ROSSBURG, Ohio — The big news Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway was that World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series champion David Gravel was disqualified from his second-place finish in the second 25-lap feature during the Double Down Duels presented by High Limit Racing.
The front wing was found to be positioned too far forward during routine post-race inspection. High Limit Racing series director Mike Hess discussed his ruling.
“Every race you check the front wing to see how far forward it is. It can’t be past 20 inches. The front leading edge can’t be 20 inches past the front axle,” he said. “We measure with our tool the top three of every race…The tool came up that it was too far forward, so I had them go get a plumb-bob and measure it a different way and it was still too far forward.
“I grabbed the wing and made sure it didn’t get hit, made sure it wasn’t loose. I couldn’t move it a millimeter. So at that point, it’s illegal. It’s 20 and three quarters inches, so per the rule book it is a disqualification.”
Hess, a former racer, did not believe it to me an intentional violation.
“I don’t think it was anything intentional. I don’t know if other series measure different or what not, that’s why I got the plumb-bob to do it — dead-set as it goes on the track because that’s how it has to be legal,” Hess explained. “I just think it was an oversight because a half inch honestly doesn’t do anything on the front wing.
“But per the rule book, it is too far forward, so you have to uphold the rulebook. That is where my hands are tied. I can give them a little leeway if it’s not dead on and what not, but over a half inch, I didn’t have a choice.”
