NASCAR
Smoky Mountain Motorcycle Museum coming soon to the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area.
« Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series to visit Bulls Gap and Cherokee | Main | Photos from Vic Hill’s engine and race shops »
From dirt to NASCAR tire tampering is a part of racing
By admin | March 2, 2010
By Richard Allen
As long as cars have raced competitors have sought ways to get an advantage over the competition. And many have found, or attempted to find, that edge where the rubber meets the road, their tires.
With the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series coming to the Volunteer Speedway in Bulls Gap this weekend I thought it would be a good idea to look into one of the hot issues in dirt racing today. Ritchie Lewis, series director for the LOLMDS, was kind enough to answer some questions for me on the subject of tire tampering.
Tampering with tires is certainly nothing new in racing, but over the last few months the issue has particularly come to the forefront of dirt late model racing. Within the last year, two of the biggest names in the history of the sport have found themselves embroiled in tire related controversy.
Last November in Charlotte, the World of Outlaws sanctioning body announced that Scott Bloomquist was being fined and suspended from their events because his tires were deemed illegal. A later appeal resulted in Bloomquist having the race win and purse money returned to him but the suspension of six months from WoO events was upheld.
After a race earlier this year at the Golden Isles Speedway in Georgia driver Earl Pearson, Jr. was penalized by the Southern All Star Series after testing by a laboratory determined his right rear tire had been chemically altered. A monetary fine and a 60 day suspension were levied against the driver of the Bobby Labonte Racing late model car.
So what exactly is going on?
According to Lewis, teams are using environmentally hazardous chemicals to alter the make up of their tires. This alteration creates a more adhesive tire which then gives those who have altered their tires an unfair advantage over those who have not treated their tires.
This type of ’seeking a competitive edge’ has not been limited to dirt racing. NASCAR has had a long history of the same type of activity. A funny story involving legendary crew chief Jake Elder, who recently passed away, reveals that on one occasion in North Wilkesboro he decided to protest what he believed was a garage full of tire tampering. He supposedly got a gallon of rubber softener in plain view of everyone and went to work on his car’s tires as a means of drawing attention to the issue.
So, how can sanctioning bodies combat tire tampering?
“That’s the million dollar question,” Lewis declared. “The LOLMDS is proactive by taking tires and sampling them in numerous ways.
“Do we think our efforts will get a handle on the issue,” he asked in rhetorical fashion. “Sure thing! The folks making the stuff crow and take credit for every win any driver gets these days which is sad.”
Lewis went on to add that the solution to the problem of tire tampering will have to come from race officials and competitors alike. “Once people decide to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem we can become successful,” he said.
The NASCAR garage area has been somewhat well known for a certain degree of self-policing in regard to matters such as this, as the Jake Elder case demonstrates.
How does a sanctioning body actually check for tampering?
“We sample the dirt to see if it shows signs of chemicals and compare that against the tire compunds,” Lewis said. “We not only confiscate the tires of those we suspect but we take samples from other tires to use for comparison.
“But one thing to remember,” he added. “We change it up all the time.”
NASCAR does not allow teams to keep their own tires both because they want to control the tires as much as possible and it is a way to eliminate testing. Goodyear brings the tires to each track and the teams get them there and leave them at the end of the weekend.
So, does Lewis ever foresee a day in which dirt racing may operate under the same circumstances?
“One might never know what to expect next in the dirt late model industry,” Lewis hinted. “Change is a given. Solving problems the same way and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.”
Sanctioning bodies like NASCAR and the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series have their work cut out for them when it comes to the elimination of cheating. But as long as they diligently work at keeping their events as honest as possible and dole out appropriate punishments when necessary they can at least force teams to abide by the rules most of the time. However, the issue of teams using treated tires will likely not go away soon.
Follow @RacingWithRich on twitter.
Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. His weekly columns appear in The Mountain Press and The Knoxville Journal.
Topics: ALL ARTICLES | 3 Comments »
March 3rd, 2010 at 1:20 am
Who is Ritchie Lewis trying to give the jack job to now?I’ll tell you,the press,the other dirt sanctioning bodies,and last but not least,himself.
The LOLMDS,is lucky that someone has not taken them to court,over this issue,and I look forward when this event takes place.The reason that I say this,is because there are so many variables to take into consideration,IE what is used to prep the track etc.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
I have been in karting for about 15 years now, and is where tire treatment started! All of our series tried to police it without success. The used duro testing, Eagle one tester to check the VOC levels in the tire and even as far as sending the tires off to be the ever so scary “Lab Tested” just coming up empty! All they successfully did was make the guys that had the resources and the ability to out smart the system a greater advantage. Not to mention driving up the cost because of R&D on prep and the sheer cost of it as the term “Legal Prep” used very loosely cost a lot more than much faster and cheaper prep that is detectable. So in the end all they are doing is creating an uneven playing field for the late model racers.
June 6th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
I too am in karting and mostly race dirt oval karting with the WKA (World Karting Association). I agree completely with Brandon on this one. I have been racing for ten years and might I add, I have been “prepping” tires for ten years also. The only real negative of prepping tires with chemicals is the fact that the chemicals end up in the dirt. Once the chemicals are in the dirt it doesn’t take long for them to get into the water. As the WKA has tried to stop the tire prepping over the last 5 or so years I have learned that the only thing we can do about it is try to make less harmful chemicals to prep with, which is only a partial sollution I guess. But lets be real here. Just about everything we use on a daily basis has harmful chemicals right down to the soda we drink and fast food we eat. Prepping tires adds a whole new dynamic to racing and it is a very technical process, and just for a comparison… I have gained up to 6 tenths on a 1/8 mile dirt track just by switching from unprepped to prepped tires. Just a little something to think about next time your watching a race!