Champion Boat Racer's Results Reinstated

Posted March 07, 2008 in Articles | Back to News Archive

William Bray of the Charlotte-based Bray Law Firm recently represented Jersey Skiff champion Sam Strickland in his successful appeal to the full board of the American Power Boat Association (APBA) arising from the disqualifiation of Strickland's victory at the Summer Nationals, which were held in Hampton, Virginia on August 10-12, 2007.

Strickland's winning entry was disqualified after testing results alleged that Strickland's race fuel contained banned substances under the APBA rules.  Strickland's appeal cited ambiguities in the APBA rules regarding what constitutes a "banned substance" but more importantly set forth in clear and convincing terms that Strickland never altered his fuel, added any banned substances to his fuel and otherwise did nothing to violate the APBA rules.

After initially seeing his appeal denied, Strickland appealed to the full Board of Directors of the APBA, which ultimately ruled that "Mr. Strickland's appeal be upheld and that any penalities be rescinded."  The Board's decision was unanimous.  In defense of his actions, Mr. Strickland voluntarily submitted to a polygraph test, which demonstrated that he had not altered his racing fuel, and had not knowingly entered a fuel which contained a banned substance.

The Bray Law Firm is one of the few firms in the country with a dedicated motorsports practice group.  William Bray is a past-chair of the North Carolina Bar Association's Sports & Entertainment Law Section, and represents clients throughout the world of motorsports.  This was Mr. Bray's first opportunity to assist a client through the administrative disciplinary process of the APBA.  For more information on The Bray Law Firm and its services, visit its website at www.braylaw.com.