Rookie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. had a clear path to his second consecutive top-10 finish this past weekend in Chicagoland. After a 5-hour rain delay the No. 17 fired back up and brought the Ford home in the 8th position, marking his career best finish. After two consistent weeks for the rookie he looks to win that first race this Sunday at Loudon.

“We started the race and thought we were in big trouble,” said Stenhouse, who dropped in the early stages after starting fifth in the No. 17 Roush Fenway Racing Ford. “Luckily after the rain delay, getting back out there at night, it kind of helped our car turn a little bit better. I stayed out there on that last caution, thought we were going to be in trouble with those guys behind us on tires, but we were able to hold them off.”

The last time the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) was at Loudon Stenhouse tangled with his girlfriend Danica Patrick and BK Racing’s, Travis Kvapil. That wreck put a damper on Stenhouse’s day as he only salvage a 34th place finish in his first career start at Loudon in the NSCS. Stenhouse has also raced at this track in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) three times where he notched two top fives.

“We have two back-to-back top-10 finishes so I am looking forward to racing this weekend at Loudon” Commented Stenhouse on New Hampshire this weekend ” The key is to get your car to turn through the center and to handle well over the bumps entering turn three as the car bounces a lot. We tested at Phoenix last week and feel that we learned some stuff that might help us this weekend. Loudon is the home track for Fenway Sports Group so we hope to have another strong showing this weekend in our Zest Ford.”

“We definitely have some momentum after the past two weekends” Said Scott Graves crew chief of the No. 17  “We tested in Phoenix last week and felt that we learned a few things there that could be beneficial to Loudon. We had a decent run in July before getting collected in an accident so hopefully this trip has a much better outcome and we leave New Hampshire with another top-10 finish.”

The Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 team looks for a third straight top ten with a new chassis heading to Loudon. The Roush Fenway organization is really focused on their chase contenders Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle, both going for their first championship.

Meanwhile they battle for a championship, but watch Stenhouse try to crash the party of chase contenders this weekend by winning or anytime the final weeks of the NSCS schedule

As a result of Michael Waltrip Racing’s actions at Richmond International Raceway a couple weeks ago, NAPA Auto Parts has announced that they will be leaving MWR at season’s end and not longer sponsoring the No. 56 of Martin Truex Jr.

“After thorough consideration, NAPA has made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing effective December 31, 2013,” NAPA posted on their facebook page. “NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR. We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports.”

A couple weeks ago at Richmond, Clint Bowyer spun with just under 20 laps to go without contact on the radio. Well it may look harmless, radio traffic would say to have proven otherwise. Audio replayed by ESPN after the race had spotter Brett Griffin telling Bowyer the circumstances of the race, followed by two odd comments from crew chief Brian Pattie:

“Is your arm starting to hurt?” Pattie said on the radio. “I bet it’s getting hot in there. Itch it.” Bowyer then spun out.

Then in the closing laps, fellow Michael Waltrip Racing driver Brian Vickers made a very interesting timed pit stop after a “interesting” discussion with his spotter and MWR competition director Ty Norris.

On Lap 396 Vickers is told he’s got to pit and he replies, “I’ve got to WHAT?”

“We’re probably going to pit here on green.”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Yeah, we’re going to pit.”

“”What? I’ve got to pit?”

“I don’t understand. Pit right now?”

“You’ve got to pit this time. We need that 1 point.”

“10-4. Do I got a tire going down?”

“Yeah. Come down pit road right now, get a good look at it.”

(After he pits) “Did you find anything?”

“I’ll see you after the race, Brian, I owe you a kiss.”

The pair of circumstances were played out to therefore qualify the third MWR driver, Martin Truex Jr., into the Chase. In doing so, they also let Joey Logano in, well knocking out Ryan Newman and Jeff Gordon.

After checking into the situation, NASCAR slapped them with some huge penalties.

“We’re announcing that NASCAR is reacting to Michael Waltrip Racing by fining Michael Waltrip, owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, $300,000, suspending Ty Norris indefinitely, and each team of Michael Waltrip Racing will be fined 50 owner points and 50 driver points,” Mike Helton announced last night. “This naturally is a very significant reaction from NASCAR.  As multiple car owners have become a very positive integral part of our support, also comes with it, though, responsibility from NASCAR and as well the car owners, to maintain a fair and level playing field.

With the penalties, Newman gets his spot back in trade of Truex falling out. Then, NASCAR made another announcement, making Gordon the 13th driver in the Chase.

Since these events, many fans have been sending messages to MWR’s sponsors about their displeasure.

Michael Waltrip has released a statement with regards to NAPA’s departure: “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.”

Well sponsors are locked down to contracts that can be a year or more in length, the contracts also come with “morality clauses”. If sponsors don’t see behavior by a team that they agree with, they can legally end the contract earlier than it is is set to expire. Ed Kiernan, president of Engine Shop, a New York-based marketing agency, told USA Today Sports, “All these deal have clauses that if something like this arises, there are ways to get out of an agreement.”

5-Hour Energy, which sponsors Clint Bowyer’s No. 15 Toyota, is still weighing their options.

“We are still evaluating our ongoing participation with NASCAR and we don’t expect to make a decision until the racing season is over,’ a 5-Hour Energy spokesperson told MRN Radio.

Meanwhile, Aaron’s has tweeted that they will continue to sponsor Brian Vicker’s No. 55 Toyota as they recently signed a contract heading into 2014.

“Aaron’s thanks NASCAR fans for their loyalty. After a 14-year sponsorship of MWR, we remain dedicated to MWR, to NASCAR and to the fans,” Aaron’s tweeted.