Statement from Michael Waltrip on NAPA's decision to leave MWR

   STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL WALTRIP:

   “NAPA has been with me from winning two Daytona 500s, to missing races with a new start- up team, and back to victory lane again. The relationship grew far past that of just a sponsor, but more of a partner and a friend. We will not be racing a NAPA car in 2014, but I have friendships that will last a lifetime.

   “To the fans and those who made their voice heard through social media, as the owner, I am responsible for all actions of MWR. I sincerely apologize for the role our team played and for the lines NASCAR has ruled were crossed by our actions at Richmond. NASCAR met with the competitors in Chicago and we all know how we are expected to race forward.”

 

Scandal fallout: NAPA to leave MWR at end of year

 

   NAPA posted the following statement on its Facebook page on Thursday morning:
 
   "Dear Facebook Fans and the NAPA Community:

   After thorough consideration, NAPA has made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing effective December 31, 2013. NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR. We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."

   Following the penalties assessed by NASCAR to Michael Waltrip Racing for a team orders scandal in the Sept. 7 Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond, Va., NAPA had indicated it was going to conduct an internal review of its relationship with MWR.

   MWR issued the following statement on Thursday:

   “Michael Waltrip Racing respects the decision NAPA announced today following the events at Richmond. 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. 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.”

  

Who from NASCAR made cut in The Forbes 400?

  When it comes to NASCAR participation in Forbes newest list of the 400 richest people in America, let's just say it's little lacking.

   Only two NASCAR team owners made the list and one doesn't involved himself in the day-to-day operations of his team.

   John Henry, 64, owner of the Boston Red Sox and co-owner of Roush Fenway Racing, is listed at No. 327, worth approximately $1.7 billion.

   Longtime NASCAR and IndyCar series owner Roger Penske also made the list, in a tie for 386th. Penske, 76, is worth an estimated $1.3 billion.

   The only other NASCAR entry? Jim France, 68, chairman of International Speedway Corp. and vice chairman of NASCAR, is ranked No. 273, worth estimated $2 billion.

   See the whole list at Forbes here.

NASCAR race halted by rain

   JOLIET, Ill. - Sunday's GEICO 400 at Chicagoland Speedway - the first of 10 races to decide this season's Sprint Cup Series championship - was halted after 109 laps due to heavy rain.

   The race had already started about an hour-and-a-half late because of early morning rain showers.

   The race 267-lap race is not official until at least 134 laps are completed. When the red flag was displayed Matt Kenseth was the leader, followed by Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch.


  


  

NASCAR makes changes to restart procedures

   NASCAR officials on Sunday unveiled some changes to race restart procedures which will go into effect immediately.

   The leader of the race will still begin the race in the "restart zone" - lines marked on each track - but once the leader begins to accelerate, the flagman will wave the green flag and the second-place driver can accelerate as well, even if he ends up beating the first place driver to the line.

   There is one other cavaet - all drivers must remain in their respective lane until crossing the start/finish line.   

   Currently, NASCAR's rules state the second place driver cannot beat the first place driver to the start/finish line - although the incidences of exemptions being allowed had been growing in recent seasons. 

   “To be honest with you, it needs to be in the hands of the drivers of who decides these races and not the tower," said NASCAR's vice president of competition, Robin Pemberton. "Things are getting too close and this year we’ve seen more wheel-spin than ever.”

Brian France: We expect '100 percent' effort

    NASCAR Chairman Brian France made the following opening statement on Saturday following the mandatory meeting of Sprint Cup Series drivers, crew chiefs and owners.

   France: "We just a few moments ago wrapped up a meeting with the drivers and the owners and crew chiefs, and at the center of that meeting was what our expectations were going forward and how we intended ‑ and those expectations are that a driver and a team give 100 percent effort, their best effort, to complete a race and race as hard as they possibly can.

   "And we issued a variety of things, some clarifications and some adjustments to our ability to officiate that.  We addressed team rules, and as I said, a variety of other things, all designed to do what our fans expect, and that means that they're driver and their team give 100 percent to finish as high up in a given race as possible. 

   "We were very clear about that. That's our expectations. It's an evolving issue in some ways because of historical things that have happened in the past and the subjectivity that may or may not be part of individual calls going forward. But that's the center of it, and that's what our fans expect, and that's what the drivers want to do, as well, so that was the centerpiece. I'll let Mike walk through some of the specifics."

Brian Vickers: 'We don't race public opinion.'

  

   Brian Vickers, who made it clear in an article on USAToday.com that he believes he did nothing wrong on Saturday, reiterated his view again Friday after qualifying.

    Q: "How do you and your team move forward after this week?
    Vickers: "I think it's really up to -- my perspective of the whole situation is I think that the team is going to move forward just fine. I  think how things have been handled are wrong. We acted in accordance to the rules. We played by the same standards that everyone else has played by since the day I entered the sport. We did nothing different than what I've done with other teams or what I've been asked to do with other teams in my past, or when I started my career with Hendrick. I feel fine. I think it's a shame how MWR has been made out to be the 'bad guy' in the situation. And then the other teams involved got away 'scott free.' I hate it for the employees. I hate it for everyone at MWR. There's a lot of great people at this company and I said that in my article -- the column that I wrote (for USA Today). I stand by these guys. They're a great group of guys. If someone  doesn't like the results -- that's fine. They're entitled to their opinion. But, we don't race opinion -- we race the rule book. And to my knowledge, there's no rule in the rule book that said we couldn't pit for the reason we're choosing. We don't race public opinion. If public opinion wants the rules changed -- then they should change the rules and we'll race by those rules. Until then, I'll say it again and I said it in the column, I'm proud to be a part of this team. I'm proud of how hard they work. I'm proud of their efforts and the way they work and I stand by that. I'm proud of our partners for sticking with us and I just really hate it for this team. Unfortunately, they got the raw end of the stick and it seems like no one else did."

   You can read Vickers' USA Today article here.