By Victoria Beaver

Two weeks after the tension between Kyle Strickler and David Stremme boiled over to a physical altercation, DIRTcar/UMP and the World Racing Group announced a penalty to Strickler.

The confrontation happened in the All Star Invitational feature of the DIRTcar UMP Modifieds World Short Track Championship at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

In a penalty report released on November 9, the sanctioning body found Strickler in violation of section 2.2 and 11.1-R of the DIRTcar Rulebook.

 2.2 Conduct 

General – All Members agree to act in a professional manner as determined by World Racing Group Officials. The professional manner includes, but is not limited to verbal representation, written representation, any representation that may represent the World Racing Group, DIRTcar, the sport of racing and/or motorsports in general and/or any affiliates. 

11.0 Penalties, Fine Schedules and Protests

A.) The DIRTcar sanction conducts itself as the top Weekly Racing Series in North America and expects its members to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times during any event and/or when representing the series. Car Owners, Drivers and Crew Chiefs are responsible for the conduct of their team members and/or anyone connected to or affiliated with that owner’s team, in addition to being responsible for all infractions, technical and/or non-technical in nature. In the event that a penalty is issued, only active DIRTcar Members in good standing, have the right to an appeal, if the penalty is appealable. All fines that are listed in sub-section 11.1 are in regard to the initial penalty. Multiple infractions of the same type will increase the severity of the penalty. 

11.1 Penalties and Fine Schedules

Q. Any member that goes into another competitors pit area or to another competitor's car and becomes involved in any type of altercation will be subject to disqualification and/or fine and/or suspension and/or loss of points and/or any other action deemed appropriate by DIRTcar Officials and/or World Racing Group Supervisory Officials. Maximum = $5000.

R. Any member involved in an altercation that results in physical contact will be subject to disqualification and/or fine and/or suspension and/or loss of points and/or any other action deemed appropriate by DIRTcar Officials and/or World Racing Group Supervisory Officials. Maximum = $5000.

By reaching into Stremme's car and assaulting the driver, Strickler violated two counts of code 11.1. The governing board has fined Strickler $200 and has placed him on probation for the 2018 racing season.

While Strickler’s punishment is well below the maximum level which could include up to a $5,000 fine, the penalty has a degree of gravity. Probation for the entire 2018 season means the driver has no margin for error moving forward and likely loses the benefit of the doubt in future conflicts.