76 Freedom Car's fate in officials' hands
Freedom Car battles the 25 Car early in Tuesday race at New Smyrna Speedway in Florida. James V. Carroll

76 Freedom Car's fate in officials' hands

Driver Jerick Johnson and The American Legion/David Law Firm 76 Freedom Car crossed the finish line Tuesday in fourth place in The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. At least that’s how he hopes he finished.

Following the 25-lap Crate Late Model race at New Smyrna Speedway near Daytona, Fla., Johnson and the cars crossing the finish line in front of him were instructed to drive straight to the inspection area. It was not known at the end of the evening if Johnson or the other three frontrunners would be disqualified from the race.

Officials checked Johnson’s carburetor, weighed and measured the length of his car, and told him they would advise him later of their decision. As severe as the situations seemed to Johnson, the cars of two other drivers were literally disassembled for inspection.

Regardless what inspectors find, Johnson has four top-five finishes in four races this week and at the start of Tuesday’s race was second in World Series points. Depending on what race officials decide, Johnson could retain his second-place points status.

“We really don’t know what the officials may decide,” Johnson said following Tuesday’s race. “But what ever they might decide we have to live with it. We will just have to wait and see if out fourth-place finish stands.”

The 76 Freedom Car is registered to race again tonight.