Colorado Springs, CO — April 21, 2005 — By DIRT MotorSports PR
Sometimes people can only agree to disagree. It happens in all walks of life and in all types of business, even racing. Especially in racing.
Therefore, DIRT MotorSports has established an Appellate Board to rule on appeals by DMS-licensed drivers and owners who feel they were unjustifiably penalized in a DIRT MotorSports event. This Panel was selected through the recommendations of drivers, promoters, team owners, crew members, and parts manufacturers to represent a fair cross-section of the dirt track racing industry.
“While we hope that the need to utilize this Appellate Panel does not arise, DIRT MotorSports is confident that the independently selected members, who are all well respected in the dirt motorsports industry, will render unbiased and final decisions for teams who feel they were unduly penalized in a DMS sanctioned event,” said Danny Malasky, DIRT’s Senior Vice-President General Counsel.
In order to appeal, a team must have the requisite paperwork to DIRT’s operations office in Colorado Springs, Colo., within 30 days of the disputed incident or ruling, or within 15 days during the final 30 days of the season. A copy of the Appeal Regulations can be found in each series’ rule book.
Furthermore, the appeal must be on a subject matter not precluded by the rules, and the appellant must prove he or she was actually harmed by a decision of a DMS Official. In other words, a driver who has not been penalized can’t demand that someone else should be penalized.
Whether or not the board will hear an appeal is up to its Chairman, Andy Fusco, who is a well-respected attorney and racing enthusiast in upstate New York and has served as chair of the appellate board since 1981.
“It’s something that’s worked for 25 years on our regional level,” said Fusco, who began his career in the racing industry in 1969 as a writer for Gater Racing News. “It should work without any question on a national level. Every driver should feel that they’ve got a right to a second opinion and that racing is a democracy.
“I think it gives the racers a certain degree of confidence that any decisions they feel are whimsical or wrong can be corrected by an impartial board of appeal.”
DIRT has established three boards, one for the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, one for the World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series and one for the various Modified Series.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Fred Brownfield representing promoters, Craig Dollansky representing drivers, Tom Wimmer representing owners, Sonny Kratzer representing crew and parts manufacturers and Dean Miracle as the DIRT MotorSports member.
The World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Tom Helfrich (promoter), Dale McDowell (driver), Raye Vest (owner), Tommy Grecco (crew/parts) and Rick Eshelman (DMS).
The Modified Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Paul Kirkland (promoter), Tim Fuller (driver), Randy Ross (owner), Pete Chuckta (crew/parts) and Gary Spaid (DMS).
Sometimes people can only agree to disagree. It happens in all walks of life and in all types of business, even racing. Especially in racing.
Therefore, DIRT MotorSports has established an Appellate Board to rule on appeals by DMS-licensed drivers and owners who feel they were unjustifiably penalized in a DIRT MotorSports event. This Panel was selected through the recommendations of drivers, promoters, team owners, crew members, and parts manufacturers to represent a fair cross-section of the dirt track racing industry.
“While we hope that the need to utilize this Appellate Panel does not arise, DIRT MotorSports is confident that the independently selected members, who are all well respected in the dirt motorsports industry, will render unbiased and final decisions for teams who feel they were unduly penalized in a DMS sanctioned event,” said Danny Malasky, DIRT’s Senior Vice-President General Counsel.
In order to appeal, a team must have the requisite paperwork to DIRT’s operations office in Colorado Springs, Colo., within 30 days of the disputed incident or ruling, or within 15 days during the final 30 days of the season. A copy of the Appeal Regulations can be found in each series’ rule book.
Furthermore, the appeal must be on a subject matter not precluded by the rules, and the appellant must prove he or she was actually harmed by a decision of a DMS Official. In other words, a driver who has not been penalized can’t demand that someone else should be penalized.
Whether or not the board will hear an appeal is up to its Chairman, Andy Fusco, who is a well-respected attorney and racing enthusiast in upstate New York and has served as chair of the appellate board since 1981.
“It’s something that’s worked for 25 years on our regional level,” said Fusco, who began his career in the racing industry in 1969 as a writer for Gater Racing News. “It should work without any question on a national level. Every driver should feel that they’ve got a right to a second opinion and that racing is a democracy.
“I think it gives the racers a certain degree of confidence that any decisions they feel are whimsical or wrong can be corrected by an impartial board of appeal.”
DIRT has established three boards, one for the World of Outlaws Sprint Series, one for the World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series and one for the various Modified Series.
The World of Outlaws Sprint Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Fred Brownfield representing promoters, Craig Dollansky representing drivers, Tom Wimmer representing owners, Sonny Kratzer representing crew and parts manufacturers and Dean Miracle as the DIRT MotorSports member.
The World of Outlaws Stacker 2® Late Model Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Tom Helfrich (promoter), Dale McDowell (driver), Raye Vest (owner), Tommy Grecco (crew/parts) and Rick Eshelman (DMS).
The Modified Series board includes Fusco as chairman, Paul Kirkland (promoter), Tim Fuller (driver), Randy Ross (owner), Pete Chuckta (crew/parts) and Gary Spaid (DMS).
