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Jones Reinstated to 5th Place After Appeal at the 8th Annual York County Nationals Last Saturday Night at SSP
Newberrytown, PA (September 2, 2008) – Last Saturday night following the 8th Annual York County Nationals at the Susquehanna Speedway Park , Jake Jones was penalized to the rear of the lead lap during post-race technical inspection of the Late Models. Jones finished fifth in the 32-lap event and was penalized to the tail of the lead lap for allegedly failing to heed the tech official’s request to be rescaled after it was discovered that the first three cars over the scales were underweight due to a problem with the scales.
During the formal investigation which concluded on Tuesday by Todd Fisher, SSP co-owner, it was found that the second consecutive car underweight across the scales indicated that there may have been a problem with the scales and the third consecutive car underweight confirmed the problem. It was also discovered that two of the three cars in question were reweighed after they were requested to pull to the side of the tech inspection area until the problem with the scales was rectified. Ken Latz, the head of technical inspections for SSP was called down from the tower to the tech inspection area and found that a small piece of asphalt was prohibiting one of the scales from properly registering the total weight of the car and driver.
After Fisher heard the appeal, his investigation concluded that Jones was sent directly to the pit area and was not actually requested by officials to stay in the tech area. The initial penalty of the tech staff was to penalize Jones to the tail of the lead lap. Fisher reversed the penalty on Tuesday when it was discovered that Jones was sent directly to the pits after not properly being weighed. “The official that initially weighed Jones will be relieved of his duties immediately,” said Fisher. “We instill in our officials that all inspections must be conducted fairly. We understand that mistakes do occur and we can accept that but we (Rhonda and I) also need to trust that those conducting the inspections do not show favoritism and are competent to conduct the inspections fairly and consistently among all competitors in any division. This did not happen in this particular situation.”
Fisher concluded, ”I’m sure there will be individuals who will accuse us of unspeakable things, but I am confident that we have done what is right in the final outcome and participants competing at SSP would want the same due process afforded to them should they encounter a similar situation like Jones experienced.” Ken Latz, the chief technical inspector for four years at SSP stated, “We will make the necessary changes to ensure that this situation does not happen again.”
A fine is still pending for an incident that includes unsportsmanlike conduct of Jones’ crew at the payoff window with SSP ownership.
Stock Car Saturday Night racing action returns on September 6, with the Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stocks, Four Cylinder Stock Cars and the Speedway Auto Sales Women on Wheels Mini Vans. There is no regular Mini Van feature event on September 6. There will also be a make-up Clean Technologies Young Guns Street Stock 5-lap dash races Saturday night featuring all Street Stock drivers ages 21 and younger. Racing action begins at a new time of 6:00 p.m. Pit gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstand gates will open at 4:00 p.m.
The Susquehanna Speedway Park is located off I-83 to exit 32, then 1.4 miles NW on SR382 to York Road , then 1.3 miles south. For more information, contact the speedway offices at (717) 292-1696 or visit online at sspracing.net. On raceday, use the track phone at (717) 938-9170 for up-to-date information at the “Big Track” and (717) 932-1608 for the “Outback Track.”
Race Results from Saturday, August 30, 2008
8th Annual York County Nationals Late Models Feature – official (32 laps): 1. Carl Billet; 2. Bud Witmer; 3. Scott Richwine; 4. Randy Christine Jr.; 5. Jake Jones; 6. Justin Ehrhart; 7. Smoke Christine; 8. Grant Adams; 9. Kyle Saylor; 10. Ronnie Thomas; 11. Sam Leonard Jr.; 12. John Baker; 13. Bob Minnich; 14. Denny Willey; 15. Travis McClelland; 16. John Moser Jr.; 17. Michael Goodwin; 18. Steve Weikel; 19. Cam Zeigler; 20. Sterling Kinard; 21. Carl Graves; 22. Pancho Lawlwer; 23. Charles Potts; 24. Gary Potts; DNQ – Darrel Henry; Larry Meadows; Mike Leonard. (Results are unofficial for positions 5 through 13 until Tuesday, Sept. 2 pending an appeal).
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Willey (1-17); Billet (18-32)
HEAT RACE WINNERS: Christine; Graves ; Saylor.
CONASOLATION WINNER: Thomas.
Wednesday Night Test & Tune Up Next at SSP on September 3
Newberrytown, PA (August 27, 2008) – The next Wednesday Night Test & Tune session will be on September 3, 2008. Another Wednesday night Test & Tune has also been added to the schedule for Wednesday, September 17. It is open to any type of racecars capable of competing on the 4/10 mile oval. The cost is $12.00 per person for pit passes and a $20.00 fee for each racecar entering the pit area ($32.00 per car & driver combination). Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. with open track time from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. by class. The fuel pumps fro Miller’s Racing Parts will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Each session will be 6 – 8 laps per session. The grandstands are open free to the public. The main concession stand will also be open throughout the night. Each class will receive 4 to 5 rounds of 6/8 laps each or more if time permits.
- 2008 SSP Schedule of Events –
(Schedule as of August 27, 2008 - Subject to Change)
September 3 (Wed.) Wednesday Night Test & Tune Session (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.); Gates open at 5:00 p.m.
September 6 (Sat.) Late Models, Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars, Four Cylinder Stock Cars, Women on Wheels Mini
Vans plus Clean Technologies Young Guns Shootout (6:00 p.m.)
September 13 (Sat.) Championship Night / “Fab 4 Series”/ Castrol Oil Camera & Autograph Night - Late Models (25 laps),
Street Stocks (25 laps), Xtreme Stock Cars (25 laps) & ARDC Midgets (20 laps) plus Clean
Technologies Young Guns Shootout (6:00 p.m.)
September 17 (Wed.) Wednesday Night Test & Tune Session (6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.); Gates open at 5:00 p.m.
September 20 (Sat.) Smashfest ‘08 & Newberry Community Fair - School Bus Demolition Derby, Small Car Demolition
Derby, Roll Over Contest, & more in this exciting night of destruction and FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR (Rain date: Sunday, September 21)
September 26 (Fri.) Open Practice Night / Media Night (6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.) Gates open at 5:00 p.m. (All Divisions
Welcome)
September 27 (Sat.) 3rd Annual Susquehanna Showdown for Late Models (50 laps), Legends Cars Regional Qualifier
(40 laps) & Mini Van World Championship (6:00 p.m.)
October 4 (Sat.) AMA Racing – detail to be announced.
October 11 (Sat.) No Racing
October 17 (Fri.) Miller’s Racing Parts Fall Classic Qualifying Night for Street Stocks, Xtreme Stock Cars and Four
Cylinder Stock Cars (7:00 p.m.)
October 18 (Sat.) 5th Annual Miller’s Racing Parts Fall Classic - Street Stocks (50 laps), Xtreme Stock Cars (40 laps), &
Four Cylinder Stock Cars (30 laps) - (6:00 p.m.)
October 25 (Sat.) Candy Bowl IV presented by J&K Salvage - ARDC Midgets, 600cc Micro Sprints, Legends Cars, Mini
Vans & Women on Wheels Stock Cars (3:00 p.m.)
November 1 (Sat.) Annual Racecar Flea Market - 6:00 a.m. (All types of racecars are welcome)
November 8 (Sat.) 5th Annual Turkey 200 Enduro Race plus the Classic Cars & Mini Vans (1:00 p.m.); Rain date: Nov. 9
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