[ Post a Response | Competition Eliminator Racer Forum ]
Posted by Len Imbrogno To clear up some of the additional rumors:
on October 4, 2006, 1:04 pm, in reply to "NHRA-please explain why Butner was not required to take a zero?"
66.146.50.34
Everyone,
I have had several calls on this issue and there are a number of incorrect statements and assumptions that have been made regarding the actual policy and what really occured.
Firstly, the actual rule in the NHRA policies and procedure manual reads as follows:
"A determination will be made as to the degree of infraction incurred and the resultant penalties. Under normal circumstance, penalties would include":
A- A zero point charged against the competitior's total event quota. i.e.,(1 of 8 divisionals) OR
B- A zero charged against the competitors applicable event quota. i,e,. 1 of 5 divisionals.
(forcing him to take the zero)
The NHRA elected to apply "A" and here is why.
Bo's car was deemed legal for AA/SM. With an index of 8.15, as long as the car did not go quicker than 7.50 he could run this car in NHRA competition indefinetly and be legal. At an 8.15 index this car could run 65 under and be competitive.
When Bo's car staged and began his run, this car was totaly legal, however, the second it crossed the finish line and ran quicker than 7.50 it was disqualified because of the chassis rule. Prior to crossing the finish line on his sub 7.50 run, was there any flagrant violation, hidden or otherwise, that would deem this car illegal to run? The answer is NO. Therefore in the opinion of the NHRA, the disqualification was not the result of a flagrant violations such as any ilegal components or any intensional factor to mis-represent the facts that would make this car ilegal when it began its run.
With the new chassis requirements, this type of situation could happen to others in Comp and the decision would be the same.
1- At no time prior to the Indy points event was Bo's team ever told that they could not run this car because it was illegal. As stated above, the car was legal up until it crossed the finish line faster than 7.50. They were, however, told that if the car ran quicker than 7.50 that it would be disqualified and could no longer be run until updates were made. The team understood this.
2- There were no demands or threats by any lawyer that forced NHRA to do anything regarding the zero point issue. The 0 for 8 decision was made from day one. This organization makes decisions based on facts not threats
I hope this clears up some of the confusion regarding this issue.
