[Bill Harris]

That makes more sense that it was an accidental shifting.

However, reading it again it does not say that. It says "after crossing the finish line, I bumped the shifter up to 2nd gear and as I was reaching up to cut off the engine..." That implies that the "bumping" was intentional. If it was accidental I would expect the wording to be: "after crossing the finish line, I bumped the shifter up to 2nd gear as I was reaching up to cut off the engine...". The "and" makes a difference. If it were stated "after crossing the finish line, I (accidently, inadvertently, etc) bumped the shifter up to 2nd gear as I was reaching up to cut off the engine..." it would be more clear.

Not trying to start a fight or be the grammar police, I just wondered about the procedure used.

Must be the scars from the nuns.