To ace a race, it’s not just the driver’s skill that matters, but a cumulation of prowess in tire management, race strategy, and whatnot. Even the slightest detail is to be taken care of to win. However, in a bid to dominate over rivals, some drivers, or teams, go beyond the scope of rules to fulfill their desire. Not anymore!
A few weeks back, TulsaShootout’s X account warned the drivers from doing so and wrote, “DO NOT DOPE YOUR TIRES! They will be confiscated. You will be disqualified.” Now, it looks like Chili Bowl officials are leaving no stone unturned to rubbish the unfair advantage drama as they make an unprecedented move.
Chili Bowl steps up their disciplinary game
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Tire doping is one of the commonly used techniques to gain a significant but undeserved advantage over a rival. The unwarranted use of chemicals and compounds, or even gases, enhances the traction of the tires, reduces wear and tear, and retains optimum heat for the best output.
The benefits are countless, but the other side of the story is unsportsmanlike conduct and taking the reputation of motorsports for a toss. To prohibit that from happening and set an example to anyone with the wild idea of doing so, the management has taken some stern steps.
The top 9 finishers from every prelim night would be obliged to hand over their car’s tires to the officials, and then the compound will undergo stringent testing to verify its legality. Such measures are required to be shared with the community as soon as possible, and motorsports insider, Matt Weaver did precisely that.
Unveiling Chili Bowl co-founder Emmett Hahn’s concern regarding tire doping, Weaver made the revelation on X and wrote, “I forgot to tweet this in real time but true to Emmett’s word, the top nine were kept in the infield after the race to check wiring and to take tire samples.”
I forgot to tweet this in real time but true to Emmett’s word, the top nine were kept in the infield after the race to check wiring and to take tire samples. https://t.co/jV3nLpu546
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) January 9, 2024
It would be safe to say that this time, Chili Bowl officials have issued an open warning regarding tire manipulation and will observe zero tolerance against it. But the officials have tightened the rope on one more aspect but with a weird twist.
The officials are really on a hot streak of warnings
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If taking the tires of the top nine drivers for testing seems too much, then another stringent measure of theirs will surely astonish. However, the rule seems to be modified as the Director of Competition for the Tulsa Shootout and Chili Bowl unraveled the twist.
The prevailing rule says that the drivers and teams aren’t allowed to fight in the pit area, or on the asphalt which leads from the pit to the oval. But director Matt Ward had something to add to this. Even though fighting is not allowed in the pit lane, the drivers would be allowed to engage in a brawl if it’s in front of the spectators and on the race track.
During the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals, Ward unveiled the gutsy expression behind such a bizarre rule and told a FloRacing reporter, “If you’re going to fight, do it one on one. You can pull anywhere from turn three down to turn one and settle it yourselves one on one…kind of like hockey rules, our crew won’t break it up until it gets disadvantaged or on the ground.”
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Not one but two areas have been taken care of by the Chili Bowl officials and anyone caught messing with them will surely land out of the series and back home. What do you think about the growing concern regarding tire doping?