Gerstner & Sons Motorsports

July 17, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On June 29, 2011, we won the Belle-Clair Summer Nationals event based on our driver‘s talent and knowledge of the track. Following the race, a sample of our tire was taken. In addition to the tire sample, we offered samples of the products that are used in our tire program which DIRTcar refused. DIRTcar had the sample tested at Blue Ridge Labratories and provided us with their results. Based on their testing methods, they concluded that our tire sample did not conform to the controlled sample.

It is our fault that our tire sample did not conform to the sample. We have not withheld information regarding our tire program from DIRTcar. We do not “soak” our tires and we do not pay for performance enhancing tire treatments or the chemicals used to make them. We take full responsibility for our tire, the results of the test, and our tire program. We did not appeal the test results and did not pay for redundant testing. We did appeal the penalty we were assessed.

Since so many people want to know, here is the story:

The collection of the sample did not follow DIRT car’s “chain of custody” procedures. First off, it did not happen within 15 to 20 minutes following the completion of the race. After we were told a sample was going to be taken, the official left our pit crew member by himself while he went to get the test sample equipment (if we knew our tire would come back as not legal, we would have had plenty of time to switch it out). Neither the car owner or competitor were present for the initial sniffer test or at the time of collection and neither received a receipt of the sample collection. In addition the official did not write down a serial number or compound as DIRTcar called a few days later to ask us the compound of the tire.

The tire sample was tested and via a telephone conversation with the Series Director of DIRTcar, we accepted a penalty of a loss of the Summer Nationals race win (points and money) and DIRTcar was going to make the announcement at the next Summer Nationals race driver’s meeting (this race was rained out). The following morning we received an email that our penalty was now a fine, loss of the Summer Nationals race (points and $5,000), and a 6 month suspension, due to the corporate office stepping in on the decision. We appealed the penalty (not the test results) as we had previously had a verbal agreement and know that this is not the customary penalty from DIRTcar to previous first time offenders. We’ve completed the penalty appeal process, have accepted our penalty and will move on.

Gerstner & Sons Motorsports has no ill feelings towards the individuals involved, not even the DIRTcar employee who called us vulgar names when she thought the phone was hung up, and we hope they feel the same. However, it is our opinion that if sanctioning bodies are going to continue to tire test, they need to apply to the rules to everyone, have a set penalty scale, and follow their own outline for sample collections.

For anyone who has negative things to say or post about us, that is your right and your opinion, and we realize that it is possible that you didn’t like us before this either. More importantly, for you that we have disappointed, both fans and competitors, it is with regret this situation has arisen. We thank you for your support and we hope that upon our return, we will win back any loss of respect. We will not hide and we will be back.