Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
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I had the chance to interview Tommy Bryant yesterday as he was driving out to Golden Triangle for the ASCS Gulf South race tonight. Needless to say, he was praying for the rain to stay away since he's chasing down Aaron Reutzel for the series title with only a few races remaining.

Here's my interview with him if you are interested. In it, he talks about the points race, running as a smaller team and his plans for the future. I really enjoyed speaking with him.

National Sprint Car & Midget Examiner
http://tinyurl.com/r4opgk

Well well well. My how things change. There have been rumors going around the last few months about Bryant. Now it's Fact! Cheaters never win!

actually sprint car racing provides us mostly with examples that cheaters do usually win.

and that they also don't usually get caught.

but every dog has its day.......someday.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

Wonder if the RacinBoys would have TB back on to discuss the recent events?

I received a couple of emails from Tommy this afternoon. According to him, the illegal fuel additive was methanol top lube, which he didn't know was illegal in the ASCS rule book.

Is that possible? Yes. Is it also possible that he was using that to mask something else? Possibly, although I think he would have to know there would be a good chance that would get tested if he won. Personally, I think we have to give me the benefit of the doubt: not only did he lose the race and will likely get fined $1,000 but he lost the ASCS Gulf South points battle as well.

My thoughts: http://bit.ly/11fMfH

National Sprint Car & Midget Examiner
http://tinyurl.com/r4opgk

I hear what you're sayin, but....

This is not an isolated case of people getting caught cheating. People are cheating, and people "know" it. Sure, it's easy to say this guy or that guy is cheating, but is it fair to say without proof? Maybe, maybe not. It certainly is justified when someone gets caught. The bottom line is that it is hurting the sport. This is the second person caught cheating in the Gulf South Region this year. Is it fair for the region to get a bad reputation because of some guys that are looking for unfair advantages - intentional or not, the series gets a bad rep. This type of thing turns potential competitors away because there is a culture. Yes, the driver's rep takes a hit, but those are the consequences. And speaking of consequences, there needs to be far more stringent penalties when caught cheating. These slaps on the wrist don't deter the thought and certainly not the cheating acts. This needs to be cleaned up, policed, and handled to where nobody even thinks about cheating or doing anything that is NOT in the rules. Everyone claims they didn't know they were cheating or they didn't know that their engine builder did this or that. Ignorance is not an excuse. Nobody ever fesses up and admits they purposely went for an unfair advantage - it's human nature. It's a defense mechanism - their rep is at stake, money, points, maybe a ride is at stake, whatever. Openly admitting would probably tarnish a driver's career forever, who knows. Point is, it doesn't matter what excuses are given. This is black and white, no excuses. There is no almost illegal. So, since illegal is illegal, make the penalties severe - suspensions, steep fines, etc. Let's discourage this stuff. It's not fair to the other competitors or the series for this to continue to occur - in any series, anywhere. IMHO!

The points battle was not quite his to lose.

James

all of what you all have said cannot be argued. cheating is cheating. ignorance in this case is not bliss. one major problem throughout the ascs gulf south region is inconsistency with enforcement of rules. laps cars in the wrong place, tire rules not strictly enforced, lack of teching top 5 for anything more than weight. if you dont tech, people will cheat. doing it every now and then doesnt help matters either. or when gulf south races with the lone star region and lone star officials dont put cars in the proper order (generally benefiting lone star region cars). there needs to be across the board standards that are met and kept consistently. not just when someone suspects something. if everyone wants to speculate about anyone cheating, you can put up the money to have a motor torn down, check the heads, check the fuel. whatever you want. as okcfan said, sprint car racing is a prime place for people to cheat. its just a matter of catching them, but more needs to be done on a regular basis.

Agree! It would be refreshing to know that every night there may be a possibility of having heads pulled, motor pumped, fuel sampled, or whatever. There needs to be the "fear" that if you get caught cheating, you're done. 5 race minimum suspension. That way there is no more worry about a cheater still being in the points' hunt. Anyone can pay a fine, come back and still possibly have a chance at the points, depending on their position. Point is to make the consequences of cheating severe enough to discourage it. The GS is a good region that just needs a bit more policing.

Here is segment 2 of this weeks Lucas Oil ASCS Sprint Car Show 10/6/09

In this segment Scott, Kirk and Jonathan talk with ASCS Competition Director Tommie Estes Jr. about Tommy Bryant and tech in all ASCS regions and the National Tour.

link: http://www.racinboys.com/racintv/video_view?video_id=1992

RBN The RacinBoys Broadcasting Network
http://www.racinboys.com/
 




 

Kinda vague interview. No one mentioned checking stacks, heads, or displacement. To continue the vagueness, is there more going on with the fuel story than is being publicized?

Sorry I didn't ask all the questions you wanted asked. I will pose those questions to Tommie next time...I promise. I DON'T have a problem asking the hard questions, just ask anyone who has listened to my Saturday morning show (Track Talk). I've been doing it for 12 years on Sports Radio 810 WHB in Kansas City, MO. As for the fuel, he did get DQ'ed, so what could be more to the story. And he did say he checks motors, he didn't say what he checks, but he did say he checks them. I assume he checks everything at sometime or another. I know one thing about Tommie, he isn't going to let anyone get away with cheating....that I know for sure.

...Scott Traylor

RBN The RacinBoys Broadcasting Network
http://www.racinboys.com/
 




 

Actually, the questions were great and specific. I should have clarified and said the responses were a little vague. As was mentioned earlier, nothing really specific was said on what is checked, except for general things like engine, fuel, and wing. But, what in the engine, what about the wing, and what specifically for the fuel? Maybe that would be divulging too much. I guess reading the rules may be of benefit???

As for the fuel, was there a suspension, fine, etc?

Thanks!

well, what is checked on engines at the race track, when they check it is...the diameter of the stacks or a go/no go feeler gauge is stuffed down the injectors to measure the intake ports of the heads. fuel is checked by a test that gets cloudy if something other other than methanol is in the fuel. this is for at the track. therefore there is no way of specifying whether it is top lube, nitro, or even water in the fuel. fuel has to be sent to a lab to determine what the additive is, if there is one. the only time i have ever seen wings checked was at short track when emmit hahn was at short track nats and he was just checking to see if the nose wings were 20 inches from the front axle. top wings are easy to check, look at them. flat or dished. wicker bill or not. no one makes a wing bigger that 5x5 so its pretty easy to see. and yes if you read the rules it tells you pretty specifically what you can and cant do. with regards to the fuel controversy, is someone suspects another racer of cheating with his fuel and said racer feels that the possible "cheater" has that big of an advantage the P&G fuel test can and will be performed if you put up the $800 to have whomevers fuel tested that you want.

ASCS testing or checking anything is a joke . They will ocassionally check some one or something but they have no set procedure. They always check weight and tires and that is about it. There are many people running large engines illegal heads and ? The cost has gotten completly out of control,engines from 35,000 to 40,000 plus . This is the reason cheating is going on if some one wants to be competitive but can't afford a 35,000 plus engine. Heads cost 4,000 plus . all this for a regional purse of 1500.00- 2000.00 to win, and 9th or 10th on back paying the same 250 or 300. If you don't make the feature you get 100.00 . water test is a cheap way to prove nothing , it tells you something is in the fuel -upper lube, water ,Dr Pepper nitro or ? If you want to check for nitro buy a 300.00 nitro hydrometer it will even give you the percentage .ASCS should take a look at their situation when the rich boys get tired of playing and spending money they might be in trouble