Letter to MMRA minicup racers - posted in sealed envelope at beginning of Music City Motorplex Touring Series race, and opened and read after the minicup races were run:

Starting with this season, MMRA has started an optional sealed engine program.  We started this program to allow legal racers to avoid costly and time consuming tear downs at every Touring and Grand National race.  We believe in the program and intend to continue forward with it. 

With that said, we have heard some outrageous rumors about the sealed engine program that accuse Tim O’Brien and/or MMRA of impropriety, bribes, etc.  This has undermined confidence in the sealed engine program and required MMRA to take action.

Our initial announcement of the sealed engine program included the following question and answer.  “Will an MMRA approved sealed engine ever be teched?  Possibly - In unusual circumstances, MMRA officials may opt to tear down an MMRA approved sealed engine.  An MMRA approved sealed engine will only be torn down under tightly controlled conditions with a minimum of Pete Neimeier and Tim O'Brien present.  This will be a rare occurrence and the owner of the engine will be fully compensated for any expenses to re-assemble and re-seal the engine.

We have chosen this time and procedure to reveal the integrity of our sealed engine program.  Tonight, the highest finishing sealed engine in both minicup divisions will be torn down by Bill Faulkner who has no ties to any engine builder.  If the engines are not legal, MMRA will pursue damages with EES and all existing seals will not be respected by MMRA.  In effect, one illegal motor would end the sealing program as we know it.

If the engines are legal, we have proven that the fastest sealed engines are legal and the system is working.  From now on, anyone who questions the integrity of the program needs to put their money where their mouth is and protest an engine.  MMRA will not continue to subject sealed engines to teardowns at our expense.

As all of you have witnessed, this letter was written and the decision was made prior to any qualifying or racing activities today.  As such, MMRA has not chosen which motor will be teched.  We are not protecting, or harassing any team or driver.

The only people who knew the contents of this letter before now were myself, our Tech Director Vic Johnson, and National Director Lee Griffith.