Know Before You Go · 2026-02
2026 Inaugural Season (Heavies) Rules
Introduction
The KartDay League Racing Series is an arrive-and-drive kart racing program. KartDay does not own or operate racing facilities; it organizes league racing at partner venues. This rule book explains how events are run and what is expected of every competitor. Each driver is responsible for knowing and following these rules. KartDay and the Race Director may modify these rules at any time to fit a particular event or an unforeseen situation. Race Director decisions are final and are not subject to appeal or protest.
Driver Eligibility
Minimum Age: set by each venue — check with the venue before registering. Physical Condition: kart racing is fast, competitive, and can be dangerous. Drivers should be in good health and able to safely handle a kart at speeds above 50 mph. Experience: KartDay may exclude any driver it considers unsafe or insufficiently experienced, at any time. New drivers are encouraged to take a class or clinic and get on-track practice at the host venue beforehand, and may be asked to demonstrate ability.
Registration, Cancellation & Refunds
Registering: pre-registration is required for all KartDay events, first-paid first-served; only fully paid entries are guaranteed. You must also register separately with the local venue, which has its own rules for registration, cancellation, and refunds. Cancellations & Refunds: all sales are final and non-refundable. You may reschedule to another event of the same program type (subject to availability) with seven or more calendar days’ written notice by e-mail; requests inside seven days are not allowed and forfeit the full price, as does a no-show. You may transfer your entry to another eligible driver with 48 or more hours’ notice; transfers inside 48 hours are not allowed. Event Changes: KartDay may need to cancel, reschedule, or modify a scheduled event.
Safety Requirements
Each venue sets, and typically supplies, its own required safety equipment. Check with the local venue.
Driver’s Meeting & Sessions
Drivers Meeting: mandatory for all drivers; covers that day’s specific issues, not a full reading of the rule book. Supplemental Rules: bulletins and announcements made at the Drivers Meeting carry the full weight of the rules. Missing a Session: you will not be moved to another session — a missed session is scored DNS (Did Not Start). Wrong Session: entering the wrong practice or qualifying session voids your time for that session (you may still run it) and scores a DQ for your actual scheduled session. Entering the wrong race session sends you to the pits to restart last in your correct session. Wrong Kart: If you can safely make it back to the pits to swap into the correct kart before the race starts, you can re-enter the field in your correct starting position, or at the back of the field, at the convenience of the race director. If the session has already started, competing in the wrong kart will result in disqualification and a DNF for that session.
Event Format
Below is the most common format, check event notes and local venue for changes: Format: up to 90 entries per event a maximum of 30 karts +1 on track at once is the common format, but not the rule. The common format will include a qualifying session, a heat race, and a Main. Qualifying: run groups and karts are drawn at random. Timed or lap-limited, depending on the venue; your best lap seeds you into your heat race. No waiting for other drivers, stopping on track, drafting, bump-drafting, or team play. Heat Race: one rental session or a set number of laps, depending on the venue. Grid is set by qualifying results, with a double-file side-by-side rolling start. Main Events: seeded by heat finish (qualifying breaks ties) into the A, B, or C Main. Two-by-two rolling start. The Main winner advances to start last in the next Main, keeping the higher-finish points, and may reuse a kart driven earlier that day.
Equipment & Weight
Equipment: karts, tools, fuel, parts, and timing gear are venue-provided. No personal equipment (other than safety gear) may be used. No driver-made adjustments or repairs to the karts are allowed. Violators face penalty or ejection, and are financially responsible for any resulting damage. Kart Selection: assigned by random before each session. No voluntary kart changes; a switch is allowed only for a mechanical defect confirmed by Mechanical Staff. Weight Ballast: allowed only where the venue permits it, and only venue-approved types (weight vest, seat-mounted lead sheet, or venue-affixed ballast). Drivers are responsible for reaching and installing/removing their own ballast, within a one-pound tolerance. Unapproved or unlabeled ballast is subject to penalty. Securing Ballast & Personal Items: anything you bring (ballast, cameras, etc.) must be labeled with your name and securely attached to you or the kart; loose or unsafe items may draw a penalty. Weigh-In: you must be at proper weight at the end of each on-track session and may be weighed at any time. Wait in the pits until weighed, and don’t exchange items beforehand. Missing minimum weight by more that the 1-pound will result in disqualification and a DNF for that session. Radios: no driver-to-driver or driver-to-crew radio communication during competition.
