SLM DQ's at NSS

[Boneman]

New Smyrna ran a 75 lap SLM race tonight in the World Series, but ended up disqualifying the winner and third place finisher. Their crimes? A fuel safety valve violation. Yes, they knew what they were doing when they violated the safety rule, it was no accident, but in my opinion it was a bad call by tech.

Pre-race tech is supposed to pick up on safety problems. If something found, either before or after a race, make them fix it before coming back, maybe even give them a small fine. However taking away money and points for this is excessive. The World Series Championship has always been a coveted prize, and now neither team has a chance of winning it.

If it happened to me, I would know that the outcomes can be manipulated over minor issues, so I would load up, head back north and race at more rational venues.

[xracer54]

Watch out

New Smyrna ran a 75 lap SLM race tonight in the World Series, but ended up disqualifying the winner and third place finisher. Their crimes? A fuel safety valve violation. Yes, they knew what they were doing when they violated the safety rule, it was no accident, but in my opinion it was a bad call by tech.

Pre-race tech is supposed to pick up on safety problems. If something found, either before or after a race, make them fix it before coming back, maybe even give them a small fine. However taking away money and points for this is excessive. The World Series Championship has always been a coveted prize, and now neither team has a chance of winning it.

If it happened to me, I would know that the outcomes can be manipulated over minor issues, so I would load up, head back north and race at more rational venues.

Watch out Bony, You will not be allowed to race there if you say anything bad about NSS.......You will become one of the most hated racers in Florida, and if you do make it to Tect, there will not be a piece of your car that will still fit on the trailer after they are done Tecting for your 3rd place finish. I'm just saying........CYA

[pkirky33]

Do you really think they just forgot to put the internal pieces back in the check valve? They obviously feel there is some sort of advantage, I wonder how many other teams are replacing them today. You should know how all this works, I'm sure someone planted the seed as to what some where doing.

[Boneman]

If my belts are out of date, the inspector will note it and I have to fix it. If the fire extinguisher is not charged, if the window net is the wrong design, if something is not safety wired, all of these safety issues will get me a warning and I am obligated to fix them.

This was a fuel shut-off valve that caused the problems. I have one on my car; they are used to keep the fuel in the tank in case of accident or leak. These teams seem to think the valves restrict fuel and affects the engine. That sounds odd to me, but they are the experts. No one "forgot" anything. My opinion is that tech used bad judgement in giving the death penalty for a jay-walking offense. It is bad for the series that relies on the big-name stars to come back night after night.

Maybe the #51 and 91 will take it better than I would.

[Racefan99]

Only one of the two teams claimed they "forgot" to put the pieces back in the shut-off valve. The 91 team admitted it was intentional, and said they've been doing it for awhile.

Nasse is the only one who gave the lame excuse. No surprise there.

[turnleft]

irony alert

The not so funny fact about the Oberg safety device, is that it was put into the rules because of the lack of safety at NSS. You had a better chance of your car not burning to ground on I-75, then NSS. They had a couple of bad fires that they could not put out, due to fuel. I hope they have resolved the problem with there fire safety equipment. In my opinion, fine the teams money for dismantling safety equipment, but taking the win and points is too harsh in my eyes..... Vince P.

[Circledude]

Ricky Brooks has required this in all our races since last year. Surprised NSS has just started this.

[racin24dev]

You can't expect.

I think it would be a little much to have teams take off fuel lines in pre tech to check for the internals of the Oberg valve. They do check to make sure it is visibly there.

It's seems to be common for teams to have a restriction of fuel flow due to the valve and that's why they gutted the insides of it, which I can understand and relate to (I had the problem just this last weekend).

This wasn't necessarily done by the 91 & 51 as an advantage, but I think it was to prevent a disadvantage or problem from happening. I don't think the valve needs to be gone away with, but I do think it needs to be designed better because I'd rather wreck and tear a clip and fuel pump off than have my whole car burn up in flames. JMO.

Devin.

[ScotD]

DQd was it right or wrong well a Rule is a Rule , was it an advantage , well read the whole explanation from 91 team and notice crew chief mentioned that a 2 barrel needs that extra flow and that's why he had theirs gutted. If your belts are out of date well that's your fault and should have changed them , but that will not make a difference of the performance of your car. Now back to the rules and inspection, no their not gonna take your check valve apart before a race and possibly cause a problem with the mechanics of your car by removing it for inspection best time to check is after the race and if it's gutted well shame on you , you know why you did it, so live and die by the consequences of what you do to your car, teams I have worked for through the the years knows exactly what has been done to their cars and if they are called wrong then so be it we got caught, move on an make it right.

[Boneman]

If there is a situation where a mandated safety component affects performance, then that part needs to be changed, and a better one specified to take its place.

A DQ on the winners, after a long race is run, is the wrong approach IMHO.

[shorttrackcar1]

yea rules are rules and tech did the right thing . doesn't matter before or after the race. how STUPID!!! do you have to be to gut out something that may keep you from leaking fuel and burning alive in a bad crash . or how about this what if they were in a wreck involving another car and there fuel leaked out and cause someone else to burn up or die . maybe on something like this tech should have sent them packing .

[turnleft]

good point

yea rules are rules and tech did the right thing . doesn't matter before or after the race. how STUPID!!! do you have to be to gut out something that may keep you from leaking fuel and burning alive in a bad crash . or how about this what if they were in a wreck involving another car and there fuel leaked out and cause someone else to burn up or die . maybe on something like this tech should have sent them packing .

So two cars are in wall firewall deep, one has there Oberg gutted, one does not. The gutted Oberg car, catches fire, causing the none gutted Oberg car to also burn to the ground. Now it seems to be a big problem for the guy who lost his whole car because someone took it upon themselves to dismantle the safety product.

I took it upon myself to call two major engine builders who have tested this Oberg product on there dyno. neither one had any fuel pressure problems.

[bubba]

In this particular case, because of the nature of the part and what it is intended to prevent AND it's affect on others, not just yourself, I think it was the right call. Further I can see why they didn't check them in prerace. HOWEVER, IF HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO CHECK THEM, THEY SHOULD HAVE EMPHASIZED IT PRIOR TO THE RACE. The point is to make sure people are safe not to dq them after.

[ScotD]

Sorry Bubba have to disagree on that one there, if Tech Director starts announcing what's goin to be teched for the night then you open up a whole nuther can of worms, oh dang I finished 4th so I'll load up an go home real quick an hope top 3 are DQd so I get the win and money next week when I come back. Thing is to make your car right and get the thing to turn and all else will work out. I know some like to play in the grey area of a rule book and that's fine that's what makes tech fun but just know you win some and loose some, in tech as well as on the track just don't cost yourself a loss because of something that wouldn't have mattered how it was done. Remember Chase Elliott thrown out at the Derby for Tungsten weights instead of lead , if he had lead he still would have won but a rule is a rule.

[bubba]

On a performance item, I agree completely, but on a safety item, the idea is that you WANT them to change it prior to the race and it would have eliminated the situation we saw last night w/ dqs.