STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL WALTRIP:
“NAPA has been with me from winning two Daytona 500s, to missing races with a new start-up team, and back to victory lane again. The relationship grew far past that of just a sponsor, but more of a partner and a friend. We will not be racing a NAPA car in 2014, but I have friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“To the fans and those who made their voice heard through social media, as the owner, I am responsible for all actions of MWR. I sincerely apologize for the role our team played and for the lines NASCAR has ruled were crossed by our actions at Richmond. NASCAR met with the competitors in Chicago and we all know how we are expected to race forward.”
Feel sorry for your Michael and for all of your MWR…real stupid people to have done over the radio what they did. I have met you personally when you career began here in Nashville..always a kind and funny gentleman and I am sure you still will be but this is a big blemish. I feel badly for Truex…he got the bad deal out of all of this and he is benched on the Chase this season when it should have been Bowyer..I know this is one call you could not make…Not fair NASCAR, you benched the wrong guy
A little harsh for what has been going on since the Chase began. MWR just need to use code words instead of a pit manager stupid calls. Napa would have been better to dump race sponsor as M&M and move forward to fulfill contract. Old saying “going gets tough, the tough get going”. MVR has done more for NAPA in customer relations than any other team besides 48 Lowes and 88 National Guard/Mountain Dew. Napa was a large company with no exposure until MVR put them on the map. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you NAPA–growup, take your lumps, and get behind MVR–oh, a little late now! Jc