One year later, Richmond Chase scandal's effects linger
RICHMOND, Va. -- People in the NASCAR garage don't talk much these days about what happened here one year ago.
When they do, it's in general terms. There are occasional references to "the scandal" or "what happened at Richmond" or maybe even "Clint Bowyer's spin."
But they don't often revisit the details of the night that cast a cloud over NASCAR at the start of last year's playoffs. From the standpoint of pure sportsmanship, Michael Waltrip Racing's manipulation of last year's final regular season race was a dark moment for all of NASCAR – and the fallout wasn't pretty.
Sept. 7, 2013, at Richmond International Raceway changed lives, careers and reputations.
A year later, a look at the key players that night and what has changed:
--When the checkered flag waved at Richmond last year, MWR had two cars in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. That was later reduced to one when NASCAR ruled MWR had artificially influenced the outcome of the race. This year, MWR doesn't have any cars in Chase position entering Richmond. Both of its drivers, Bowyer and Brian Vickers, would likely need to win in order to qualify for the expanded 16-driver playoff.
--Bowyer obeyed a request from crew chief Brian Pattie to "itch" his arm while Ryan Newman was leading the race with seven laps to go and headed toward a Chase-clinching victory. Bowyer spun his car out and caused a caution (though he's never acknowledged it was purposeful). That set off a sequence of events which included MWR pitting its cars unnecessarily to help knock Jeff Gordon out of Chase position and put MWR's Martin Truex Jr. in a slot -- temporarily. Bowyer's reputation has rebounded – although he still gets heckled about his role in the incident on social media – but his performance has slipped. His average finish of 16.2 is the worst since his rookie season in 2006.
--MWR co-owner Michael Waltrip danced away from the controversy – all the way to ABC's Dancing With The Stars, where he'll be a contestant this season. MWR executive Ty Norris shouldered the blame for the incident. MWR was fined a record $300,000, lost sponsor NAPA and was forced to lay off 15% of its workforce. Norris kept his job but was punished harshly for his role, in which he orchestrated the cars pitting from the spotter's stand. After serving a suspension for the rest of 2013, Norris is back at the track but no longer in a competition-related role.
--Co-owner Rob Kauffman, who once saved MWR with a cash infusion, helped right the ship and now heads the new Race Team Alliance, an organization of nearly every full-time Cup team.
--Gordon missed the Chase that night as a result of all the shenanigans. NASCAR chairman Brian France sympathized with Gordon's plight, so he added the four-time champion to the Chase as an unprecedented 13th entrant (although there were only 12 spots at the time). This year, Gordon enters Richmond not on the bubble but as the Sprint Cup Series points leader, tied for the series lead with three wins and in search of his fifth title.
--France changed the entire Chase format and points system in the offseason, adding a series of eliminations over the 10-week playoff and turning regular-season race wins into playoff berths. NASCAR also added a "100% Rule," where drivers must go all-out during the entire race – meaning they cannot slow down to help teammates make the Chase. It's unlikely anyone would try to mess with the Chase after seeing what happened to MWR.
--Newman was en route to what could have been a career-defining moment. Bowyer's spin changed all that, and Newman not only didn't win the race but missed the Chase until NASCAR's penalties to MWR put him back in. Newman lost his job at Stewart-Haas Racing but landed at Richard Childress Racing. Although he is winless in 2014, his consistency has put him firmly in the Chase barring a disaster Saturday night.
--Truex was in the Chase and celebrated in the group photo – until his team's actions came to light. Despite having no role in what happened, his job at MWR disappeared after sponsor NAPA left in the wake of the scandal. He ended up at Furniture Row Racing, where a disappointing year has put him far outside the points picture (Truex is on pace for a career-low 25th-place finish). Only a win at Richmond could salvage his season.
--It looked as though NAPA might depart the sport entirely. Instead, NAPA decided to back Nationwide Series rookie Chase Elliott at JR Motorsports – a wise move. Elliott has won three times this season and leads the standings by 15 points over teammate Regan Smith.
But a year later, the impact still is being felt.
Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck