[Pat O'Connor Fan]

I just read a lengthy post on Facebook describing USAC's sprint car division exercizing judgment and "discretion" in using probation like NAPCAR does.

This action by USAC is a crock of excrement.

[short track scott]

With regard to 'avoidable contact' and the like? Im legitimately curious as to the scope and breadth of enforcing a 'nascar style' probation. It seems pretty tricky in their world even with all the officials, video and the like at their disposal.....

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[ossuks]

Probation = Don't have the stones to make a decision either way!

[kawkaw2]

This from R Ballou Facebook Page

@USAClive has chosen to begin making judgement calls on racing incidents and has placed us on probation as a result. I was told tonight by the Competition director that it "just occurred to him to start penalizing for this because it was an avoidable incident". I had a bleeder break and was running hard for 2nd - I believe Hunter was too tight. I went in for a slide in turn 3 and 4 and thought I had him cleared - he didn't lift and I caught him with a rear and he flipped. It wasn't intentional by any means because we can't afford to tear up cars because we are such a low budget team. It was one of those things that just happens - I thought I had him cleared - I didn't obviously. If he had lifted he may not have flipped there's just no way to know. I told Hunter it wasn't on purpose - if I willingly crashed someone I have to put the car back together - and we may not even have the budget to do that, so I dont take chances on moves I might have a few years ago. I already crew chief the car, drive the truck & trailer & race I'm not looking to create extra work for myself. But these same racing incidents happen all the time - in every series. Now USAC is going to make judgement calls midway through the season after many others have had similar incidents.

When we asked the question if others had been placed on probation (there were 2 heats at Bton that had cars taking cars out with sliders for transfers) we were told that this was "up to their discretion who they choose to penalize and they were choosing to penalize us". When we asked what probation entails and what is considered a violation we were told that again that is up to their discretion.

So it looks very biased from our perspective with no other driver having been punished for anything similar and now if we happen to get caught up in a situation through circumstance then what? So are we just not supposed to race hard? Isn't there an arguement that about 70% of racing incidents are "avoidable" if not more.

Talked to a few drivers last night and they said the same thing it's one of those things that you know is going to happen at some point you're going to be the giver and sometimes the receiver. It's happened to all of us. Does this mean if Levi (not saying he would just an example) cant execute a slide on me and I dont lift and crash he'll be on probation? I can't think of one series that makes judgement calls on racing incidents.

[ossuks]

Having done that job a few times it is JMO, but judgement calls are awfullly hard to make, throw in the fact that most officials have never driven a sprint car? I always felt that real men drove sprint cars and the best thing to do was let them police themselves. Not everyone agreed, but it seemed to work ok for several years. The other reaction could be to fine a driver, but, that money is what most use to get to the next race or use to feed their family.

[Bad Dad 54]

This will interesting as the season goes on as to who will be on probation if USAC will. "look the other way" on certain drivers. I've been an offcial it's not easy, especially when most of the people are you're friends. I recanted a decision once when I watched a video of an incident 3 times. Watched slow motion froze a few frames & I was wrong. Seen a lot of associations w/ way to many officials, ours had the race director, scorer, & myself as the tech man. I tech'd 37 cars in one night by myself. Caught at least one illegal car a year, sometimes more, did the top 3 after the race & 1 alternate. After the last car pushed off for the feature I'd ask someone to pick a number between 4 & 12 - that would be the alternate. The hardest part - consistent enforcement of the rules.

[Jonr]

I am pretty sure this type of thing has gone on for years. Driver xxxx has a rough night, rough weekend, a rough month and an official comes to the driver and tells him to be careful. I don't think that there is a story here at all.

[VSneader2]

Just another way USAC is shooting themselves in the foot. They keep this up and they wont have enough drivers to put on a show outside of the state of Indiana. They have what 18 cars at Angel Park tonight.

Whatever Napcar does.... USAC should do the opposite. I can see guys that are unfairly treated taking their car somewhere else. These guys should just race and then wait and see what happens with this.

[Dick Monahan]

Anyone here old enough to remember Steve Butler?