pj, i assume that this is your opinion and not a known fact. Under that assumption, let me tell you what i think happened.
Dotes were pursuing other options for future drivers and looking to replace hillary, maybe immediately, but maybe after the 3 more races that they agreed upon.
One of the drivers being considered for the future is likely a female pro-mod driver that still needs to obtain her tf license. She was, after all, in the dotes car after, i believe, second round indy.
My guess would be that this spurred hillary's immediate release, either her decision or dote's decision. This left the dote's with a plan for a driver for next season, but nobody in the seat for the remainder of their races this season. Asking ld to sit in would seem to me like a win-win, no brainer.
This is just what i think, so we will see. I just like to put some other possibilities out there. Especially a possibility that ld aint the bad guy here.