags will be Disqualified post-race and lose all Championship Points. Those Drivers will also be suspended for six weeks from all Podium eSports Events. ● Pit Road Procedures: ○ Stay to the right side of pit road when coming down pit lane ○ Drivers are only allowed to move left or if a driver ahead is going well below the speed limit (3mph below or more) ○ Drivers should use no more than three (3) pit stalls entering their box, and three (3) pit stalls exiting their box ○ Extreme Ghosting is NOT allowed (I.E. – Driving through two or more “ghosts” on pit road to gain time or improve position | IF a driver gives those positions gained back, then a penalty will not be given) ○ Drivers must obey the iRacing Blend Line wherever the series goes ● Drivers will be limited on tires for each event, and officials will announce those limits in the Drivers Meeting ● Shifting will NOT be allowed unless a race is taking place at the following tracks: ○ Any Road Course ○ Turn 1 & 2 of ○ ● Restarts will be Double-File Lapped at the Back ● The Initial Start will be on iRacing Green Flag ● Restarts will be in a designated Restart Zone to be discussed in the Drivers Meeting each week ● ALL Restarts will be on the Race Leader ONLY. If the iRacing Green Flag is displayed before the Leader goes, drivers must still wait on the leader to fire inside the designated zone. (Rules Amendment added on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: This is to prevent any confusion if the green flag glitches out before leader has fired.) All Restarts taking place after the ‘initial race start’ will be on the leader. The leader must wait for the pace car to pull in. After the pace car pulls in, the leader may go at any time, but must fully accelerate once the green flag from iRacing is dropped.

● The leader will be allowed Lane Choice up until the one-to-go signal but must notify officials via text or voice chat. ● The leader must hold Pace Speed within 3 5 mph +/-. The leader may set his Pace Speed to whatever he would like between that zone. Failure to hold this speed will result in a warning from race control, and any infraction after that will result in a black flag. ● The leader MUST maintain an even speed until the iRacing Green Flag on the initial start of the race or Restart Zone. Any Driver that increases or decreases his Pace Speed once the pace car pulls off may be subject to a penalty at Race Controls Discretion. ● The second place driver must stay even with the leader up until the point when the Green Flag is displayed on the initial start or the Leader fires on a restart. (Rules Adjustment made on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: Clarifying the rule.) ● Everyone from third place through the back of the field must stay in line until they get past the Start/Finish Line unless they are trying to avoid causing a wreck. Failure to do so will result in a Stop-and-Go Penalty ● Lap Cars should always give the leaders the outside lane to pass, with the only exception being at road courses and SuperSpeedways. At road courses, lap cars should maintain their racing line when being pass by leaders. At SuperSpeedways, lap cars should maintain their line with the lead cars decision. If the lead car of a group stays low, then all other behind then should remain low, etc. (Rules Adjustment made on December 27th, 2018. NOTE: Added SuperSpeedway to the exceptions list.) ● A car may not receive any assistance via pushing, by another competitor. Violation will result in the car not being scored for that lap. ● When the checkered flag is displayed, it means the race is completed if finishing under Green. ● IF a caution waves within 5 laps before the Checkered Flag then all Drivers must get in line for a Green, White, Checkered Finish ● Green, White, Checkered Finishes will take place after the checkered flag waves and here are the procedures: ○ All drivers must stay single file until after the start/finish line ○ Once past the start/finish line, Drivers still on the lead lap and only one lap down will double up for an attempt at a Green, White, Checkered ○ Everyone more than a single lap down must exit the racing surface ○ Once the pace car dives off the track then the field will take the Green Flag and begin the first attempt at a GWC ○ If a Manual Caution is displayed before receiving the White Flag then the field will be frozen immediately at the call for caution, minus the cars involved in the wreck which will blend back in ○ Drivers will be lined back up and another attempt will be made until the Leader receives the White Flag ○ If the field gets the White Flag, then the next flag will end the race ○ There will be no limits one attempt at a Green, White, Checkered Restarts ○ Post-Race Points Adjustments / Notes on Danlisa will be made to show the Official GWC Finishing Order. ● The winner of the event will bring his/her car to the start/finish line (or victory circle). All others will enter their pit area immediately after receiving the checkered flag.

Appeals

• Any registered driver in Podium eSports LLC, maybe submit an appeal to the Podium eSports Gaming Council. If you are submitting an appeal, you must include: your name, attached evidence, the rule broken in question, the penalty that race control gave you and your appeal. The appeal must be submitted within 48 hours after the completion of your event. Please send all appeals to: [email protected] • A minimum of (3) Gaming Council Members must agree to hear your appeal. If (3) Council members do not agree to hear your appeal, your appeal is then considered invalid. If your appeal is granted to be heard, you will be instructed on what to do by the Chairperson of the Council, Mr. John Theodore. • After your appeal hearing is granted, your appeal will be heard within 5 business days. • The Gaming Council’s ruling on an appeal is final and may not be re- appealed. • The Gaming Council has FULL authority to lessen, keep the same, or issue a harsher penalty than the driver has already received. • Drivers may NOT appeal specific rules as they are written, or request penalties be issued for other drivers; drivers may only appeal a ruling that was issued to them.