Pittsburgh, PA (May 6, 2013) The National Dirt Racing League (NDRL) has formally declined Jimmy Owens request to appeal his teams disqualification from the race event held on April 13th, 2013 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55.

The decision to disqualify any competitor is not an easy one, or taken lightly by NDRL officials. In fact, the NDRL gave Jimmy Owens submitted tire samples every opportunity to pass rigorous laboratory testing, all of which failed to conform with the manufacturers submitted benchmarks. Pursuant to the rules which govern NDRL’s appeal process, the Chairman of the Appellate Board declined the request to appeal the lab and NDRL official findings due to the lack of merit. The NDRL rulebook states “There can only be a full-evidentiary factual hearing of the appeal before the Appellate Board (“Board”) if its Chairman (“Chairman”), in his sole discretion, first determines that the appeal is arguably meritorious.”

The facts are clear; the Owens Team competed in the referenced NDRL event with full knowledge of all rules in effect, including those which governed tires. Upon completion of the event, the Owens Team submitted samples of the tires used in competition (including serial numbers) into sealed evidence tubes, which were then placed into a sealed evidence bag. A member of the Owens Team participated in this process and signed the sealed evidence bag as witness. The evidence bag was then sent to a reputable lab that routinely conducts testing of race tires for conformance with manufacturer’s benchmarks. The lab documented, opened the evidence bag and completed testing of the tire samples submitted by the Owens Team for conformance with the manufacturers (Hoosier Racing Tire) submitted benchmarks. The samples in question were not in conformance with said manufacturer’s submitted benchmarks. There were four (4) chemicals found in the Owens Team submitted tire samples that are not found in the Manufacturer’s Submitted Benchmark. The chemicals found included the following:

9-Octadecen-12-ynoic acid, methyl ester

Butanoic acid, 3-methyl-3, 7, dimethyl-2, 2

Hexanedioic acid, bis(2-butoxyethyl) ester

Decanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester

The NDRL finds these facts to be conclusive and inarguable, and that these facts shall not be undermined by any amount of hearsay or other arguments based on opinion rather than the facts as they stand.

Penalties include:

· Disqualification from the Let’s Get Dirty 75 at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55 held on Saturday, April 13, 2013

· Forfeiture of event winnings ($20,000)

· Forfeiture of NDRL Championship points earned on Saturday, April 13, 2013

· Fine of $1,500

· Reimbursement of lab testing costs.

· Suspension from all NDRL sanctioned events including NDRL’s ULMS and NDRL’s McKean County Raceway events until fine and reimbursement costs are paid in full.

Official NDRL’s ‘Let’s Get Dirty Tour’ Sponsors:

VP Race Fuels: The Official Fuel of the NDRL’s ‘Let’s Get Dirty Tour’

Slavic Custom Racing Shirts and Decals: The Official Merchandise Supplier of the NDRL’s Let’s Get Dirty Tour’

Bug Band: The Official Insect Repellant of the NDRL’s ‘Let’s Get Dirty Tour’

Official NDRL’s ‘Let’s Get Dirt Tour’ Associate Sponsors:
American Racer Tires, Bell Helmets, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions, Capital Race Cars, DirtonDirt.com, Driven Racing Oil, Genesis Racing Shocks, Hoosier Racing Tires, JNJ Motorsports Media, Keyser Manufacturing, MSR Mafia, and Responsible Racers.