Controversial finishes in racing are not a new thing. However, several circumstances occurred at the 2025 Legend Car Asphalt Nationals within the Pro division feature and afterwards that has not only affected the finishing results, but who is potentially the National Champion. And, there is more than one who thinks they should be.
According to the current, published point standings prior to the start of the feature, Jacob Burns had a three-point lead over Jensen Jorgensen. Joel Smith was another 27 points back of Jorgensen, with all three drivers having a shot at the National championship.
With 18 laps remaining in the feature, Burns was running fifth when his car stepped out in turn four, potentially getting into fluid on the track, that caused a massive wreck that also damaged Jorgensen’s car. Both drivers were okay and exited their cars, and both were able to get their cars taken to the hot pits where repairs were made. They got back in, and continued on racing with their wounded cars.
Of note, Legends Nation did receive some questions regarding drivers being allowed to get back in the race after exiting their cars due to a wreck. LN did not find anything in the rulebook prohibiting this, and did not hear anything during the driver’s meeting addressing this. As far as LN knows, this is a track or event discretionary rule, and they were allowed to get back in the race.
With eight laps to go, a caution flew, and during the yellow the No. 3 car of Dirk Henry was disqualified as he spun another driver during the caution. The DQ was heard live on the USLCI TV broadcast, which included Raceceiver transmissions from Race Director Brad Hockaday.
“Three car, black flagged, and you are DQed. Do not even bother going to the hot pits. You are DQed,” was heard on the broadcast. Henry exited the track, and the broadcast showed the replay of the incident under caution which caused the disqualification. Seemingly irrelevant to the race, but shockingly critical to the championship points.
When the checkered flag flew, Hockaday called the top-five drivers to tech, plus the No. 13 of Burns, who finished 12th, as he was the provisional champion. His car number was called numerous times, however, he bypassed tech, which, according to the rules, is an automatic disqualification, costing him his finish and the championship.
Legends Nation did check with Burns’ team on Monday on why they bypassed tech. The wreck earlier had made it to where the driver couldn’t hear the Race Director due to his equipment issues, so he wasn’t aware he was to report to tech. A working one-way communications device (Raceceiver) is mandatory any time a driver is on track per event rules.
With Burns’ disqualification, the unofficial/official race results showed Smith in fifth and Jorgensen in 22nd. With those results, that meant both drivers are tied in National Points at 1949 points each with the tiebreaker being the Nationals finish. This would provisionally give Smith the championship, and they were told so in tech, which was also in the race recap posted by INEX on Sunday.
However, the official race results don’t list the No. 3 Henry disqualification, and instead still show him as 20th. If the disqualification was scored accurately, it would move Jorgensen up to the 21st finishing position. The additional point that would come with that additional spot would break the tie, which would award him the provisional championship.
LN did verify with Henry that he was told he was DQed during the race.
INEX does have a rule in the 2025 INEX Racing Series rulebook (page 23), that states race finishes are considered official 30 minutes after posting of the results. If no one protested the results in the allotted tme, by rule, they are what they posted, which is Henry as 20th and not disqualified. That keeps the points championship standings tied with Smith the champion. At the same time, INEX has stated the points for the 2025 season are not official until November 14, which allows for corrections throughout the season, and possibly, the results of the Nationals event.
So, who is the real champion? That question will be answered on or after November 14.