Rick Hendrick: 'Jeff Gordon got robbed'

   In a brief statement provided via text message to the Charlotte Observer on Tuesday morning, Hendrick Motorsports team owner Rick Hendrick said he was just as mad as his driver, Jeff Gordon, over the penalties NASCAR handed down Monday night regarding Michael Waltrip Racing's attempt to manipulate the outcome of Saturday night's race at Richmond, Va.

   Hendrick went on to say, "Jeff Gordon got robbed. On to the Chase and try to win it."

   NASCAR Monday night penalized the MWR organization and effectively removed its driver Martin Truex Jr. from the 12-driver Chase and added Ryan Newman, who was leading Saturday night's race until MWR driver Clint Bowyer's solo spin with seven laps remaining brought out a caution.

   Gordon, and his wife, Ingrid Vandebosch, posted several messages on Twitter following NASCAR's announcement expressing their displeasure with the decision. Gordon was in position to make the Chase in the closing laps by finishing in the Top 10 in points but with MWR's cars pitting and pulling off the track and losing positions Joey Logano ended up with claiming a position in the Top 10, leaving Gordon out.

   "Feel bad for Truex. He got in under controversy now out due to it. But the guy who started all of this not effected at all??? Don't agree!" Gordon tweeted.

   Responding to a fan's outcry of the decision, Vandebosch tweeted, "Yep, Joke it is!!!!" 

   Gordon went on to say, even he was taken out of the equation, he didn't agree with NASCAR effectively allowing Bowyer to contend for the series championship with no further penalty.

NASCAR President Mike Helton addresses MWR penalties

                                      
NASCAR President Mike Helton's opening statement to Monday night's press conference:

"We're here to talk about NASCAR's reaction today to Michael Waltrip Racing following the Richmond event this past weekend, and as we typically do following the race in reviewing what might have happened there, we've spent the last day and a half or so collecting all the factual information we could, video, audio, timing and scoring information, and what other pieces were available to us.

"Today we reviewed all that collectively, a group from NASCAR did that. We invited Michael Waltrip Racing, who accepted that invitation to come to the R & D Center and sit with us to talk about from their perspective what unfolded at Richmond Saturday night, and from all of that, the conclusion is in front of you," he said.

"Today we're announcing that NASCAR is reacting to Michael Waltrip Racing by fining Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, $300,000, suspending Ty Norris indefinitely, and each team of Michael Waltrip Racing will be fined 50 owner points and 50 driver points. This naturally is a very significant reaction from NASCAR. As multiple car owners have become a very positive integral part of our support, also comeswith it, though, responsibility from NASCAR and as well the car owners, to maintain a fair and level playing field.

"We've discussed, we've talked about what‑ifs over the years, particularly since the Chase was established, particularly with the evolution of multiple‑car teams, and we've been very fortunate that we've not had any occurrences that required NASCAR to step up or step out, as we have had to today. It's difficult. It's not an easy decision to make. Conversations about it were deep. We feel like we researched it extremely well, talked at great length with the folks from Michael Waltrip Racing to try to get to the right spot and make the correct decision, and that's what we feel like we have done."

Rockingham Speedway loses NASCAR race; failed to meet 'obligations'

   NASCAR statement:

   DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 9, 2013) – NASCAR announced today the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event scheduled for Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 2 has been cancelled.

   The race at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga., on Friday, Oct. 18 now will be the season ending points race. The event is part of the 16th annual Petite Le Mans weekend for American LeMans Series.

   It is unfortunate any time a race must be cancelled,” said George Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and touring. “However, the race track failed to meet its obligations and we were forced to terminate the sanction agreement. We look forward to a great race weekend at Road Atlanta to culminate the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season and crown the 2013 champion.”

Check out the in-car video of Clint Bowyer's controversial spin

  
   Take a look at the in-car video and listen to the audio of what took place when Clint Bowyer spun out with seven of 400 laps remaining in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway. 

   Ryan Newman was leading the race at the time and would have clinched a spot in the Chase. With Edwards winning the race, Bowyer's teammate, Martin Truex Jr., earned the last wild card spot.

   You make the call.

Hollywood Reporter asks: Will 'Rush' turn F1 into America's new NASCAR?

 

 

    Despite the celebrity embrace, the apparent wide interest in the movie 'Rush,' and a state-of-the-art facility in Austin, Texas, the question remains: Can Formula One racing gain traction in NASCAR-obsessed America?

   "There’s a pent-up demand for F1,” insists Steve Sexton, Circuit of the Americas' president and CEO. Sexton says NASCAR and F1 attract completely different demographics and that the average annual household income of F1 fans is $100,000. “There’s not a huge overlap with NASCAR," he says.

   Read the whole article here.



  

Jimmie and Chandra Johnson's daughter arrives; he will miss Friday qualifying

   NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson's wife, Chandra, gave birth early Friday morning to the couple's second daughter, Lydia Norriss, in Charlotte. A team press release said Lydia weighed five pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 inches long.

 

   Chandra and the baby were doing well and expected to remain overnight in the hospital. The couple already has a 3-year-old daughter, Genevieve.

 

   Johnson will miss Friday's Cup series practice and qualifying at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway. Regan Smith, a Nationwide Series driver for JR Motorsports, will serve as interim driver with Johnson's No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on Friday.

 

   Johnson will compete in Saturday night's Federated Auto Parts 400 at the track. 

 

 

Ryan Newman: "I don't think anybody lied to me"

   NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Ryan Newman was asked Thursday night about the complaints many fans have had about how he was treated by Stewart-Haas Racing. 

   Newman's contract was not renewed while the organization is adding Kevin Harvick next season and then recently team co-owner Gene Haas announced he and his Haas CNC Racing company would foot the bill to run a fourth Cup car in 2014 with Kurt Busch.

   Newman was asked, "Do you feel like you were lied to?"

   Here was Newman's reponse:

    "I don't think Tony lied to me. I don't think anybody lied to me. I don't have any of that feeling or emotion. I don't think any of that matters because the plans they made are for 2014 and I'm not part of that. I knew that going in," he said.

    "I don't think there were any hidden agendas on Tony's behalf. I had a good relationship with him and been up front with him. My communication has been mostly with him in my whole relationship at Stewart‑Haas Racing. No surprise."