NAPA leaves Michael Waltrip Racing

http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm#20130919c

"NAPA announced today that, after due consideration, it has decided to end its sponsorship arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR) effective December 31, 2013. As many of you are aware, NASCAR determined that MWR attempted to manipulate race results at Richmond, Virginia, on September 7, 2013. NASCAR assessed a large fine, deducted 50 points from each of the three MWR drivers in the race and suspended or banned other members of the MWR team.

NAPA believes in fair play and we are very disappointed in the actions that led to the NASCAR penalties. We have made NAPAs decision known to MWR and posted a statement on our Facebook page. There will be significant media coverage and discussion among racing fans and we expect that our decision to terminate our sponsorship will generate additional attention. The decision was difficult, but we believe is the right thing to do.

We appreciate in advance your support of our marketing efforts. We will continue to evaluate our future position as it relates to motorsports."
Gaylord Spencer, NAPA's Vice President, Marketing Strategy

Bam, biscuit.

So who thinks because of this, Truex is going to be out of a ride? If you think Truex will stay and get a new sponsor, who then?

Ladies and gentlemen, you are now witnessing the death of Michael Waltrip Racing.

racingfreak1999 wrote:Ladies and gentlemen, you are now witnessing the death of Michael Waltrip Racing.

I sincerely doubt this....Sure it's a big loss, but who's to say they won't get sponsors. It will all eventually blow over anyway....at least if Nascar wants this to be temporary and not a permanent scar on them/itself

Alta wrote:

racingfreak1999 wrote:Ladies and gentlemen, you are now witnessing the death of Michael Waltrip Racing.

I sincerely doubt this....Sure it's a big loss, but who's to say they won't get sponsors. It will all eventually blow over anyway....at least if Nascar wants this to be temporary and not a permanent scar on them.

no, you are witnessing the MURDER of MWR, NASCAR is obviously trying to kill the team.

Memoriesallbutdone wrote:So who thinks because of this, Truex is going to be out of a ride? If you think Truex will stay and get a new sponsor, who then?

I could see Peak jumping over to the #56.

12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Truex won't be out of a ride. MWR will take the Aaron's sponsorship and put it on Truex's car. Vickers (who had nothing to do with the scandal) will be out of a ride.

Alpineopossum wrote:Truex won't be out of a ride. MWR will take the Aaron's sponsorship and put it on Truex's car. Vickers (who had nothing to do with the scandal) will be out of a ride.

Vickers is already signed for next year.

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Then again, has Hendrick fixed a race?!? Last I checked, no.

Pyrozooka0 wrote:
No, you are witnessing the MURDER of MWR, NASCAR is obviously trying to kill the team.

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

I...you can't be serious. NASCAR is trying to force a team out of the sport by...telling NAPA not to sponsor them anymore? So NASCAR has the authority to void a legal contract?

Why not just kick MWR out, if that's the ultimate end goal?

Cardinals5 wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:
No, you are witnessing the MURDER of MWR, NASCAR is obviously trying to kill the team.

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

I...you can't be serious. NASCAR is trying to force a team out of the sport by...telling NAPA not to sponsor them anymore? So NASCAR has the authority to void a legal contract?

Why not just kick MWR out, if that's the ultimate end goal?

Because that makes too much sense, and everything in NASCAR has to be some kind of conspiracy

PYLrulz wrote:

Cardinals5 wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:
No, you are witnessing the MURDER of MWR, NASCAR is obviously trying to kill the team.

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

I...you can't be serious. NASCAR is trying to force a team out of the sport by...telling NAPA not to sponsor them anymore? So NASCAR has the authority to void a legal contract?

Why not just kick MWR out, if that's the ultimate end goal?

Because that makes too much sense, and everything in NASCAR has to be some kind of conspiracy

Well, this is NASCAR we're talking about, so I wouldn't exactly put it past them.   ...Sort of.

