[gpetilli]

GDC Answer: DRIVE TEAMS may bring to the ARENA any "special clothing and/or equipment required due to a disability", per T26-1-E. If you bring special equipment and it's not obvious that you require it because of a disability, you can expect to be asked about it. However, we won't be setting guidelines on what it means to require special equipment due to a disability. That judgement will be made on a case-by-case basis at events.

The answer says you will be "asked about it". It does does not use the word illegal (or legal).

From ADS Fact Sheet:
Who is an "individual with a disability?"

Under the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who has:

a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;
a record of such an impairment; or
is regarded as having such an impairment.

I would argue that a "vertically challenged" individual is regarded as having a physical impairment that limits them from participating in the life activity of FRC DRIVER.

BTW: 50 percentile height of 16-17 year old boy is 67-70 inches, girl is 64 inches. A combined height of 5'9" would seem appropriate to me - about half the boys are still taller. A "level" playing field for boys and girls.

Full disclosure - I am the person who wrote the original "vertically challenged" question.