LUCAMA, NC :: A storm of controversy once again surrounds the Limited Late Model division at Southern National Motorsports Park as Andrew Grady has been disqualified from his second place finish in the season’s biggest race, the Thanksgiving All-Star Classic. His father, Tony, who won the event, has also been caught up in the controversy.
Southern National Motorsports Park track owner Michael Diaz confirmed to RACE22.com that Andrew Grady was disqualified due to using after-market pistons in his GM 603 Crate Engine. While the pistons matched the specifications stated in the track’s rulebook, providing no competitive advantage for Grady, track rules explicitly prohibit teams from using after-market parts in the crate engines.
Grady did not dispute running after-market pistons, saying that he had tried to order OEM pistons but that they were on backorder.
“They were backordered,” Andrew Grady said. “We couldn’t get them as fast as we needed them. My motor man found one that matched the exact same specs. We offered Diaz to spec it and whatever. It didn’t have the stamp on it and it that’s the rule, it’s the rule.”
Diaz said he hated it for Andrew but that he had to go by the black and white in the track’s rulebook.
“It was the right after-market part but it was an after-market part,” Diaz remarked. “It’s too bad for Andrew but they weren’t OEM parts and the rulebook says they have to be OEM parts.”
Tony Grady’s engine was also confiscated by track officials and has been sent off for further inspection to make sure all the parts inside his “Hickory Little Motor” are legal.
“Dad’s motor is 100% legal,” Andrew stated. “Now we have to spend $5,000 to take a motor apart and put it back together to win $4,000. Where’s the logistics in that?”
Diaz said the only way to make sure Tony’s motor was legal was to weigh certain engine parts.
Unofficially, the disqualification of the younger Grady moves Clay Jones to second while Rusty Daniels, Joey Throckmorton and Ryan Glenski would round out the top-five. A decision regarding Tony Grady is not expected to be made official until sometime late next week.
The track said in a statement moments ago that, to prevent imposing further delay on the rest of the field, purses would be distributed based on the current unofficial results.
The disqualification was the second for Andrew Grady at Southern National. He was also disqualified of his results in twin Limited Late Model races back on May 24th – a crucial moment during the regular season for the division at Southern National Motorsports Park as Haley Moody’s victory that night, combined with Grady’s disqualification, changed the complexion of the championship battle. Grady was never able to overcome the disadvantage of the points he lost that night.
