Many times things happen at race tracks and drivers and teams leave frustrated and some even vow never to come back. Usually when the dust settles and the smoke clears cooler heads prevail and racers head back to their local tracks just like they should.
That’s exactly the case this weekend at Greenville Pickens Speedway. During the season opener Trey Gibson and his Porter Motorsports team won one of the twin races on the night only to be found illegal during post race technical inspection. The disqualification set off a firestorm on social media within the UpState South Carolina racing community and beyond.
Many fans were upset about Gibson’s disqualification and the appearance that he was being teched differently than other competitors. Gibson himself was upset about the situation and was disappointed that he felt that Greenville’s tech crew was looking at him harder than other drivers. A point that went back to the previous season where he was disqualified on several occasions and held longer in tech on others.
Gibson was disqualified for his intake ports being more than seventy thousands too tall. Gibson’s team owner and uncle Randy Porter conceded immediately after the intake was compared to another Chevrolet intake that the infraction in question was indeed wrong. One question did rise following the inspection but from an article on RACE22.com rather than about the part itself.
Another driver had told RACE22.com that the infraction could be as much as 35-40 horsepower. Through some research and talking with engine builders RACE22.com has determined that the infraction was at worst a ten horsepower gain and likely much less probably no more than five horsepower. RACE22.com wanted to simply clarify that statement from the previous article.
Gibson spoke on Thursday evening about the infraction and the advantage given.
“30-45 horsepower would have just equaled me to the Fords,” Gibson joked. “Our motor guy now the one who didn’t put the intake on said it was maybe three horsepower. He said he stopped doing that a few years ago because they didn’t help the motor any.”
On the topic of the Chevrolet cars being at a disadvantage Gibson weakened his stance.
“It just all boils down to handling. If my handling is good then I’m fine but if I’m off just a little like I was in the first race from hitting the inside wall then maybe a little. I think I’m only at a disadvantage a little just when the tires are brand new.”
Gibson after the disqualification discussed his thoughts on being singled out by the tracks technical inspectors, so we asked him about how those thoughts being printed and how some of his crew lost their cool at the end of the inspection process might affect how he’s treated at Greenville going forward.
“I mean I guess everyone has their thoughts and feelings about things,” explained Gibson. “I know Greenville has a job they have to do. I just feel I have to be right down to the 1/16 of an inch. You just never know what’s going to take place. Sometimes after busting your tail all day, you’re just so exhausted you just want to load up and go home after the race. Instead of being in tech two or more hours.”
“I guess you can always say there are two sides to every story. I just go to race and have fun, that’s why I don’t even get involved with what goes on down there. At the end of the day, the people watching seen me win.”
Gibson’s disqualifications at the season opener aren’t weighing on his mind as he readies to return to Greenville Pickens this weekend.
“Well I always use the motto as winners never quit and quitters never win,” quipped Gibson. “So therefore I’m going back for revenge and to see how it plays out. I’m going for wins nothing else. I’m not going into it worried about points or what happened a few weeks ago. Greenville and Anderson are very convenient tracks for me to race at. So I’m looking forward to racing this weekend and to see how we stack up this week.”
Gibson will be pulling double duty this weekend with Anderson Motor Speedway opening on Friday night and twin races again set for Greenville Pickens on Saturday night.
“I’m ready as ever for this weekend.”
