Season 2 brings us some interesting changes and updates. League admins and owners should be very happy with some of the updates in this release! Here are the highlights from the iRacing 2019 Season 2 release notes.
iRacing Beta User Interface
- Vehicle damage is now optional for hosted sessions created within the iRacing beta user interface. You can toggle damage ON (the default setting) or OFF. With damage off, the cars in the session are indestructible. There will be no damage from collisions of any kind and car performance will not be adjusted for any damage that would normally result from an impact. All iRacing official series or any other non-user created events, vehicle damage will remain ON. The no-damage feature is for hosted events and test sessions only.
- For all table views, you can now sort the table by clicking the header in a column. These sort values will be saved when leaving the screen and when exiting the application.
League Seasons
- League seasons can now be configured to drop races. This is especially valuable for leagues since the Dan Lisa scoring system is broken in terms of the way it handles consolation races.
- League seasons can now be edited to change the season name, the point system, or the number of races to count (i.e. number of dropped races). Changes to the season only apply to the races run after the change was made.
- A new point system has been added as an option, called “Dirt.” This option corresponds to the 2019 USAC non-Silver Crown point system. The USAC system is shown below.
Competition points are based on finishing position in the feature event. In addition, three (3) competition points are awarded to the fastest qualifier, and three (3) competition points are awarded to the leader of the most race laps (most recent lap leader breaks a tie). Participants utilizing a “Provisional Starting Option” will earn Feature Race points.
| Qualifying | Heat Races | Consolation Races | Feature Race |
|---|---|---|---|
1st --- 6
|
1st --- 8
|
1st --- 4
|
1st --- 70
|
2nd --- 5
|
2nd --- 7
|
2nd --- 3
|
2nd --- 67
|
3rd --- 4
|
3rd --- 6
|
3rd --- 2
|
3rd --- 64
|
4th --- 3
|
4th --- 5
|
4th --- 1
|
4th --- 61
|
5th --- 2
|
5th --- 4*
|
5th --- 1*
|
5th --- 58
|
6th --- 1
|
6th --- 3*
|
6th --- 1*
|
6th --- 55
|
7th --- 2*
|
7th --- 1*
|
7th --- 52
|
|
8th --- 1*
|
8th --- 1*
|
8th --- 49
|
|
9th --- 46
|
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10th -- 43
|
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11th -- 41
|
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12th -- 39
|
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13th -- 37
|
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14th -- 35
|
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15th -- 33
|
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16th -- 31
|
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17th -- 29
|
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18th -- 27
|
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19th -- 25
|
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20th -- 23
|
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Balance of field: 23 points each
|
- *These points are only awarded to entries finishing 5th on back in a Heat Race and transferring directly to the
Main-Event. - Participants earning Heat Race points will not be eligible for Semi-Feature points.
- Entries utilizing a “Provisional Starting Option” will earn Feature Race points but will forfeit semi feature points.
- When applicable entries utilizing a “Race Organizer Option” will not earn Feature Race points but will retain any
points previously earned during the race meeting. - All licensed car entrants and drivers will receive ten (10) points if not transferring to the feature event.
For anyone reading this who has little or no league owner/admin experience, all of these league improvements are a very big deal!
League Heat Race Results
For League Heat Races, the ‘Points’ column now reflects the points earned in the heat race segment. A new column called ‘Agg Points’ has been added. This column displays the total points accumulated from the first segment to the current segment.
Engine Model
iRacing has added an engine cylinder torque model. This will cause some cars to stall at very low RPMs (below idle rpm). The anti-stall aid should be disabled to experience this action.
New Tire Model Version 7
The New Tire Model Version 7 (NTMv7) will roll out during 2019 Season 2 beginning with the Skip Barber Formula 2000, aka the Skippy. If you want to try this tire model this season you will have to do some testing in the Skippy. This tire model has significant enhancements in rubber compound and tire carcass dynamics. The tire model should be on every vehicle soon®.
League Racing
- League Heat Races cond now earn championship points.
- The Feature Race, or Main, is allocated points based on the season’s selected point system.
- Qualifying, Heats, and Consolation Races can be allocated points if properly configured and the point system is not set to ‘None.’
- Points schedules and rules for Qualifying, Heats, and Consolation Races are based on USAC’s 2019 points schedules for non-Silver Crown races. See the points table above for details.
- Stacked consolation races only allocate points to the final consolation race.
iRacing Dirt
Reduction to tire grip on dirt surfaces as the hardpan is approached has been amplified.
Admin Commands
iRacing has added a new Admin command, ‘!trackstate’. A session admin can now view and change the track state for the next session. Example: An admin can view the track state near the end of practice and change the track state for the next session, if so desired. This is a great addition. I can see using this to simulate some track re-prep before the feature.
Dirt Late Model (All)
- The front packer adjustment increments have been changed from 1/4 inch to 1/16 inch.
- Minimum damping is enforced while in the garage. Damper (shock) adjustments will no longer influence static heights and weights.
- Default setups have been updated. Custom setups may have to be adjusted.
Dirt Midget
- Minimum damping is enforced while in the garage. Damper (shock) adjustments will no longer influence static heights and weights.
- Default setups have been updated. Custom setups will probably have to be adjusted.
Dirt Sprint Car (All)
- Minimum damping is enforced while in the garage. Damper (shock) adjustments will no longer influence static heights and weights.
- Default setups have been updated. Custom setups will probably have to be adjusted.
Dirt UMP Modified
- Minimum damping is enforced while in the garage. Damper (shock) adjustments will no longer influence static heights and weights.
- Default setups have been updated. Custom setups may have to be adjusted.
Super Late Model (Asphalt)
This car needs some serious updates. Let’s hope it becomes a race-worthy vehicle again. iRacing has made the following changes to the SLM:
- New aerodynamic information has been applied.
- Brakes have been updated.
- Small front-end geometry tuning.
- Three inch ride heights are now legal.
From that, it sounds like the iRacing Asphalt Super Late Model is probably dead until there is a major overhaul.
Charlotte Motor Speedway
Numerous additional track configurations have been added, including:
- The full NASCAR Oval has been updated.
- Roval Long
- Legends Oval updated
- Legends Road Course Short – .72 mile
- Legends Road Course Medium – 1.25 miles
- Legends Road Course Long – 1.5 miles
That’s about it for most of the updates. League owners and admins should be pretty happy with the much-needed attention to iRacing league systems.