Officials from the United States Modified Touring Series have announced a financial penalty and suspension due to a rules infraction discovered by USMTS tech inspectors during the Fall Jamboree at the Deer Creek Speedway on Saturday, September 24.

As published in the 2022 USMTS Rules & Regulations, Rule 2.1 states the following: The main roll cage must consist of continuous hoops of round steel tubing and must be acceptable to officials. Acceptable tubing is as follows: minimum one and one-half (1.5) inches diameter by ninety-five one-thousandths (0.095) inch wall thickness for main four-point roll cage. Any tubing measuring one and three-quarter (1.75) inches diameter will be allowed a tolerance on the wall thickness for tubing manufacturing imperfections. Any tubing under one and three-quarter (1.75) inches diameter will not be allowed any tolerance on wall thickness.

“Of the roll cage bars tested on this particular racecar, this racecar was found to have one and three-quarter (1.75) inch diameter tubing with a wall thickness of sixty-three one-thousandths (0.063) inches in the main halo and right front upright bar of the four-point cage resulting in a chassis with more center flex than other racecars with the required wall thickness tubing,” said USMTS Technical Director Darlo Mulder. “This flex is deemed to be an illegal performance advantage as per the USMTS rules.”

Rule 4.4 in the USMTS Rules & Regulations states the following: Any illegal part discovered through inspection any time after the driver enters the grounds where an event is being held can be confiscated by officials and forfeited by the driver. For first infraction, driver discovered to be using illegal parts of any kind can be subject up to a fine of two-thousand dollars ($2,000), possible suspension from all USMTS events for up to fourteen (14) days, possible loss of all points earned to-date for the current season and possible forfeiture of all cash and/or awards earned at the event. Any driver’s racecar that is caught with any illegal part during pre-race inspection is subject to the same associated penalties and will not be entitled to a refund of any money. For second infraction, driver discovered to be using illegal parts of any kind shall be subject to a fine of up to five-thousand dollars ($5,000), possible suspension from all USMTS events for up to one (1) year, possible loss of all points earned to-date for the current season and possible forfeiture of all cash and/or awards earned at the event. Confiscated parts will be sent to manufacturer for inspection. Failure by the driver to surrender any illegal part for confiscation shall result in a separate penalty, in addition to other applicable penalties under this rule. A “part” shall be defined as any piece of the racecar and/or driver's apparel, including, but not limited to, tires, wheels, engine components, chassis components and fuel.

Since this was not the first offense by this driver, the USMTS has levied a fine of $5,000 and suspended this driver for the final three races of 2022. Furthermore, the driver has   lost all points earned to date during the 2022 season.

“With the amount of money that USMTS drivers are competing for at each event, on top of our lucrative points funds, all drivers who compete in a USMTS event should feel confident that the rules are applied equally to all,” said USMTS President Todd Staley. “We will not tolerate blatant cheating. It not only hurts our brand but steals money from other drivers that are playing by the rules.”

Staley, who is also the co-owner and President of the United States Racing Association, added that some rules changes are coming for 2023 which includes increased penalties and fines for performance-enhancing rules infractions, and the option for suspensions and/or bans in the USMTS will apply to USRA events as well, and vice versa.

The 2023 USMTS Rules & Regulations are scheduled to be published sometime in November. Visit USMTS.com to learn more.