More Fallout For Waltrip: Only 2 Teams In 2014

((HT: ESPN))

When NAPA pulled out of sponsoring the 55-car after the Did-Bowyer-Spin-On-Purpose situation, the writing on the wall was there for Michael Waltrip Racing...

The benefactor of the conspiracy, Martin Truex, Junior is now a free agent...

Truex, crew chief Chad Johnston and 15 percent of the workforce were told they can go and get other jobs outside Waltrip's shop. Team co-owner Rob Kauffman said the cuts were across the organization and not limited to Truex's team.

Truex's car goes into the shop for research and development. It will be trotted out for Waltrip to use his sponsor's exemptions to try and get a third car into select races- much like it was before he went after a third car in the shop in the first place.

This is what got MWR in hot water in the first place...
((HT: NASCAR))


Paired with this... Brian Vickers questioning... really questioning... coming to the pits...


NASCAR fined MWR $300,000 for the alleged stunt, suspended GM Ty Norris indefinitely and replaced Truex in the Chase field with Ryan Newman. And then they went ahead and added Jeff Gordon, too, since Bowyer wasn't punished...

Truex has been talking to Furniture Row about the soon-to-be vacant #78 ever since all these questions came up...

Here's MWR talking about MWR...

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...