By By Chandler Myers
Flomaton Speedway’s final show of the year proved to be exciting, but not just because of the racing.
Two men were arrested on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges after the finals of the street stock race on Sunday for assaulting the track owner.
Tim Ward, 33, of Brewton and his father-in-law Steve White, 56, of Flomaton were taken into custody after assaulting Jimmy Goodwin, the owner and operator of the speedway. Ward and White were released 12 hours later after posting $1,500 bond.
According to sheriff’s reports filed by the Escambia County (Ala.) Sheriff’s Office, White and Ward entered a vehicle in the street stock race for the speedway’s finale “Gulf Coast Dirt Championship,’ which paid $1,500 to the winner.
The problem started when the car’s transponder that monitors speed and position did not work. The race was delayed in order for the problem to be fixed, according to witnesses.
Upon the car returning to the track, the transponder was still not functioning, but the race continued.
Sheriff’s reports state that when the car returned to the pit area, White realized the race was continuing, and he threw the transponder onto the track and then entered the track himself to stop the race.
Deputies entered the track and told White to exit the area.
Goodwin was inside the race tower when Ward allegedly came to the tower and assaulted him. Reports state that White was also in the tower and attempted to assault Goodwin as well.
Sheriff’s deputies then took Ward and White into custody and transported them to the county jail.
Goodwin said it is the car owners’ responsibility to make sure the transponders are working correctly. He added that all the other drivers tested their devices during a test run.
White said he has no intentions of racing as long as Goodwin remains the owner of the track.