Lab confirms tire confiscated at Night of 10,000 Stars was legal
VINTON, Iowa (August 20, 2013) – Tests conducted by a North Carolina facility have determined a tire used by Night of 10,000 Stars Modified runner-up Brian Mullen was IMCA legal.
The tire had produced a suspicious reading from the tire sniffer in post-race tech on Aug. 9 at Hancock County Speedway. Mullen protested that reading and the tire was confiscated by IMCA.
Six samples were taken from various parts of the tire and sent to Blue Ridge Labs in Hudson, N.C., which has a baseline sample of the IMCA-stamped Hoosier G-60 tire.
“The tire matched the baseline and was determined not to have been chemically treated or softened,” said IMCA Vice President of Operations Brett Root. “As a result, Mullen received second place points and pay ($3,000).”
“Drivers need to be careful when they use any substance to mount a tire,” Root explained. The tire acts like a sponge and the sniffer smells the air to detect any chemicals.”
“It’s challenging to beat the sniffer and impossible to beat the testing lab,” he added. “It’s important for all IMCA racers to know we have the equipment and testing at our disposal and will continue to use it at any IMCA event.”