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

Alta wrote:

racingfreak1999 wrote:Ladies and gentlemen, you are now witnessing the death of Michael Waltrip Racing.

I sincerely doubt this....Sure it's a big loss, but who's to say they won't get sponsors. It will all eventually blow over anyway....at least if Nascar wants this to be temporary and not a permanent scar on them.

no, you are witnessing the MURDER of MWR, NASCAR is obviously trying to kill the team.

How so? Please explain this manner of thinking.

Some of you need to put the tin foil hats away and go outside...  

NAPA does not want to be part of the bad PR circus that has set up after Richmond, which could hurt their sales and impact their involvement in Nascar in the long run. And with the recent announcement that Nascar will be looking for a new sponsor for the Nationwide series. Does Napa want to bring up the bad PR created this season if they want to make a run for series sponsorship?

Since when where they looking to sponsor the Nationwide series? and as for the many posts in response to my posts, I never said NAPA leaving was connected to NASCAR trying to kill the team. In addition, I never once said Hendrick has tried to fix a race, just that the 48 ALONE has failed inspection at least 15 times. IMO, that warrants actual punishment, instead of the probation and 100 dollar fines that get doled out every time. Something tells me if they where responsible for the Richmond Incident, the story would be different. And for the record, I don't own a tinfoil hat.

conrail1990 wrote:Some of you need to put the tin foil hats away and go outside...  

Dude, please don't start this crap again...  

NAPA leaving MWR is certainly a big blow for them, since they were getting $15 million a year until 2015, at least until the whole Richmond thing went down, and with Truex apparently thinking about jumping ship, this might be the beginning of the end of MWR... but knowing Michael, he's probably got another sponsor lined up to fill the void.

Pyrozooka0 wrote:Since when where they looking to sponsor the Nationwide series? and as for the many posts in response to my posts, I never said NAPA leaving was connected to NASCAR trying to kill the team. In addition, I never once said Hendrick has tried to fix a race, just that the 48 ALONE has failed inspection at least 15 times. IMO, that warrants actual punishment, instead of the probation and 100 dollar fines that get doled out every time. Something tells me if they where responsible for the Richmond Incident, the story would be different. And for the record, I don't own a tinfoil hat.

I think you need to read the posts in this thread again, because several things in your argument are wrong.

1) NAPA is not currently looking to sponsor the Nationwide Series. It's all speculation.

2) No one, at any point said that you made a comment about Hendrick Motorsports attempting to fix races.

3) And this one is more facts about NASCAR's penalties, when the #48 or someone else does something illegal, and NASCAR places them on probation, but does not suspend anyone, it is because most of the time probation lasts until the end of the year, thus a team could once a year do something wrong and get away with it. They lose a lot of money doing this though, sometimes in the six figures.

4) Really, you're gonna sit there with a straight face and tell everyone here that NASCAR would not have done the same thing if Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne spun and pit to help Jeff Gordon make the Chase in such a way as MWR did it? While it seems like Hendrick gets a break a lot, NASCAR would have done the same thing to any of those teams. It wouldn't matter if it's MWR, Hendrick, Roush, Childress, or anyone else. Anyone who attempts to manipulate the race in that way would have been penalized in my opinion.


Rant over, it looks like 5-Hour Energy is still thinking about leaving, according to their Facebook.

From the 5-Hour Energy Facebook page wrote:Living Essentials, the makers of 5-hour ENERGY shots, is still evaluating its ongoing participation in NASCAR. A decision is not expected until the 2013 racing season is over.

PYLrulz wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Then again, has Hendrick fixed a race?!?  Last I checked, no.

Unless you count Hendrick entering field fillers like Jeff Purvis in the 90s as "race fixing", then no (I'm aware that Childress did this with Neil Bonnett in 1993 as well). They do seem to catch a lot of 'lucky' debris yellows, though.

