AREA Cup Series Administration Releases Verdict on Race 16 Incident
March 13, 2024 —
In a recent development following Race 16 of the AREA Cup Series, the league's administration has issued a statement regarding an appeal submitted by Fazekas Motorsports and driver Michael Kurhan. The appeal pertains to an incident involving cars #71 and #24, driven by Douglas Newbigging and Michael Kurhan respectively, during the race held on March 11, 2024.
After an exhaustive review process that included careful examination of in-car camera footage and overhead views of the incident, the AREA Cup Series administration has concluded that the contact between car #71 and car #24 was unrelated to a separate incident involving car #51, driven by Ricky Springer.
The review determined that car #71 lost control of the vehicle independently, leading to the collision with car #24. Consequently, the administration has decided to assess an End-of-Line (EOL) penalty to car #71, driven by Douglas Newbigging, for their involvement in the last-lap crash with car #24.
The decision reflects the league's commitment to maintaining fairness and consistency in its rulings, ensuring integrity within the AREA Cup Series competition. Additionally, the penalty assessed has impacted the AREA Cup Series Championship standings, with the Championship 4 now comprising drivers #56 Jake Matheson, #42 Conor Horn, #73 Jake Nichols, and #24 Michael Kurhan.
A panel of three AREA members, unaffiliated with Monday night's race, ruling, and teams involved, meticulously reviewed the appeal. The panel consisted of Carter Koop, AREA Cup Series series director; Spencer Brown, AREA Truck Series assistant admin; and AJ Roderick, a seasoned AREA member since season 1 and former AREA Team Owner.
Jacob Bell, representing the AREA iRacing Administration, emphasized the complexity of this case and the seriousness with which the league treats appeals. The administration appreciates the thoroughness of the appeal submitted by Fazekas Motorsports and Michael Kurhan, highlighting their commitment to upholding the integrity of the racing environment.
A copy of the appeal submitted by Fazekas Motorsports has been made public and can be viewed here.
For any further inquiries or clarifications regarding this decision, all concerned parties are encouraged to reach out directly to the AREA iRacing Administration.