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STOCKTON 99 SPEEDWAY OFFICIALS' TECHNICAL INSPECTION FINDS RULE
VIOLATIONS IN DRIVERS WESTERN LATE MODEL CAR; FINE LEVIED & POINTS DOCKED



STOCKTON - On Saturday, August 13 Granite Bay's John Moore was awarded the win for the 50-lap
Western Late Model main event. His win followed the required, NASCAR sanctioned post-race, pit-row
technical inspection. Licensed NASCAR officials conducted the inspection, they completed it utilizing all
available and required tools, knowledge and experience.

The inspection revealed that Moore's engine was running different valve-springs, but that they were not
"performance enhancing," so there was no cause to disqualify him, according to Stockton 99 Speedway
Chief Steward John Weimer.

Following the inspection, another driver indicated that he was going to protest Moore's win. According to
Stockton 99 Speedway's NASCAR sanctioned rules -- which all drivers agree to be governed by as a
condition of competition -- a protest occurs when a driver posts cash money to validate it, in this case
no money was posted, so no protest was recorded. Despite that, track officials, in keeping with the
highest standards of integrity, decided to direct Moore to turn over his engine for additional examination.

"During the pit-row inspection, we determined that Moore's car was running different valve springs.
Using everything we had available to us the night of the race, which was everything that the NASCAR
sanctioned track requires, we were led to conclude that Moore's valve-springs were different, but
couldn't have enhanced the engine's performance," said Weimer. "Based on our findings and rules, we
had to validate the win. But the different valve-springs and other driver's concerns raised red flags,
which led us to order further testing, even though we weren't required to."

Track officials can direct any driver to turn their car in for inspections if they suspect that there could be
violations undetectable during a post race, pit-row inspection.

That inspection, completed at T.O.E. Performance, a track and Chevrolet certified racing facility located
in Susuin City, revealed that there were more than just valve-spring violations in the motor -- violations
that could only be found at such a shop.

Stockton 99 Speedway's NASCAR sanctioned rules stipulate that Moore would retain credit for the win
and points earned toward the division championship, because he passed the required post race
inspection. But because the later inspection revealed violations, the track has: fined Moore $750 and his
crew chief $250; docked him 10 points in the division standings; and will withhold an additional 40
additional points from his total until the season is complete, those 40 points will be released and
recorded to Moore at season's end, provided that he has no further engine violations. Moore earned
$750 for the win.

"This type of situation isn't unique to Stockton 99 Speedway. Any group of NASCAR DODGE Weekly
Series track officials could find themselves in the same spot and faced with the same decisions on any
give race night," said Track Manager Pat Patnaude. "Our guys did the right thing, which was to follow the
NASCAR sanctioned track rules, take the other driver's concerns seriously and to then perform additional
tests."

Track officials can't comment on what might have motivated Moore to violate rules, or on whether or not
he knew of the violations.

"Our NASCAR sanctioned track rules are very clear, ultimately the driver is responsible for what's under
his hood," said Patnaude. "It's the track's job to make sure that rules are followed, to see to it that violations are caught and to take into consideration all drivers' concerns. In this case Stockton 99 Speedway officials have done all three."

"I've been involved with NASCAR and auto racing since 1951," said Stockton 99 Speedway event promoter Ken Clapp, a retired NASCAR vice president. "Every year, at tracks all over the world, drivers try to slip past the rules. All tracks and all officials have procedures that they have to follow when it comes to enforcing the rules and targeting newly hatched violation attempts.
In this case, our officials did exactly what they were allowed to do to resolve the situation."



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