NDRL stiffens penalties, will honor suspensions
John Kennedy
Becoming the first organization vowing to honor tire-cheating suspensions of other series and tracks, the first-year National Dirt Racing League stepped up its fight against chemically-altered rubber with penalty-stiffening rulebook changes.
The John Kennedy-founded national tour, which also operates the regional ULMS tour and McKean County Raceway in East Smethport, Pa., won’t provide refuge to drivers who aren’t able to run at other series or tracks because of tire-cheating penalties. NDRL also plans heftier fines for violators in its own events, along with 90-day suspensions of first-offense drivers whose lab-tested tires don’t meet manufacturer’s benchmarks.
"By increasing the penalties for these infractions we hope to open some eyes within our sport about how big of an issue this is,” Kennedy said in a news release. “I speak on behalf of the entire NDRL team when I say, we as an industry, need to work together to put a stop to this type of rule-breaking.
“I believe that we, as an industry, should enforce a ban against these rule-breakers regardless of where they get caught. Nothing is stopping these guys from competing somewhere else if they are banned from a certain track, series or sanction. We have to work together; I believe unity is a solid place to start.”
The NDRL, which launched in 2013 with a five-race schedule, watched its opening weekend of races at Paducah (Ky.) International Raceway and Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 lose luster when apparent I-55 winner Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn., was stripped of the $20,000 victory because one of his tires failed a lab test.
Owens, a two-time Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series champion, denied using illegal tires but the series refused to hear his appeal, saying the request lacked merit. The winner’s check went to declared winner Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, initially the runner-up.
NDRL’s disqualification of Owens came within a month of three other high-profile drivers being stripped of finishes, including Jason Feger’s apparent $20,000 Illini 100 victory on the World of Outlaws Late Model Series at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway.
NDRL announced its stiffer penalties in light of the spate of disqualifications, the series said.
“Everyone in this industry — from the track owners to promoters, officials, drivers, crew members, car owners — everyone works extremely hard to build a strong reputation with their peers within the sport,” said NDRL president Jason Shank. “When someone breaks a rule like this it does nothing but tarnish that reputation for all involved. The driver’s reputation obviously takes a huge hit, but so do the series's, track's, promoter's, official's, and sponsor’s reputations. When these rules are broken, it’s a huge black eye for the entire industry.”
When Owens was disqualified, his penalties included the loss of purse money and points. He’s also required to pay a $1,500 fine and reimburse the series for costs of lab test before being allowed to compete in NDRL competition.
Under stiffer penalties announced Tuesday, first-offense fines will be half of the winning purse where the tire was used. (For instance, a $10,000 fine at a $20,000-to-win race.) The series also added a minimum 90-day suspension to previous penalties.
The series also stiffened penalties for multiple violators, adding a one-year suspension and a fine of 75 percent of the winner’s purse for drivers with a second offense. A third offense would bring a lifetime ban and fine matching the winner’s purse of the event. All offenses also carry driver disqualification, forfeiture of all earnings, points, and reimbursement of all lab costs.
“This issue has become a serious problem in our industry and we will not tolerate breaking of these rules from anyone,” Kennedy said. “First and foremost, depending on what is being used in these tires, it’s extremely dangerous for anyone coming in contact with it. Whether it is physical contact or just breathing in the fumes these chemicals release when in use, it may make for an unsafe environment.”
Kennedy added that those using chemically-altered tires are being unfair to competitors or fans.
“A fan should be able to leave our events knowing who won the race or where their favorite driver finished that night. They shouldn’t have to read in a press release a week later that what they saw in person isn’t what the final outcome really was.”
For more information on the revised NDRL rulebook, visit thendrl.com.
Correction: Clarifies that NDRL is the first to honor tire-cheating suspensions; the South Eastern Crate Association in January instituted a rule to honor suspensions of other Crate Late Model organizations for engine violations.
