DAYTONA BEACH, FL :: Chaos ensued in the hours after qualifying for the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MavTV American Real at Daytona on Friday.  Bobby Gerhart was the fastest qualifier but his time was disallowed by ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards officials after the car failed post-qualifying technical inspection.  Multiple other drivers, including Justin Boston and Spencer Gallagher, who also qualified in the top-five, were also stripped of their qualifying runs.

After being stripped of his pole-winning run, Gerhart stormed to the ARCA trailer where he very vocally expressed his displeasure with ARCA Racing Series officials.

“I went right to the top, right inside the trailer,” Gerhart told the Daytona Beach News-Journal.  “I’m pretty vocal.  They’re all very circumstantial, argumentative and how can I say, judgment calls.  They’re just judgment calls.  I followed the letter of the law.”

Gerhart told the News-Journal that his car was cleared before qualifying and that if they didn’t like it, they should’ve told him and he would’ve changed it.  Gerhart was disqualified over a U-bolt.  In spite of the disqualification, Gerhart will race on Saturday, starting in the 40th position.

Following his verbal confrontation with ARCA officials, rumors swirled on social media that Gerhart had been arrested for threatening to murder ARCA officials.  Mark Gundrum, Vice President of ARCA Business Development & Corporate Partnerships, denied those reports.  ARCA also denied reports that there was some kind of a physical confrontation.

Two cars fielded by Ventiruni Motorsports were also stripped of their qualifying runs.  Those cars were fielded by veteran driver and environmental activist Leilani Munter and 2013 ARCA Rookie of the Year Justin Boston.

“Not exactly sure what to say about post ARCA tech today,” Venturini Motorsports General Manager and former ARCA competitor Billy Venturini wrote on Twitter.  “There was a serious inconsistency between pre and post tech on what is deemed legal.”

Both cars were disqualified because of issues regarding the angle of the springs.  Because Munter and Boston are driving cars that competed full-time last season, they will be able to race in Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV by virtue of their respective cars’ finishing position in owner’s standings last season.

Spencer Gallagher and Tyler Reddick were also stripped of their qualifying runs.  Gallagher’s disqualification was due to a mechanical lowering device discovered in post-qualifying inspection.  It had initially been reported that Chase Elliott had failed post-qualifying inspection but ARCA later clarified that his time was good and he would race.  Elliott has not yet been approved by NASCAR to race on superspeedways and has to compete in Saturday’s ARCA race in order to be approved to compete in next Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series season opener.

Defending NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Champion,Dylan Kwasniewski, will lead the field to the green flag in Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV.  Kwasniewski also needs approval from NASCAR to compete on superspeedways in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  The 2013 Lucas Oil 200 presented by MavTV American Real can be seen live on FOX Sports 1 at 4:15pm EST.

Official Starting Lineup

1. #4 Dylan Kwasniewski
2. #90 Grant Enfinger
3. #99 Buster Graham
4. #66 Mark Thompson
5. #9 Chase Elliott
6. #98 Mason Mitchell
7. #77 Tom Hessert
8. #69 Will Kimmel
9. #15 John Wes Townley
10. #32 Terry Jones
11. #17 Bryan Silas
12. #88 Justin Allison
13. #19 Brian Rose
14. #48 Sean Corr
15. #52 Clay Campbell
16. #44 Frank Kimmel
17. #8 Cole Powell
18. #54 Matt Kurzejewski
19. #12 Jared Marks
20. #7 Scotty Hubler
21. #13 Jeb Burton
22. #2 Mario Gosselin
23. #11 Benny Gordon
24. #56 Derrick Lancaster
25. #3 Tom Buzze
26. #86 Bobby Grewohl
27. #20 Scott Sheldon
28. #33 Kody Weisner
29. #68 Chris Bailey Jr.
30. #40 Alx Danielsson
31. #25 Justin Boston
32. #22 Tyler Reddick
33. #55 Leilani Munter
34. #2 Thomas Praytor
35. #46 Maryeve Dufault
36. #97 Tim Viens
37. #6 Ed Pompa
38. #0 Barry Fitzgerald
39. #10 Dick Doheny
40. #5 Bobby Gerhart