CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The protested engine of David Crabtree was ruled to be legal on Tuesday night after NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Technical Director Tim Sims inspected the engine at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, TN.

In the aftermath of the protest, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Founder and Director Mike Vaughn issued a clarification of the protest rule. Crabtree’s engine was protested following his victory on Saturday night in the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series event at Smoky Mountain Speedway in Maryville, TN.

After all of the engine serial numbers and seal numbers were recorded, all of the parties involved in the protest at the track agreed that Crabtree could compete in the NeSmith Chevrolet WRS event on Tuesday night at 411 Motor Speedway, and the engine would be inspected after that event. Due to a communication breakdown between the track and the series, Sims was not made aware of this arrangement until after the parties involved in the protest had left the track.

“The NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series rules were not properly followed in this situation, and we apologize for the breakdown in communication concerning this protest,” Vaughn said. “Tim Sims was at another NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series track without cellphone service at the time the Smoky Mountain Speedway protest was filed, and therefore could not properly direct the track technical inspector on how to properly handle the situation.”

Vaughn said series officials will be contacting officials at every NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series track this week and clarify the series’ protest rule in an effort to insure consistency in the future.

“The series will be contacting every NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series track this week to clarify the engine protest rule in an effort to insure consistency in the way the protect procedures are performed,” Vaughn said. “The rule states that when an engine protested, the engine must be impounded until a series technical official can arrive to inspect the protested engine.”

Vaughn said every track sanctioned by the NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series agrees to follow the rules and procedures set forth by the series to insure consistency, and the series hopes this unfortunate situation with the Crabtree protest will not occur again in the future.

Ryan King of Seymour, TN opened NeSmith Chevrolet Weekly Racing Series Week 13 competition with his third win of the season on Tuesday night at 411 Motor Speedway driving the Brian King Roofing Stinger.

For more information about the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series visit the series web site at www.nesmithracing.com, or visit the series on Facebook at NeSmith Racing. Becoming a fan of the NeSmith Racing Facebook page will make you eligible for special prizes that will be given away each month. You can follow us on Twitter @NeSmithRacing.

NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC of Claxton, GA is the Title Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet, Buick, GMC is the nation’s number one GM Powertrain Dealer four years running, with free delivery anywhere in the Southeast. Chevrolet Performance Parts is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hoosier Racing Tire is the Official Tire Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. VP Racing Fuel is the Official Racing Fuel of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. Hedman Hedders is the Official Hedder of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series and the Hedman Husler Award sponsor. Bilstein Shocks is the Official Spec Shock of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. RockAuto.com is an Official Sponsor of the NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series. NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series Contingency Sponsors for 2012 are Dominator Race Products, Race Car Engineering, KRC, QA 1 Precision Products, Modern Images, Mike Custom Tanks, Shorty’s Shock Service, Schoenfeld Headers, Integra Racing Shocks, J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment, Kinser Air Filters, Trak-Star Race Cars, Warrior Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, TNT Race Cars, and Stinger Race Cars.