Truex out and Newman in

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Ryan Newman is replacing Martin Truex Jr. in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship as part of NASCAR'S penalties against Michael Waltrip Racing for manipulating the outcome of last weekend's race at Richmond.

Two independent people familiar with the situation described the penalties to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because NASCAR had yet to announce its decision. The governing body had scheduled a news conference for Monday night.

Michael Waltrip Racing has been fined $300,000, and general manager Ty Norris is suspended indefinitely. Truex, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers have been docked 50 points apiece.

Newman was leading with seven laps remaining Saturday night at Richmond, where a victory would have given him the final spot in the 12-driver Chase field. But Bowyer spun and out came a caution, setting in motion a chain of events that ultimately led to Newman losing the race and Bowyer teammate Truex earning the final Chase berth.

While examining the situation, NASCAR reviewed communication between Bowyer and his Michael Waltrip Racing crew that seemed to indicate the spin was deliberate, as well as additional evidence that suggested MWR had Bowyer and Vickers take a dive over the final three laps so Joey Logano would knock Gordon out of Chase contention in yet another attempt to help Truex.

Bowyer has denied he intentionally spun and Truex was an unwitting participant. There's been silence from MWR officials, manufacturer Toyota and sponsors 5-Hour Energy (Bowyer) and NAPA Auto Parts (Truex), which pay millions to fund the race programs and likely owe MWR bonuses for each driver making the Chase.

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Permalink Reply by will on September 11, 2013 at 9:37pm

Do you mean to imply that money could be involved in a decision from NASCAR??? Pshaww!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on September 11, 2013 at 9:56pm

LMAO, your asking if NAPA will be the new official aftermarket part store and 5hr Energy the new what ever?
Nascar has more Integrity than that. (total sarcasm)

Why is Nascar piss'd? They are the only one's allowed to fix races, not teams or drivers.How dare the employee's manipulate the show.

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Permalink Reply by mj on September 11, 2013 at 9:58pm

Guess the biggest rumor now is that both NAPA and 5hr Energy are seriously looking at they're relationships w MWR . It was on RaceHub and they just showed a message from the NAPA Facebook page stating the following

"The actions taken by Michael Waltrip's Racing team this past weekend leading to the penalties assessed by NASCAR, are very concerning. We are disappointed that a partner associated with our organization would make such a significant error in judgment. In addition, we have launched our own review to determine the future of our partnership with Michael Waltrip's Racing team. The NAPA AUTO PARTS organization is proud of its long-standing NASCAR relationship. We share a passion with our customers for high quality racing and seek to determine the best course of action for our customers, NASCAR fans, and the NAPA organization."

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Permalink Reply by will on September 11, 2013 at 10:19pm

The comments on that page are all over the place. https://www.facebook.com/NAPAKNOWHOW/posts/10151805856308213
NASCAR - too many beer sponsors for it's own good?

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Permalink Reply by mj on September 11, 2013 at 11:33pm

Wow you weren't kidding its all over the place . Thanks for posting the link I'm not on Facebook . Personally I'd say NAPA should drop MWR and take their money to another team . It looks like either way they are gonna lose customers but at least if they go else where they won't have the
" cheater " stigma hanging over their heads .

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Permalink Reply by Wheaton56 on September 12, 2013 at 1:58am

Gots to wonder if Napa will pull out. Maybe they have been looking for a reason

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Permalink Reply by WJM on September 12, 2013 at 3:42pm

This could very easily be NAPA's escape clause to claim breach of contract. NAPA can redirect their marketing dollars elsewhere...like SST.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on September 12, 2013 at 10:01pm

LMAO

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Permalink Reply by J.R. Sands on September 11, 2013 at 8:34pm

I thought I would add this to the thread, instead of a new one. Richmond this year had a lot of plots to it .....

Tiny Front Row Motorsports asked for a deal from Penske Racing in the closing laps of last weekend's race at Richmond and then helped make sure Penske's Joey Logano made the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship by having one of its drivers back off, according to an Associated Press review of radio communications.

David Gilliland's spotter tells his crew that Logano's team wanted Gilliland's spot on the track "and they said they'd probably be able to help us in the future," according to the review of Front Row's radio communications.

"You tell that spotter up there it better pay big," replies someone believed to be Gilliland crew chief Frank Kerr.

"Yeah, it's not the spotter, it's the whole committee," the spotter says.

"The committee knows what I've been asking for," Kerr says.

"We've got the big dog and all of his cronies," the spotter replies, a possible reference to Roger Penske, who watches NASCAR races from the spotter stand.

Kerr then says: "Travis knows what I've been asking for," an apparent reference to Penske Racing competition director Travis Geisler.

A short time later, Logano passed Gilliland on a restart and finished 22nd — one spot ahead of Gilliland and good enough for a berth in the Chase field.

"Good job, good job, man," the spotter says. "Hopefully we'll get something out of that."

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Permalink Reply by Jaci on September 13, 2013 at 3:52pm

I'm with Laura, I really don't know what everyone is pissed about and I don't think it would have been a big deal if it hadn't happened in the race right before the chase.