There was tension at Richmond leading into racing. The pre-race was fine and the drivers were fine with the usual chatter and smiles before the engines started but the tension was there. Ten drivers were still playing the field and the math to be on the CHASE stage following the Federated Auto Parts 400.
One of them was starting on the pole. Jeff Gordon needed a good run to pop the bubble.
Racing at Richmond generally has some bobbles. Touches and spins which usually puts some kinks on the sheet metal is normal. This race wasn’t so normal. It was almost more of a dance than a race. Light on cautions and a bit heavy on leads…
Until the last 10 laps. Questions are all over the board focusing on the exit of turn 4 onto the front stretch. Clint Bowyer, running a wheel on the outside of Dale, Jr., seemed to just lose it and went sideways sliding down onto the apron. The #88 made it by but left its driver a little confused.
“It was the craziest thing I ever saw. He just spun right out.” said Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
Ryan Newman was leading and was just a few laps away from potential victory and a CHASE spot when Bowyer’s #15 went for a slide. Pit road change ups rattled the lineup leaving Newman back slightly with not enough race to make it back.
On the restart, Brian Vickers rolled the #55 down pit road as Carl Edwards ran off the lead and kept it to the checkers. Gordon was close but Joey Logano was closer. The final results set the CHASE field. The final answers are still settling among the discarded lug nuts.
Did Clint Bowyer turn the #15 into a spin to bring out a caution that could help Martin Truex, Jr. make the CHASE? Was Vickers on pit road to give up a spot and points to help Truex, Jr. make the CHASE? Did the #15 and #55 slow their pace to allow the #56 to gain?
Bowyer says no. Vickers was confused. Truex, Jr. says he doesn’t know. Michael Waltrip Racing says no. The social chatter is all over the place.
AND THAT IS WHAT WAS WRITTEN TO THE POINT THE FIT HIT THE SHAN….
NASCAR announced some BIG news on the Monday after Richmond. It seems Bowyer’s spin was inconclusive concerning intention but the spotter call to Vickers to bring the #55 in was more evident. Bowyer also brought the #15 through the pits in the final 3 laps. The combined questions, answers and evidence of conversation and action brought the weight of NASCAR down on Michael Waltrip Racing.
In short… MWR fined $300,000.00. Ty Norris, GM of MWR is suspended. Bowyer, Vickers and Truex, Jr. were docked 50 points which applied to them for the Richmond Federated Auto Parts 400 finish and before the CHASE. The points position put Truex, Jr. out of the CHASE field. Other penalties mixed in but those were the most significant.
The folks at NASCAR are putting the word out that manipulating the races is being taken to the garage.
With the #56 out that left the spot open for the next wild card which fell on the dash of the #39 and Ryan Newman. Some point that Joey Logano, through no fault, also benefited from the actions of MWR drivers and that Jeff Gordon was left out. NASCAR, however, stated that they can’t go trying to piece together every scenario. Logano is in and stays in. No fault on Logano or Penske Racing as they were just running their race.
So it falls on Ryan Newman…
…who was told earlier in the season he would lose the #39 at Stewart-Haas but has also announced he’ll be moving to Richard Childress Racing who is losing Kevin Harvick to Stewart-Haas but Newman isn’t going to the #29 but rather the #31 which is losing Jeff Burton at the end of this season.
What does it all mean? It means NASCAR is trying to keep the sport clean but fighting with the need for drama and fan excitement. It means Tony Stewart still managed to get a Stewat-Haas car in the CHASE while wheeling around in cart with a broken leg even if that car is being driven by a driver who is leaving. It means there is an additional team in the CHASE.
And it means that about 3 dozen photographers (including us) have the wrong photo of the CHASE group…
Or do we…? (Full PHOTO Gallery from Richmond)
