DAVID CAMPBELL
Madison Courier Sportswriter
Steve David crossed the finish line first but Jimmy Shane was awarded the win. Now it will take a protest to decide who gets to keep the trophy.
David steered the U-6 Oh Boy! Oberto/Miss Madison to victory at the Peters & May North American Championships on Mission Bay in San Diego on Sunday. David won the race by outdueling Shane in a five-lap battle that wasn't decided until the final turn.
But two hours after the race was over - and after David had officially accepted the Bayfair trophy - H1 Unlimited officials announced that the Oh Boy! Oberto had failed the post-race inspection and was disqualified for a flagrant fuel violation.
The Miss Madison Racing Team contends that the readings on H1's monitoring equipment are incorrect and have protested the decision.
"Our contention is that the data we have supports our case that we were legal," Miss Madison Team Manager Charlie Grooms said when reached by phone just after midnight. "We are very confident that we will win this protest. We are looking forward to presenting our case."