David Ashley disqualified by O'Reilly SUPR Series following Labor Day weekend victory

Subject:  Inspection of David Ashley’s SUPR Engine after winning SUPR vs MSCCS Challenge on Friday, August 31, 2007

Following the event on Friday night David Ashley was informed that his engine would be torn down for inspection on the following Monday after the weekends events.  Cylinder head numbers were recorded and the engine block was marked.  Per the SUPR rule book on page eleven (11) “On a multi race weekend winnings may be withheld and engine checks may be done on the last day.”  Monies were signed for by a SUPR official to be held until inspection of engine.  If engine checks ok, monies are turned over to competitor and if not start money is given to the competitor that was being inspected and the rest of the monies would be given to the appropriate competitors for their new finishing positions. 

On Monday, September 3rd I went to David Ashley’s shop to inspect engine, upon arrival David informed me that he had found out on Saturday, September 1st from his engine builder Jay Dickens that his engine had titanium valves installed when
it was freshened.  This was the first time the engine had been run since it had
been freshened, two weeks earlier at practice he ran the new GRT he was driving during the Labor day weekend with a open motor and it had a over heating
problem, the following week he competed at Deep South Speedway with the open motor and still had over heating problems, removed the open motor and installed freshened SUPR motor for Labor Day weekend. 

Whether or not it was a newly freshened motor or one that has been run it is still illegal to run titanium valves.  I informed David he was disqualified for an illegal engine.  This hurt me to disqualify a friend for the second time when I know personally he has asked not to be put in this position, he doesn’t need this nor
has it been the reason he wins races.  In my opinion he is one of the best local racers in the south, just look at his record he wins races in both series.

Clarification of Chain of Events after David was informed we would inspect his engine. 
 

·            When David was told about the inspection he said o.k. and said he
was expecting it to happen.

 

·            Friday night when Greg informed Charles that the engine was going to
be torn down he said o.k. and did not mention anything about our rules being different on the SUPR spec motor.

 

·            I spoke with Greg on Saturday morning and we were discussing this motor and I asked for a copy of the 2007 MSCCS rules on the SUPR motor.  He printed a copy out at 1:30pm on Saturday and the rules
were word for word as the SUPR rule book.
 

·            I did this for verification purposes because it was a co-sanctioned
event and I would not have scheduled an event if we were not running
the same rules.
 

·            Before the 2007 season started there was some discussion of the MSCCS allowing titanium valves in a SUPR motor.  While we were scheduling races we asked Charles about this and was told that they
were thinking about it but decided not to change, so we scheduled
some co-sanctioned events.  I personally asked Charles when I saw
him at a race at the beginning of the season and he told me they
had not been changed.
 

·            On Saturday night the MSCCS sanctioned a race at Pike County and I was racing in the crate late model class, Charles approached me after
the races were complete and told me that it was ok to check the motor with the exception of titanium valves; he had told them it was ok to have them.  I asked him if he had that in his rule book and he said “No”.
 

·            On Monday, I was informed they were changing the rules on the web site.  I printed out another copy and it had indeed been changed to
now allow titanium valves.
 

·            This is sad when not all the racers and engine builders are made aware of this change in the rules.  I respect a series changing the rules for
what they think is in the betterment of racing.  But in all the other times
of a rule change I have seen an effective date to start.
 

A few years ago I was asked to come to Mississippi for a promoters and engine builders meeting.  The purpose of this meeting was to see if we could come up with a common rule structure for cars and engines so that racers could race either place without having to change their cars.  We all agreed on a common rule with some minor body changes.

I have devoted a lot of time to promote late model racing to make it equal and affordable for all.  I understand it will change in 2008 and I think it’s a step in the wrong direction for late model racing in our area.  We need to be working to show promoters the largest car count that we can in these hard times.  This change will not promote premium car counts.

I hope everyone can respect our position in this matter.  Everyone is equal and under the same rules.  As such, you will all be informed before we make changes that will affect you, the promoter and racer.

Donald Watson
O’Reilly SUPR Late Models