Grid & Starting Procedures
Grid: be in your assigned kart, properly equipped and ballasted, on time. Rolling Starts (2x2): grid in 2x2 formation (pole has the preferred inside line). Most venues consider the out-lap as the warm-up lap and you will take the green the first time by. The front row must accelerate at the green; the field follows in a nose-to-tail, in-line formation without front-to-back contact. Moving out of line early, breaking formation, or contact before the start line may be penalized. Passing is allowed once through the start/finish line. 1st Position Privilege: The driver in position ONE (P1) has the option to swap positions with the driver in position TWO (P2). The rest of the field should remain in their original position. Waived-Off Starts: no green is shown; drivers try again next time by.
Flags
Flag use is venue-dependent; the following is general guidance and may not apply everywhere. Green: start or restart of a session. Yellow: danger ahead, slow down and be ready to stop; no passing until clear of the incident. Waving Black: report to the pits immediately. Rolled Black: A rolled or furled black flag is a courtesy warning of a near-infraction, no pit stop required. Red: slow considerably and stop on track; stay in your kart until instructed. Blue with Stripe: faster traffic is approaching, move off-line smoothly, with no sudden moves or stopping, to let them by. White: one lap remaining. Checkered: session or race complete, slow down and enter the pits. Black & Checkered: result unofficial, under review. Slow down and enter the pits. Official Race End: RACE DOES NOT END UNTIL CHECKERED FLAG IS WAIVED. Race until the checkered flag is waived. A completed race does not depend on the lap count, white flag, or repeated white flags. The checkered flag is the only official end of a race.
Pit Lane Procedures
Entry: there is no hot pit — once you enter pit lane after the green flag has flown, you cannot rejoin. As a courtesy, raise a hand before pitting to signal your intent. Post-Session Weigh-In: All drivers or any drivers are subject to post-session weigh-in.
Driver Conduct & Penalties
Conduct Sportsmanship: race fairly, follow the rules, respect other drivers, avoid contact, and accept results graciously. Drivers are responsible for their guests’ conduct as well. Inadvertent Contact: some contact between karts is inevitable; the Race Director and officials judge when it crosses into deliberate pushing, bumping, crowding, nerfing, or blocking. Overtaking: to claim dominant position, the overtaking kart’s nose must pass the other kart’s midpoint (usually steering wheel) before the turn-in point. Racing Room: give other drivers enough room to avoid contact or being forced off course; this applies whether you’re passing or being passed. If a driver obtains dominant position, you must give them a lane. Subsequently, if you are the driver with dominant position, you must give the other driver a lane. Unless you can confirm that that you have fully passed the other driver, assume that you must still give them a lane. Crowding: denying racing room may be penalized even without a resulting position change. Deliberate Contact: intentional bumping, nerfing, or pushing risks penalty, up to and including ejection, depending on severity. Bump Drafting: Is a venue by venue rule. Gain From Contact: a position gained through contact, even unintentional, may be penalized unless the driver hands the position back as a show of good sportsmanship. Cutting the Course: leaving the track or cutting an apex risks penalty or disqualification, at the Race Director’s discretion. Re-Entering the Track: re-enter as far off the racing line as possible, giving other karts room to avoid contact, and only at a point that gains no time, distance, or position advantage. Penalties range from black flag to disqualification. Blocking: pick a line and hold it, more than one non-reactionary move to defend position may be called blocking. Passing Under Yellow: give back any position gained under yellow within one lap by pointing the overtaken driver by or face a penalty. Ignoring a Penalty Flag: failing to report to the pits within two consecutive laps of a black flag means disqualification. Potential Damage: a kart suspected of damage or a mechanical issue may be black-flagged for a safety inspection. Penalties Black Flag: report to the pits immediately, used for both rule violations and mechanical issues. An official will explain the reason; drivers who receive a black flag may not rejoin the race. Position Penalty: may be issued for any race infraction. Video Review: incidents may be reviewed during or after an event; an incident missed live may still be penalized afterward, using the full range of penalties.
Mechanical Failures & Damage Liability
Your assigned kart is yours for the session unless officials rule it unfit to continue; you may not switch voluntarily. Mechanical Failure (no driver fault): repaired at no cost; you’re credited points based on your last time across the start/finish line, minus two spots. Crash Damage / Driver Abuse: Handled by the venue. Generally repaired and billed to the driver at fault. Replacement Karts: a failure before the start of a session gets a replacement kart. A failure during a session will get a replacement kart depending on the venue’s preference.
Championship Points
Event Points / Championship Points: During each on-track session drivers will accumulate championship points based on their performance. (Note that event trophies will be handed out by finishing position in the main, not by points accumulated on the day). See the points system defined for each season for specific point values.