The NHRA handed down the
largest fine in the history of NHRA POWERade championship drag racing on Sunday
afternoon after discovering Don Schumacher Racing to be in possession of four
drums of nitromethane not purchased from the official fuel supplier of the
NHRA, VP Racing Fuels. NHRA VP Graham Light announced DSR’s fine was $100,000.
“Yesterday we discovered nitromethane
in Don Schumacher Racing’s pits that was not purchased through the official
distributor and that is clearly in violation of the rules,” Light said, in an
interview with ESPN2. “As stewards of that product we take our responsibility
very seriously. There are very strict guidelines as to the purchase and use of
nitromethane. As a result of this violation, a $100,000 fine has been levied
against Don Schumacher’s team.”
Don Schumacher was in
complete protest of NHRA’s decision.
“I’ve been told by Tom
Compton and Graham Light that Pro Nitro is a legal nitromethane that can be
used in the NHRA,” Schumacher said, in reference to his brand that is legal in
IHRA, Nostalgia and test events. “We had four drums of Pro Nitro in our pits Saturday
and they have been removed. They feel this is inappropriate and have fined me. I
will appeal the fine and I don’t feel the rulebook is being enforced the way it
is written. That’s the bottom line.”