NAPA's Take on Waltrip Team Race Fix - Should They Stay or Go?

OK, is "race fix" too strong a word on when Martin Truex Jr.'s teammate intentionally spun his car?  Maybe. or maybe not.  If you look over Michael Waltrip's statement reaction to accepting the penalties, he called the spin a "split-second decision" to pull that move.

But if you look at what transpired before the spin, things don't add up as some sort of on-the-spot decision.

First, the spotter let's the team know Newman is winning.  Then right after that Brian Pattie (Truex's crew chief) says,

"Is your arm starting to hurt?” and
“I bet it’s getting hot in there. Itch it.”

Now I don't know about you...  but being asked if my arm hurts, and being instructed to itch it does not seem like some catch phrases that would trigger me to spin my car out.  Unless this was all a preconceived plan that was concocted prior to the race.

No, as far as I can tell, this half-brained plan that involved open communications before and after the event seemed ... well, half-cocked.  Period.

With that said, NAPA made a public statement about the incident,

"

The actions taken by Michael Waltrip’s Racing team this past weekend leading to the penalties assessed by NASCAR, are very concerning. We are disappointed that a partner associated with our organization would make such a significant error in judgment. In addition, we have launched our own review to determine the future of our partnership with Michael Waltrip’s Racing team. The NAPA AUTO PARTS organization is proud of its long-standing NASCAR relationship. We share a passion with our customers for high quality racing and seek to determine the best course of action for our customers, NASCAR fans, and the NAPA organization.

"

And this would not be the first time NAPA was on board with Waltrip when something huge came down the pipe in regards to an infraction.  (The "additive" incident a few years back at the Daytona 500.)

They stuck by Waltrip and his team after that and since then, so this would be the second time they condone questionable practices, if they don't pull out from the team.

Sure...  Truex MIGHT be an innocent pawn in this plan.  Because you know, the pawn probably wasn't in the team meetings that talked about this, right?  Or he truly could be.  I don't know.  But it doesn't matter.  his name/face are smack dab in the middle of this.

But I do know this, if NAPA stays on the hood with Truex, they're more or less staying with the MWR team as a whole.  And staying with the team after a second huge scandalous infraction might not be something they want.

But who am I to say.

Speaking of sponsors, I'm also waiting for 5-Hour Energy to chime in, since it was their driver that went off half-cocked and spun the car.  (Could he have had too much of his sponsor's product?)

Well, word on the street is that they too, are looking at their relationship with Bowyer and the team.

I mean, face it, it's their logo plastered on the side of the car going sideways down the Richmond front stretch during the incident during the most critical moment and race of the season, to date.  Yea... that's a great association to be dropping $10-$15 million a year on.  (Or what ever it costs these days to put one's advertising logo on the hood and doors of a Sprint Cup car.)

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If the sponsors do the math about the team in general, well, I would not be surprised if they offered up their services to any other team. One that doesn't have a repeat history of offenses this big.

But then again, they may ride the gravy train of exposure and sit it out, since humanity as a whole tends to be pretty forgiving in most things "curious."

To be honest, it all comes down to image versus exposure. Sitting on the hood of one of these cars, especially a well-performing or oft-mentioned team is an advertiser's gold mine.  (That's whey they all do it!)  And cheating... I mean caught bending the rules, is nothing new in this or any other professional sport.  The No. 48 team has suffered through some pretty interesting situations over the years.  (That's the first team that comes to mind.)

And yet in the scheme of things, that's life.  The one who takes the risks usually snags the rewards.  It's just a matter of if they get caught doing it.

{WorkingOnMyRedneck}
{FoxSports}

 Psst:  Vickers must be thrilled he stepped right into the middle of this one!
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