DEVELOPING: NAPA Leaving MWR

And that's not a good thing for Michael Waltrip Racing...

After the fallout of the Bowyer, Vickers, Truex cover-up NAPA believes in fair play and wants nothing to do with the team that they re-upped with through the 2015 season...

To recap:
((HT: ESPN))


"NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR," NAPA said in a statement. "We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."

Michael Waltrip Racing returned fire:

"There is no doubt, the story of Michael Waltrip Racing begins with NAPA Auto Parts, but there are many more chapters yet to be written," the statement said. "MWR has the infrastructure and support of Toyota for three teams plus three Chase-caliber, race-winning drivers. With the support of our corporate partners, we are preparing to field three teams in 2014. MWR is a resilient organization capable of winning races and competing for the championship, and that remains our sole focus."

According to Jenna Fryer, this really sucks for MWR:

It will be a tremendous challenge to quickly replace the money, estimated to be at least $15 million a year, because NAPA is a rare sponsor that covers the entire 36-race Sprint Cup schedule.

Should MWR not secure sponsorship to replace NAPA, it could lead to layoffs of close to 100 employees and the possible shuttering of Truex's team. Truex could be out of job as well.

And Fryer surmises that Truex could end up with Furniture Row Racing if Waltrip can't afford a third team...

The Day At Loudon: Oldest Ever And A Long-Time Coming

((HT: NASCAR on TNT))

It had been almost four full years, and 75 total starts, that it took for Brian Vickers to get back in victory lane. But running part-time for Michael Waltrip Racing along with Mark Martin and Michael his own self, he held off the folks in the green-white-checker for the win at Loudon...

Here's the end of the race...
And another record setting performance came from 71-year-old Morgan Shepherd... qualifying and starting a NASCAR event... “This will be my first Sprint Cup race since 2006. It will be good to be back for such a historical day, and I love the New Hampshire Speedway." Interesting stat from Holly Cain at NASCAR.com Eight of the 42 drivers Morgan Shepherd will be competing against in Sunday’s Camping World RV Sales 301 were even born when the 71-year-old made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on June 20, 1970 at Hickory, N.C. Five drivers -- Ken Schrader, Mark Martin, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Dave Blaney -- had ever made a Cup start at the time Shepherd last visited victory lane (Atlanta, 1993). Here's Shepherd talking about it... ((HT: ESPN))