June 30, 2008

For Immediate Release

Rudolph disappointed with ACE Result

Ace Speedway, Altamahaw North Carolina June 27 saw the 100 lap feature Late Model Stock Car race produce the best driving display of Dane Rudolph's exceptionally short stock car career to date. Setting the 4th fastest time in qualifying proper, Dane stepped up to take his top 5 grid draw, pulling pole position for the race. Starting from Pole for the second time this season, confidence was high of a great result and the driver of the number 18 Sellers Racing Chevrolet did not disappoint. Leading briefly, before settling into P2 running his fastest consistent lap times to date. The car developed a mid corner push and by around Lap 40 the chasing pack started to gang up on him a bit, dropping him back to 4th, a position he held for the duration of the event. Ecstatic with the result the cars were impounded for post race inspections. The 100 lapper was once again run caution free testing the mental toughness of all the drivers involved, with the fast repetitive nature of these races.

"Once you have given your all it is pretty hard to take when you learn of a technical infringement with the car, we spend so much time each week checking and rechecking these items that we are at a loss to understand what has gone wrong" said a somewhat disappointed Rudolph fearing he would have his best place finish taken from him a few minutes after the race end.

Worse was to come and the decision was in fact made pretty soon after to disqualify the Number 18 Chevrolet from the official results. The front wheel track was outside of the allowable measurement was the reason given by the officials. The team set about understanding what had occurred, as the car had passed inspection on 10 previous occasions without fault, and without knowing what to check first, the team set about measuring everything. As it turned out the front inside tyre was out of specification significantly in terms of width, with what appears to be a moulding fault of some type, complete unnoticed by the team on installation.

In a closely controlled technical series such as the Whelen All American Series for Late Model Stock Cars, the team purchase all of the components they run, this is done so nobody can gain a technical advantage from any given alliances to brands, and to ensure all cars are treated equally to create a level playing field expected by the competitors. The intent is that nobody gain any advantage, and if they do then it is the luck of the draw because all the tyres must be purchased from the tracks tyre pool, fitted by the track officials, then given to the teams branded and recorded by the track officials.

"It is a bitter pill to swallow when you end up with something designed to make sure you do not get any advantage, affecting my best result to date. You can't help the feeling of being cheated. We will put it down to the one that got away, and will of course accept that the umpires decision, and move to on our next event with the knowledge we had a fast car tonight, with hopefully more to come. I am gutted at the moment, but tomorrow is another day" said a disillusioned Rudolph about the outcome.

"The good news is this weeks race will see another boxed ticked on my 2008 season goals, we are going to challenge ourselves even further by taking on another new track, South Boston in a 200 lapper on July 3, I have tested there recently and am looking forward to it, then keen to take in the atmosphere of my first 4th of July celebrations I have heard so much about from way over the other side of the world in Australia, so it should be great fun, I am sure my smile will return soon" continued Rudolph.