NASCAR Adds 24 Car To Chase, Penske And Front Row On Probation

Adding fuel to the collusion fire from last week's race at Richmond, NASCAR has added Jeff Gordon to the Chase roster and placed both Penske Racing and Front Row Motorsports on probation.

Gordon was 10th in the chase going into the Chicago race. NASCAR says they determined Clint Bowyer's alleged spin-out with 7 laps to go, cost Gordon his opportunity to qualify.

NASCAR says the radio evidence of collusion between Penske and Front Row to allow Joey Logano to pass David Gilliland during the end of the race, allowed Logano to claim that 10th slot.

Logano, driver of the 22 car for Penske, openly defended his position at Chicagoland in media interviews this week, but it appears the scanner traffic that went public forced the hand of the governing body.

We now have 13 in the Chase and three race owners in deep doo-doo.

More when we know more...

We know more--

NACAR President Brian France said "There were too many things that altered the event and gave an unfair advantage to Jeff and his team, who would have qualified"

From NASCAR's press release on the issue:

“Based on all of our findings this week, we determined both Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations would be placed on probation for the remainder of this season,” said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, based upon the totality of our findings, to be fair and equitable we decided that adding a 13th car to this year’s Chase is the appropriate action.

“Beginning with our decision Monday, which resulted in an unprecedented team penalty, and continuing with further examination of actions involving two other race teams, it is clear to us that attempts to manipulate the results impacted the Chase field.

“The integrity of our sport remains the cornerstone of NASCAR, and our actions this week speak to our commitment to ensure a level playing field for all competitors.”

Additionally, NASCAR will conduct a mandatory meeting with drivers, owners, crew chiefs and other team personnel tomorrow to address this issue moving forward.

Kerry Tharp--NASCAR Communications

Logano Answers Gilliland Collusion

((HT: ESPN))

Joey Logano, just before the Chase starts this weekend decided that a good defense is a good offense when it comes to addressing the issues in and around the possible collusion between Penske Racing and Front Row Motorsports making sure that the 22 car made it into the final ten races as one of the wild card participants...

First, here's the chatter...
((HT: Fox Sports))


And here's Logano with Marty Smith...


What say you...???

So, Now Did Gilliland And Logano Have A Deal...???

((HT: NASCAR))

With all the talk of Michael Waltrip Racing, Clint Bowyer, spins- intentional or otherwise, Martin Truex Junior, Ryan Newman, and everyone who did or didn't make The Chase...

Here's another element that is being considered about Joey Logano making The Chase- thanks to David Gilliand and Front Row Motorsports. Logano needed Gilliland's position on the track and needed to make up a lot of ground to make that happen...

Here's the conversation with Gilliland and his crew deciding what to do...


So...
Whaddya think...???

The HQ thinks NASCAR is making deals just like Formula 1...

And the decision by NASCAR on Logano and Gilliland may have to come to the fore in time for the race at Chicagoland or The Chase may get all scrambled before it even gets underway...

Smoke Wins Dover, Johnson Penalized On Restart

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

Tony Stewart broke a 30-race winless streak by passing Juan Pablo Montoya with a handful laps to go and getting it to the checkered first at the Monster Mile.

But, the 48 car had its chance to set a record 8th win, until...
And the big word is "until..."


Johnson was assessed a drive-thru penalty for jumping. He disagreed...
A lot...

“I ran half-throttle for the first half a lap, waiting for him, and then at some point you’ve got to go, and you’ve got to race, and that’s when I got back in the gas and took off,” he explained. “I was hoping they would see that I was trying to give him the spot back.”

“That was an easy call -- a very easy call,” NASCAR VP Robin Pemberton said. “He beat the 42 even out of the (restart) box, from what we could see on the film. We give 'em an opportunity to give it back.”

In other news, Brad Keselowski's car failed a post-race "height-stick test"- meaning he was too low in the front...
Penalties are to be doled out this week...

And the other half of Stewart-Haas Racing wasn't so lucky... Ryan Newman got into it with David Gilliland and, by the looks of it, the 39 took out the 38 with a tap on the rear that sent Gilliand up the track and, eventually, took them both out.

The HQ is fairly certain we haven't heard the last of this one...