Ethan Dotson’s hauler was vandalized and his pit box was overturned and damaged after a hard battle for the lead with Garrett Smith during the Saturday night preliminary race at East Alabama Motor Speedway for the National 100.
Ethan Dotson celebrates at East Alabama Motor Speedway via ASD Motorspots on X
Early in the race, Dotson closed in on Smith and attempted to pull a slider on him, but ran out of room and clipped Smith’s hood. The contact sent Dotson over the berm while Smith maintained the lead.
After a couple of cautions, Dotson would take the lead from Smith during a restart and never looked back taking home the win while Smith would have an issue with his car and go over the berm coming out of turn 2 with 39 laps remaining. Smith would eventually finish in 20th, 19 laps down.
It was a wild feature night at the @xrsuperseries National 100 at @NewEAMSdirt on November 2, 2024. pic.twitter.com/XZ5gU38qUs
— XR+ (@xreventsplus) November 3, 2024
Dotson addressed the contact with Smith after the race saying, “I hate what happened with Garret down there. I mean, was to his door and trying to clear him on a slider and I hit that slime down there (on the inside of turn one) and just stopped and we got together. It was my fault. I apologize. S**t happens.”
Smith shared his reaction to DirtonDirt.com, “To sum it up, Ethan drove over his head and attempted a completely unnecessary slide job on lap six and knocked my nose off. Never in a million years would he have cleared me. My front tires were rubbing the nose of my car (from the contact), which I couldn’t steer after that. Which put me out of the race.”
Ethan Dotson attempts a slider on Garrett Smith at East Alabama Motor Speedway via XR+ on X
Following the conclusion of the race, Jacqueline Rumley reported on X, “Well this is not good. During the race Dotson’s trailer and pit box were vandalized in the pits.. there are about 4 sheriffs over here now questioning any possible witnesses. Not cool.”
Jacqueline Rumley on X
A crew member for Dotson’s ASD Motorsports, Tyler Austin Breashears shared on Facebook that the crew was able to repair the pit box, but a glass window was still broke on the trailer.
According to DirtonDirt.com, the battle on the track boiled over into the pits. The outlet reported, “Smith and his crew were questioned and reportedly had one of their ATVs impounded, but no charges were filed and Smith’s team loaded up, left the track.”
Furthermore, it reported, “Smith didn’t comment when asked about his team’s involvement in the postrace situation.”
Rumley also reported that Dotson left the track, “For inquiring minds, Garrett Smith is pulling out of EAMS right now.”
Jacqueline Rumley on X
What do you make of Dotson’s hauler and pit box getting vandalized?
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