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Step 1
Study the rules for the various types of racing on dirt tracks. Sprint cars have different rules than midgets. Research them and understand them. This means not only knowing the on-track rules but also the off-track rules, such as tire size, engine requirements, body needs, weight and a host of other variables.
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Step 2
Watch and understand the intricacies to see how rules are used. If your track allows it, get a pit pass, which allows you access to the garage area. Here you can watch officials at work helping prepare racing teams for the track.
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Step 3
Learn about the flags. Green means go and checkered means the race is over. Memorize what the other flags mean. Understand the yellow and red flags and the blue flags with an orange stripe down the center. Know what the black flag symbolizes. Flags are the visual way to communicate race conditions to racers who cannot speak to officials while the race is happening.
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Step 4
Ask an official at your local track if you can shadow them for a night. The officials are busy people, and there is no better way to see how they spend their time at the track than following close and asking questions.
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Step 5
Contact your local track and find out what kind of regulations and experience they need in a track official. Learn about dirt racing from the Midwest Dirt Racing website (see link in Resources).
