The NASCAR Chase is just starting to heat up after the race on Sunday at Chicago and now the fallout from the previous week is continuing, as NAPA Auto Parts has decided to part ways with Michael Waltrip Racing after what happened when they tried to get Martin Truex Jr. into the postseason chase with a deliberate spin by Clint Bowyer.
According to ESPN.com, NAPA has decided to get out of their sponsorship after what happened the previous week in Richmond, saying that the company believes in "fair play."
"NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR," NAPA said in a statement. "We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."
Ryan Newman is now one of the wild cards in the Chase and it comes after he publicly complained about how the spin out by Bowyer ended up changing the outcome of the race, which Newman was leading when it happened. According to ESPN.com, Newman was moved into the Chase over Martin Truex and NASCAR also levied points violations on Bowyer, Brian Vickers and Truex and also fined Michael Waltrip Racing $300,000 for what happened.
Newman praised NASCAR for levying the fines and making the switch with the Chase and in a statement the organization said they wanted to ensure the integrity of the sport and made the penalties serious to ensure that no one else would try it again. While Bowyer said that he didn't do it intentionally, Newman didn't buy that and it also came as the driver completed a new deal to move to Richard Childress Racing next year.
Newman now moves into one of the wild card spots in the chase with Kasey Kahne, while Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are in the 10th and ninth place spots. Clint Bowyer is in the eighth spot behind Greg Biffle, while Joey Logano and Carl Edwards are ahead in sixth and fifth place. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth are the top four spots in descending order.
