Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

AMA Pro Racing has fined racer Vincent Haskovec $1000, deducting the amount from his VIR purse check without ever discussing the situation with him or notifying him that he was being fined or why, according to Haskovec.

Haskovec, who visited the Roadracingworld.com offices Friday afternoon, arrived with an AMA check that he received in the mail on Saturday, September 1. The check stub included a line that indicated that $1000 was being deducted from his VIR purse, without any explanation. The check did not come with a letter of explanation, and Haskovec said he has not received any verbal or written notification of any offense from AMA Pro Racing.

Haskovec and seven or eight other riders were late exiting the pits for the restart of the Superstock race at VIR; Haskovec, who had been at the far end of pit lane, arrived at the pit exit just as the red light went on, and was stopped by a grid marshall even as another rider rode around the marshall and took to the track for the warm-up lap. Haskovec turned around and rode to the other end of pit lane, then proceeded to his grid position and started the race on unscuffed tires. He finished fifth and won $300.

Other riders who were stopped at the pit exit either started the race from pine lane after the field had left the grid, or retired to the pits.