Hickory Adds Tire Rule, Social Media Policy for Competitors

UPDATE: Landon Huffman has responded to the rules update; as has Doug Barnes Jr., whom has vowed to not return to the track. Original story below the updates.

I’d like to see if they fine me. Sharing our experience is NOT MISREPRESENTING! Y’all Fucked up and didn’t let us participate! Sorry that we told everyone and didn’t stay silent

— Doug Barnes Jr (@DougBarnesJr88) March 25, 2023

https://twitter.com/LandonHuffman/status/1639410509853122560

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Hickory Motor Speedway has released two addendums to its rule book as a result of an incident that occurred in the Late Model Stock division on March 11.

The first is effectively a rule that covers what happens if a driver crashes out early in the first half of a twin feature and is able to start the second feature, specifically the options available to that team to get them on a level playing field from a tire perspective with teams that ran the entirety of the first feature.

Specifically, in the case of a Twin 40s format, cars that do not run at least 20 laps of the first feature will be permitted to purchase four scuffed tires from the tire barn to become eligible for the second feature. Also, in the event of a cut or flat tire in the first feature, teams can replace that tire with a tire from their own stock but must purchase an equal number of scuffs from the tire barn to become eligible for the second feature.

This is essentially the rule that track management has insisted was widely understood to competitors even though it wasn’t printed anywhere before Friday evening.

Landon Huffman and Doug Barnes, not to mention Kade Brown, were all involved in a Lap 3 crash on March 11 and were all poised to start the second feature from the tail of the field on their original tires but were pulled from the grid with the option to start and park. Brown, who drives for the son of track operator Kevin Piercy, elected to start and park while the defending champion and then points leader declined and protested the process both privately and then publicly.

Both drivers did that latter using their YouTube channels, detailing their side of the story, which leads to the second addendum to the Hickory Motor Speedway rule book. It’s a rule that requires ‘professional behavior’ while ‘at the track, on speedway grounds, social media posts’ when referencing the track, ‘track management, officials, employees, etc.’ while at the risk of fines, point deductions, purse deductions or suspensions.’

It’s essentially a broad social media policy for competitors intended to minimize criticism towards the track.

The complete rules update can be found below:

Hickory Motor Speedway returns to action on Saturday for another set of Twin 40s for Late Model Stocks, 35 laps for Limited Late Models, 35 laps for Super Trucks, 30 Laps for Street Stocks and 20 laps for Renegades.

Qualifying starts at 5 p.m. with racing starting at 7. It airs live on FloRacing for those unable to attend in person.

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