CONCORD, N.C. (AP) - Ryan Newman replaced Martin Truex Jr. in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship on Monday night when NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing for manipulating the outcome of last weekend's race at Richmond.
Michael Waltrip Racing was fined $300,000, and general manager Ty Norris received an indefinite suspension. Truex, Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers were docked 50 points apiece - but Bowyer's deduction does not affect his position in the Chase, which begins Sunday at Chicago.
"We penalize to not have this happen again," NASCAR President Mike Helton said. "It's a message from the league saying 'You can't do this.' "
Newman was leading with seven laps remaining Saturday night at Richmond, where a victory would have given him the final spot in the 12-driver Chase field. But Bowyer spun to bring out a caution, setting in motion a chain of events that ultimately led to Newman losing the race and Bowyer teammate Truex earning the final Chase berth.
While examining the situation, NASCAR reviewed communication between Bowyer and his Michael Waltrip Racing crew that seemed to indicate the spin was deliberate, as well as additional evidence that suggested MWR had Bowyer and Vickers take a dive over the final three laps so Joey Logano would knock Jeff Gordon out of Chase contention in yet another attempt to help Truex.
NASCAR did not adjust the standings to put Gordon into the Chase - he was in before Bowyer's spin - because Helton said it was impossible to address all the scenarios.
MWR can appeal the penalties, which included placing crew chiefs Brian Pattie (Bowyer), Scott Miller (Vickers) and Chad Johnston (Truex) on probation through the end of the year.
NASCAR Sprint Cup-Federated Auto Parts 400 Results
From Saturday
Sprint Cup: Federated Auto Parts 400
Richmond, Va.
Lap Length: .75 miles
(Start position in parentheses)
Car maker abbreviations: C=Chevrolet, F=Ford, T=Toyota
1. (26) C. Edwards, F, 400 laps, 47 points, $281,275.
2. (2) Ku. Busch, C, 400, 43, $185,355.
3. (24) R. Newman, C, 400, 42, $181,443.
4. (7) J. McMurray, C, 400, 41, $151,805.
5. (22) P. Menard, C, 400, 40, $140,701.
6. (5) M. Kenseth, T, 400, 39, $136,676.
7. (11) M. Truex Jr., T, 400, 37, $125,310.
8. (1) J. Gordon, C, 400, 37, $138,696.
9. (16) M. Martin, C, 400, 35, $131,360.
10. (21) R. Stenhouse Jr., F, 400, 34, $134,971.
11. (17) K. Harvick, C, 400, 33, $129,996.
12. (9) G. Biffle, F, 400, 32, $99,360.
13. (14) D. Earnhardt Jr., C, 400, 31, $98,285.
14. (18) K. Kahne, C, 400, 30, $97,160.
15. (34) A J Allmendinger, T, 400, 29, $109,593.
16. (12) J. Pablo Montoya, C, 400, 28, $108,799.
17. (3) Bra. Keselowski, F, 400, 29, $136,876.
18. (19) J. Burton, C, 400, 26, $89,135.
19. (13) Ky. Busch, T, 400, 25, $122,718.
20. (15) A. Almirola, F, 400, 24, $118,921.
21. (6) D. Hamlin, T, 399, 23, $96,835.
22. (8) J. Logano, F, 399, 22, $108,243.
23. (37) D. Gilliland, F, 399, 21, $96,218.
24. (20) B. Vickers, T, 399, 0, $87,810.
25. (4) C. Bowyer, T, 398, 20, $124,543.
26. (25) C. Mears, F, 397, 18, $101,568.
27. (32) M. Ambrose, F, 397, 17, $106,399.
28. (33) T. Kvapil, T, 397, 16, $98,618.
29. (23) D. Ragan, F, 397, 15, $96,382.
30. (36) D. Patrick, C, 396, 14, $79,710.
31. (40) D. Blaney, C, 396, 13, $75,585.
32. (35) D. Reutimann, T, 395, 12, $75,435.
33. (41) T. Raines, C, 395, 0, $75,310.
34. (28) L. Cassill, C, 395, 0, $75,185.
35. (38) R. Truex, C, 395, 0, $83,035.
36. (43) J. Yeley, C, 393, 8, $74,880.
37. (42) K. Schrader, F, 393, 7, $74,737.
38. (29) D. Stremme, T, 391, 6, $69,725.
39. (31) J. Nemechek, T, 388, 0, $65,725.
40. (10) J. Johnson, C, 372, 4, $110,661.
41. (27) J. Wise, F, vibration, 142, 0, $57,725.
42. (39) R. Sorenson, F, brakes, 126, 0, $53,725.
43. (30) M. McDowell, F, brakes, 76, 1, $50,225.
Race Statistics
Average Speed of Race Winner: 105.028 mph.
Time of Race: 2 hours, 51 minutes, 23 seconds.
Margin of Victory: 0.668 seconds.
Caution Flags: 5 for 29 laps.
Lead Changes: 17 among 9 drivers.
Lap Leaders: J.Gordon 1-49; B.Keselowski 50-65; Ku.Busch 66-94; J.McMurray 95-96; B.Keselowski 97-104; M.Kenseth 105-109; Ku.Busch 110-137; J.McMurray 138-141; B.Keselowski 142-208; Ku.Busch 209-217; B.Keselowski 218-268; Ku.Busch 269; C.Bowyer 270-341; Ku.Busch 342-347; C.Edwards 348-390; R.Newman 391-394; P.Menard 395-397; C.Edwards 398-400.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Led, Laps Led): B.Keselowski, 4 times for 142 laps; Ku.Busch, 5 times for 73 laps; C.Bowyer, 1 time for 72 laps; J.Gordon, 1 time for 49 laps; C.Edwards, 2 times for 46 laps; J.McMurray, 2 times for 6 laps; M.Kenseth, 1 time for 5 laps; R.Newman, 1 time for 4 laps; P.Menard, 1 time for 3 laps.
Top 12 in Points: 1. M.Kenseth, 2,015; 2. J.Johnson, 2,012; 3. Ky.Busch, 2,012; 4. K.Harvick, 2,006; 5. C.Edwards, 2,006; 6. J.Logano, 2,003; 7. G.Biffle, 2,003; 8. C.Bowyer, 2,000; 9. D.Earnhardt Jr., 2,000; 10. Ku.Busch, 2,000; 11. K.Kahne, 2,000; 12. M.Truex Jr., 2,000.
Original Print Headline: Newman replaces Truex in Chase for Sprint Cup
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