SCHUMACHER’S FINE IN QUESTION?
Our unimpeachable source, who would only speak under the condition of anonymity, confirmed Wego had purchased nitromethane from Schumacher’s Pro Nitro in the past and the fuel in question had actually been repurchased from the Chinese-based company by Schumacher.
A technicality could
question the legality of the $100,000 fine …
The NHRA’s fining of Don Schumacher Racing for possession of unapproved fuel on site has no legal merit on a technicality. The fuel in the drums emblazoned with Pro Nitro logos reportedly held nitromethane purchased from Wego, an approved nitro supplier to the NHRA, a source close to the situation told CompetitionPlus.com.
This unimpeachable source, who would only speak under the condition of anonymity, confirmed Wego had purchased nitromethane from Schumacher’s Pro Nitro in the past and the fuel in question had actually been repurchased from the Chinese-based company by Schumacher.
Schumacher had left a supply of nitromethane used in pre-NHRA ACDelco Las Vegas Nationals testing in the possession of Las Vegas Motor Speedway for use at a later time. In the meantime, Schumacher sold the fuel in question to Wego, who was to have the product shipped from LVMS back to their location.
Schumacher reportedly repurchased the four drums of fuel in January of 2008 from Wego.
Adding more questions to the fine, Schumacher’s Pro Nitro is an approved supplier of Wego’s nitromethane. DSR is also top-line security screened making possible the possession of more than 400 pounds of nitromethane in their pit area.
Section 4 in the NHRA 2008 rulebook states that only nitromethane from an accepted NHRA supplier may be brought or used on-site at an NHRA POWERade Series event. The rulebook also states NHRA will designate accepted suppliers may be brought on-site or used on site at national and divisional events.
Schumacher was unavailable for comment at this time.