Hendrick just throws their weight behind certain drivers on their team as opposed to others. Given that Hendrick cars have won 6 of the past 7 championships (Keselowski being the anomaly), I'd say it's worked.

If Hendrick gave every driver on their team an equal chance every weekend they wouldn't be as successful... you think for an instant that Dale Jr. and Kasey Kahne are in Jimmie Johnson's league?!

Cynon wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Then again, has Hendrick fixed a race?!?  Last I checked, no.

Unless you count Hendrick entering field fillers like Jeff Purvis in the 90s as "race fixing", then no (I'm aware that Childress did this with Neil Bonnett in 1993 as well). They do seem to catch a lot of 'lucky' debris yellows, though.

Hendrick just throws their weight behind certain drivers on their team as opposed to others. Given that Hendrick cars have won 6 of the past 7 championships (Keselowski being the anomaly), I'd say it's worked.

If Hendrick gave every driver on their team an equal chance every weekend they wouldn't be as successful... you think for an instant that Dale Jr. and Kasey Kahne are in Jimmie Johnson's league?!

Personally, I think Kahne could win a couple championships still.

PackerMan71 wrote:

conrail1990 wrote:Some of you need to put the tin foil hats away and go outside...  

Dude, please don't start this crap again...  

Okay?

Edit: Dammit conrail, stop posting right before I do!!

flyingturns89 wrote:

Cynon wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Then again, has Hendrick fixed a race?!? Last I checked, no.

Unless you count Hendrick entering field fillers like Jeff Purvis in the 90s as "race fixing", then no (I'm aware that Childress did this with Neil Bonnett in 1993 as well). They do seem to catch a lot of 'lucky' debris yellows, though.

Hendrick just throws their weight behind certain drivers on their team as opposed to others. Given that Hendrick cars have won 6 of the past 7 championships (Keselowski being the anomaly), I'd say it's worked.

If Hendrick gave every driver on their team an equal chance every weekend they wouldn't be as successful... you think for an instant that Dale Jr. and Kasey Kahne are in Jimmie Johnson's league?!

Personally, I think Kahne could win a couple championships still.

If you had to pick between Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson, which of them would you rather push to a championship? Who would be more likely to win it? Who is the safer pick?

Cynon wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:

Pyrozooka0 wrote:

PYLrulz wrote:12 years of being associated with Mikey, all thrown down the drain because he fixed a race.

Now can the other sponsors make Mikey look like Renault?!?

Anyone else think NASCAR is trying to sabotage MWR? Hendrick cheats way more often and gets away with it. (no, this isn't an insane conspiracy theory, it's a perfectly sane conspiracy theory that actually has a chance of being true.)

Then again, has Hendrick fixed a race?!?  Last I checked, no.

Unless you count Hendrick entering field fillers like Jeff Purvis in the 90s as "race fixing", then no (I'm aware that Childress did this with Neil Bonnett in 1993 as well). They do seem to catch a lot of 'lucky' debris yellows, though.

Hendrick just throws their weight behind certain drivers on their team as opposed to others. Given that Hendrick cars have won 6 of the past 7 championships (Keselowski being the anomaly), I'd say it's worked.

If Hendrick gave every driver on their team an equal chance every weekend they wouldn't be as successful... you think for an instant that Dale Jr. and Kasey Kahne are in Jimmie Johnson's league?!

I guess though since such a thing has happened for awhile, it doesn't leave as sour a taste in my mouth, not to mention a guy parking it after a few laps isn't risking damaging another car out there by spinning it.

So NAPA might be leaving MWR, but not Truex. Rumor is that we might just see Martin Truex Jr. in a NAPA Toyota next season... for Joe Gibbs Racing.

flyingturns89 wrote:So NAPA might be leaving MWR, but not Truex. Rumor is that we might just see Martin Truex Jr. in a NAPA Toyota next season... for Joe Gibbs Racing.

That's been the hot rumor but I won't believe it until Jenna Fryer tweets it.