Fri, 5 Sep 2003, 04:59 PM 2003 NHRA Oil Violation Update

Courtesy of NHRA Communications

2003 NHRA Oil Violation Update (through the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, Brainerd, Minn.) By rule, NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series competitors in Top Fuel and Funny Car are extended three oil violations during the season without penalty. Infractions 4-6 carry a $500 fine during qualifying and a $1,000 fine and the loss of 10 NHRA POWERade points should the violation take place during eliminations. For those competitors with 7 or more violations, a $1,000 fine is issued during qualifying per instance, and should the violation take place during eliminations, each driver is charged a $2,000 fine, plus loss of 10 POWERade points and the loss of lane choice for the next round.

A violation is defined as any incident requiring the use of mechanical equipment (i.e. tractor, trucks, and/or sweeper) to cleanup an oil spill. Spills or drops of oil cleaned up by hand are not considered violations and penalties will not apply. On occasion, equipment will be used to "touch up" the racing surface - such maintenance is not considered a violation. Depositing fuel or fire extinguisher liquid on the track surface is not classified as an oildown and will not be penalized under this policy.

This policy encompasses the entire length of the track surface. Track surface includes the area where the vehicles are started, the burnout box, the starting line, the quarter-mile racing surface, and the shutdown area to the point the vehicle exits.

The following drivers are over the limit and receive fines and/or points penalties for all oil violations:

TOP FUEL
Paul Romine -- 11
Doug Herbert -- 7
Melanie Troxel -- 6
Scott Weis -- 5
David Baca -- 4
Doug Kalitta -- 4

FUNNY CAR
Tommy Johnson Jr. -- 5

The following drivers have reached the maximum number of oil violations allowed by NHRA rule
without fine/points penalty. All subsequent oil violations will result in a fine and/or points
penalty:

TOP FUEL
Gordie Bonin -- 3
Andrew Cowin -- 3
Joe Hartley -- 3
Rhonda Hartman-Smith -- 3
Jim Head -- 3
Cory McClenathan -- 3

FUNNY CAR
Ron Capps -- 3
Johnny Gray -- 3
Terry Haddock -- 3
Cruz Pedregon -- 3

The following drivers have not exceeded three oil violations:

TOP FUEL
Brandon/Kenny Bernstein -- 2
Larry Dixon -- 2
Clay Millican -- 2
Scott Palmer -- 2
Rit Pustari -- 2
Tony Schumacher -- 2
Ron Smith -- 2
Mike Strasburg -- 2
Steve Chrisman -- 1
Don Garlits -- 1
David Grubnic -- 1
Bob Hallock -- 1
Brady Kalivoda -- 1
Todd Paton -- 1
Mike Smith -- 1

FUNNY CAR
Phil Burkart -- 2
Scotty Cannon -- 2
Dean Skuza -- 2
Louis Sweet -- 2
Jack Wyatt -- 2
Whit Bazemore -- 1
Dale Creasy -- 1
Gary Densham -- 1
Bob Gilbertson -- 1
Keith Jackson -- 1
Tony Pedregon -- 1
Gary Scelzi -- 1
Del Worsham -- 1

The following events have had the most oil violations:
Las Vegas 1 -- 13
Pomona 1 -- 12
Chicago 1 -- 10
St. Louis -- 10
Seattle -- 9

The following events have had the fewest oil violations:
Denver -- 3
Englishtown -- 4
Sonoma -- 4
Atlanta -- 5
Columbus -- 5

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