Martin Truex Jr. came out of the cheating fiasco at Richmond in the worse shape when he should have been the one smelling like a racing fuel rose. Why was just 50 points taken away from Clint Bowyer? Why wasn’t Bowyer pulled from the Chase instead of Truex Jr.? I don’t care what anyone says, Truex Jr. was treated wrongly and the wrong driver was pulled from the Chase.
I hope that a lot teams and owners are looking at Truex Jr. as their new driver. If NAPA had any sense they will hang around and follow Truex Jr. That is if he makes the wise decision and leaves Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR). Team owner, Michael Waltrip says that “he won’t hold Truex back”.
It was not Truex Jr. that tarnished the NAPA’s long standing and loyal sponsorship with MWR, whose loyalty followed Waltrip himself when he said he was forming MWR. Talk about blowing millions out the exhaust, you sure did it your way Waltrip. Or lets just say some individuals in your organization did.
I have read many comments about Waltrip in the past few weeks and it is sad that Waltrip has gone from a individual who has been well liked by most people since his career in racing began, to someone who has had his name tarnished, along with many others in the MWR organization.
I use to watch him race in his early years here in Nashville. I think back to those days and see how far he has come in this business. Who would ever thought MWR would have come as far as it has in such a very short time only to be shot down by cheating. Well it’s cost millions and it has blemished and hurt as I said at the beginning, a innocent and a extremely talented driver.
I hope someone makes Truex Jr. an offer that can’t be refused. MWR has done enough damage. If another team does, they will be on the winning end. To Waltrip’s credit, its great that he will not “hold you back” from leaving, even though you are just in your first year of a three year contract with MWR. One can only hope that NAPA follows you.
Good article….once 5 hr Energy leaves maybe Clint can pick up the Duck boys as his sponsor…..I wanna see his camouflage limo try to make it thru tech inspection…
and Sy his new crew chief….
Love Duck Dynasty, would rather see their camo on the 88, JMO and keep them away from ole Clint.
I agree with Becky Michael got this team going from the ground up. When he or other parties from MWR pulled this I can see that Clint was right in the mix. Michael can say all he wants but the truth is black and white. I don’t agree with Napa pulling away from Truex because this was not his doings. I think NASCAR should of took Clint right out of the chase and left Truex there. I just hope he will find a good team that wants him because he is an awesome driver. Napa should stay with Truex because they do have a fine driver to represent them and he can win races.
This is not the worst thing that’s ever happened in NASCAR, like everyone is saying. Far worse things have happened over the years as far as cheating is concerned. Were fans calling for STP to leave Petty when they won with an oversized engine? Did they call for Lowe’s to leave Johnson when they were caught time and again bending the rules? How about AARP last year when Wonderboy intentionally and maliciously wrecked Bowyer, manipulating the race and the championship battle. He also wrecked a couple of innocent bystanders and nearly took out Keselowski. Talk about manipulation. Back off MWR, they’ve paid and will probably pay more.
Michael Waltrip needs to be released from NASCAR on FOX from his “expert” commentator positions. He has no credibility, loves to hear his own voice and hawk his own sponsors.
Clint Bowyer is damaged good because he continues to lie about what he did. He is now the Pete Rose of Motorsports. Congratulations Clint! Wear it proud young man, wear it proud.
If 5 Hour Energy had a pair they would leave at the end of the season too then be associated with a team of race fixing cheaters.
NAPA should team up with Truex at RCR or FRR, he did nothing wrong and races his ass off to get in the chase.
Great article! You are absolutely right, Martin Truex Jr. does not deserve this. Would look good on Nascar if Bowyer came back and won the championship. They would sure have some explaining to do about that.