The manipulations Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway to influence the makeup of the field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup continue to dominate the talk around NASCAR as the Sprint Cup Series prepares to open the 10-race, championship-deciding Chase this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.
The historic penalties assessed Michael Waltrip Racing, including a $300,000 fine and removal of driver Martin Truex Jr. from the Chase, may not be the only setback for Waltrip’s team.
Truex’s sponsor NAPA issued a statement on its Facebook page that indicates considerable unhappiness about the incident and hints that the company could pull its sponsorship of the No. 56 Toyota.
Here is what NAPA had to say: “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.”
Actions by Waltrip’s team in the closing laps at Richmond included a questionable spin by Clint Bowyer to bring out the caution flag just as Ryan Newman took the lead and was poised to win the race and take a wild-card Chase berth from Truex. Then Bowyer and a third teammate, Brian Vickers, fell back in the field and finished behind 22nd-place Joey Logano, putting him past Jeff Gordon into the top 10 in points and opening a wild-card spot for Truex.
But that might not have been the only manipulation going on at that time. NASCAR issued a statement Wednesday that it was investigating communications between the teams of Logano and David Gilliland, who appeared to slow in the closing laps, allowing Logano to gain the one point he needed to break into the top 10.
“NASCAR is aware of reports about the No. 22 and No. 38 radio communications at Richmond International Raceway and is looking into it, but has yet to see anything in full context that requires any action,” the statement said.
Allgaier's Sprint Cup debut: Sunday's Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway will mark the Sprint Cup debut of Justin Allgaier. He'll drive the No. 51 Chevrolet for Phoenix Racing, which has been purchased by Harry Scott Jr., who also owns the car Allgaier drives in the Nationwide Series.
Scott purchased the team from long-time owner James Finch, whose single-car operation has run 253 Cup races with one victory, 539 in the Nationwide Series with 13 wins, and one in the Camping World Truck Series, where Jimmy Spencer started sixth, but blew an engine at Richmond in 2004.
Labonte likely still out this weekend: Bobby Labonte, injured two weeks ago in a bicycle crash near his home in Trinity, N.C., apparently won't return to the No. 47 Toyota this weekend, as scheduled. A team report said that A.J. Allmendinger will drive the car this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Allmendinger already was named the permanent driver of the No. 47 beginning next season.
Local racing: On the local short-track scene, Dixie Speedway in Woodstock is holding its Fall Championship races this weekend, but the track has crowned its season points champions for Dixie and sister track Rome Speedway. Donald McIntosh was the Super Late Model champion. Zach Pilcher won in Crate Late Model, Mike McConnell in Limited Late Model, Daniel Brewer in Super Bomber, Shane Smith in Econo Bomber, Shannon Ethridge in Pony Stock and Jimmy Wilson in Cruiser.
At Senoia Raceway, veteran driver Glenn Morris needs only to start Saturday’s Late Model feature to secure his first Late Model track championship.
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