Debate: Did NASCAR Make the Right Call in Regards to Michael Waltrip Racing and the Chase?

NASCAR stepped in and made a decision against Michael Waltrip Racing after their late race antics at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday night that affected which drivers made the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The penalties have been handed down but the question is did NASCAR get it right?

 

 

The way I look at this is NASCAR felt they didn’t have enough evidence to prove that Clint Bowyer spun intentionally and instead are penalizing the team for pitting Brian Vickers instead. Ty Norris told Vickers to “Pit because we need the point,” therefore in NASCAR’s mind that was enough evidence to convict Michael Waltrip Racing did in fact manipulate the race and penalized the entire organization.

 

I think they should have penalized each MWR team 100 points prior to the regular season ending. That would have knocked Clint Bowyer out of the Chase and put Jeff Gordon in, Martin Truex Jr out of the wild card spot and put Ryan Newman in and it doesn’t matter about Vickers because he didn’t run the full schedule anyway.

 

I also believe more people than Ty Norris should have been suspended. There were several radio communications and ultimately Michael Waltrip is the owner of the team and should be in control of his entire team. We saw a crew chief in the Camping World Truck Series get fined because of an issue out of his control but because it was a person from his team, he got fined. It should have been ruled the same with Michael Waltrip and he as well as Norris and others should have been suspended indefinitely as well.

 

All in all I am happy NASCAR decided to make a decision on the issue. While there are several very angry Jeff Gordon fans, in no way shape or form should Joey Logano be taken out of the Chase. Logano did absolutely nothing wrong. I think it would be wrong to have a 13 car Chase. Again if Bowyer was penalized 100 points to knock him out of the Chase, I am okay with that but don’t affect Logano.

 

I don’t like the fact that Bowyer gets off free. I think that he and the No. 15 team were in the wrong. However, NASCAR obviously didn’t see it that way.

 

 

Actions detrimental to stock car racing. That it certainly was and NASCAR got that right. Michael Waltrip Racing’s actions were despicable on Saturday night.

 

NASCAR’s final decision though is flawed. The 50 point penalties should have been deducted from the Chase standings and the field should have been expended from 12 to 14 drivers.

 

Start Clint Bowyer in a 65 point hole from Matt Kenseth’s points lead in the Chase. He was the driver behind the wheel that set all the chain of scenarios into motion by spinning. He and his No. 15 team should directly feel the effects. Truex likewise can remain in the Chase but be 65 points behind Kenseth to start. It wasn’t him or his team that spun out or pitted to intentionally lose places on the track. He was just the one his teammates were trying to help. When the 400 laps ended he earned a Chase position on the track with the way the race played out. If the goal was to penalize MWR then penalize them with being at a points deficit to start the Chase.

 

Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon, the two drivers who would have been in the Chase had the race just remained green to the end should also be allowed into the Chase. Newman shouldn’t be in the Chase if Gordon isn’t. That just downright is not a fair decision.