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...

DEVELOPING: Newman In, Truex Out Of Chase, MWR Gets Fines & Suspensions

As part of the punishments handed down by NASCAR in the "Did Clint Bowyer Spin On Purpose Or Not?" Sweepstakes, Ryan Newman is back in the sprint to the cup and Martin Truex, Junior is out...

Also, NASCAR has levied a $300,000 fine against Michael Waltrip Racing, all 3 MWR drivers have been docked 50 points, and MWR General Manager Ty Norris is suspended indefinitely.

To refresh your memory, here's the incident...
((HT: NASCAR.com/ESPN))


And here's your postgame from Bowyer...


To say this is heavy-handed is a bit of an understatement...
But, hey, they do it all the time in Formula 1... and this is the largest fines that the sport has levied...

Has to be...

Marty Smith discusses in depth with Lindsay Czarniak...
((HT: ESPN))


"We penalize to not have this happen again," NASCAR president Mike Helton said. "It's a message from the league saying, 'You can't do this.'"

"I am proud that NASCAR took a stand with respect to what went on Saturday night at Richmond," Newman said in a statement. "I know it was a tough decision to make. With that being said, myself, [crew chief] Matt Borland and this entire No. 39 team are looking forward to competing for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship."

The Big One Only Waits 42 Laps At Talladega (UPDATED: With Another Big One With 6 To Go And David Ragan Wins)

Kyle Busch gets a push from Marcus Ambrose... He goes into the back of Kasey Kahne to send him around and all hell breaks loose at Talladega... Busch admitted on his in-car communications that it was his fault...

Your victims- Kyle, Kahne, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers, Casey Mears, Ambrose, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, David Stremme, Martin Truex, Junior, and Jeff Burton all either got damage of some sort or are out for the day... 14 of 43...

Not a bad percentage for the haunted speedway to take another chunk out of the sport... a full one-third of the field...

Here's a little bit of it from nascarcrashesmore...


More when we know more...

UPDATE: With 6 laps to go, it all happened again...

It looked like Ricky Stenhouse squeezed JJ Yeley as the cars went four wide and it caused another chain reaction involving Kurt Busch (who was looking to win the race). Ryan Newman ended up with the 78 on top of him. Bowyer, both Labontes, David Stremme, Danica Patrick, Jamie McMurray, and Jeff Gordon were all involved.

Stenhouse called out Yeley in his own in-car communication...
Here's the other big one...


NASCAR, much like Saturday's Nationwide race, only allowed one pass for a green-white-checkered finish. Seven hours after the official start, David Ragan got a big push from his teammate David Gilliand and beat out Johnson, Edwards, and Kenseth.
((HT: NASCAR))


Huzzahs to everyone at Front Row Motorsports for their finish...

NASCAR Drops The Hammer On Penske And MWR After Texas Race

((HT: NASCAR their own selves))

Penalties have been handed down to three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams following last Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway.

The No. 56 car was found to have violated Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing); 12-4J (any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to NASCAR rules); and 20-12.8.1B (the car failed to meet the minimum front car heights during post-race inspection) of the 2013 rule book.

As a result of this violation, crew chief Chad Johnston has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until June 5. The team has also been docked six championship driver (Martin Truex Jr.) and six championship owner (Michael Waltrip) points.

Here's Truex after finishing second in the race at Texas...
((HT: FoxSports/NASCAR))


NASCAR continues...

The No. 2 and No. 22 cars have also been penalized. Both cars were found to be in violation of Sections 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12 (all suspension systems and components must be approved by NASCAR. Prior to being used in competition, all suspension systems and components must be submitted, in a completed form/assembly, to the office of the NASCAR Competition Administrator for consideration of approval and approved by NASCAR. Each such part may thereafter be used until NASCAR determines that such part is no longer eligible. All suspension fasteners and mounting hardware must be made of solid magnetic steel. All front end and rear end suspension mounts with mounting hardware assembled must have single round mounting holes that are the correct size for the fastener being used. All front end and rear end suspension mounts and mounting hardware must not allow movement or realignment of any suspension component beyond normal rotation or suspension travel.)

As a result of this violation and as it pertains to the No. 2 car the following penalties have been assessed:

Crew chief Paul Wolfe has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Car chief Jerry Kelley, team engineer Brian Wilson and team manager Travis Geisler (serves as team manager for both the No. 2 and No. 22 cars) have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

The loss of 25 championship driver (Brad Keselowski) and 25 championship owner (Roger Penske) points.

Here was Keselowski after the race talking about the confiscation... and he was less than pleased...
((HT: ESPN/NASCAR))


And NASCAR isn't done...

As it pertains to the No. 22 car the following penalties have been assessed:

Crew chief Todd Gordon has been fined $100,000 and suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

Car chief Raymond Fox and team engineer Samuel Stanley have been suspended from NASCAR until the completion of the next six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship points events (including the non-points Sprint All-Star Race) and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

The loss of 25 championship driver (Joey Logano) and 25 championship owner (Walt Czarnecki) points.

And here's Logano after finishing 5th when he started at the back of the pack...
((HT: NASCAR on FOX/NASCAR))