The last leg of the Federated Auto Parts 400 in Richmond last Saturday was filled with controversy and disappointment and no one knew that disappointment quite like Ryan Newman.
Leading the race with just a few laps to go, the No. 39 driver’s victory was thwarted at the last minute by a late-race caution, foiling not only his win but also Newman’s chance at securing the second wild-card position in the Chase for the 2013 Sprint Cup. After Clint Bowyer spun out on lap 394, a move that immediately struck doubt in the minds of fans and shortly thereafter, NASCAR officials, Newman fell behind in laps, finishing third. This left him tied in the point standings with Martin Truex, Jr., a fellow teammate of Bowyer’s at Michael Waltrip Racing. Since they each had one win in the regular season, the tie-breaker fell to which driver had the most second place wins. Truex had one. Newman had none. So there he was, locked out of the Chase. For the 12-year Sprint Cup veteran, Newman admits that was the hardest moment he’d ever experienced in his 30 years on the racetrack.
On the heels of NASCAR’s pre-race warning to every team to play “fair and square,” the controversial turn of events in those last six laps was well documented and criticized, leading NASCAR to announce on Sunday their intentions to investigate the actions of those involved. Initially, they claimed there had been no foul play, but when more and more incriminating details came to light, they decided to take action. In an unprecedented move, NASCAR announced Monday their decision to fine Michael Waltrip Racing an exorbitant $300,000 and deduct 50 points from each driver on the team, the biggest penalty the sports organization has ever imposed in its history. As a result of the point deduction, Truex was out, and finally, Newman was in.
It was shocking news to everyone, including Newman. In the past, NASCAR has rarely been one to change results after the fact. If, for example, a winner had been accused of foul play or using an illegal part, they may have issued point deductions, fines or suspensions, but never had they stripped a win from a driver. NASCAR President Mike Helton was quoted in a USA Today article saying, “We penalize to ask for it to not happen again. It’s a message from the sanctioning body to say, ‘You can’t do this’.”
Now, after fighting so hard on the track at Richmond, Newman finally got what he deserved: a spot in the Chase.
“I am proud that NASCAR took a stand with respect to what went on Saturday night at Richmond,” he told USA Today. “I know it was a tough decision to make. With that being said, myself, Matt Borland (crew chief) and this entire No. 39 team are looking forward to competing for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.”
The next event on the Sprint Cup schedule- the first race of the Chase- is the Geico 400 on Sunday, Sept. 15 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. The race begins at 2 p.m. EDT, with live coverage provided by ESPN, beginning with a pre-race show at 1 p.m.
Read the USA Today article here.
