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As it turned out, the rumor was true. SK Modified owner Bob Parker protested the legality of Pitkat's winning car, claiming the car's rear spoiler did not meet the rule.
The track officials agreed, and Pitkat was dropped from first to 20th in the final standings. The win went to 2005 champion Lloyd Agor.
Several days later, Pitkat still was upset about the ruling, even though he agreed that the car was illegal.
"I don't think the punishment fit the crime," Pitkat said. "Everyone agreed that the spoiler didn't enhance the performance of the car. We should have been given a week to change it."
Pitkat said the spoiler hasn't been changed on the car for eight years.
"It was nitpicking," Pitkat said.
Stafford Speedway CEO and General Manager Mark Arute, however, said the team was told to change the spoiler.
"Maybe Woody didn't know about it, but his crew chief knew," Arute said. "And they didn't change it. So something had to be done."
Pitkat also was upset about the protest procedure. He said the entire protest fee was not paid when the protest was made and that the protest wasn't made in the allotted 20 minutes.
Arute, however, said the protest was followed "to the fullest degree."
"There was a minor inconsistency with the collection of the protest money, but eventually the entire fee was paid," Arute said. "We haven't had a protest in two years. Some of our officials were unaware of the procedures."
The protest fee also had been raised over the winter and the track was unaware of it.
"That's our fault, but no one here knew that the fee had been raised," Arute said. "The unfortunate thing is that Woody ran a heck of a race, only to be penalized."
Because he did get 12 points for his 20th place finish and his handicap wasn't completely ruined, Pitkat's title hopes just received a setback last week, not a death penalty.
He will now be handicapped outside the Top 18 when he qualifies for tonight's 40-lap feature, meaning he'll have to start his heat race from the rear of the field.
"We can still finish in the top five or top 10," Pitkat said. "But if I get into a wreck trying to get through the pack and finish 20th or so, a championship just ain't going to happen.
"The upsetting part is that someone should only protest you if you have an edge, and we didn't have an edge. I'm sure if you went through every car, you'll find something not completely legal. Where will this end?
"This is like in football. A coach will throw a red flag when he thinks there's a bad call. But after further review, the evidence is inconclusive and they let the call stand. That's the story here - the evidence is inconclusive."
Pitkat said there's a chance the team might protest the procedure that was used. In any case, however, he just plans to move on.
"I could yell and scream, but I'd rather keep plugging away," Pitkat said. "I tell the truth and I never lie. And we just don't go out and cheat."
An apparent win, however, was spoiled by a spoiler. And Pitkat will be more determined than ever for a good finish tonight to lessen the pain.
