NASCAR lets Bowyer skate into the Chase

NASCAR is frequently criticized for apparent nit-picking when its inspectors find a race car's part that is off by the thickness of a newspaper page. However, when NASCAR investigated what happened at Richmond Saturday night in the final race before the Chase begins, the sanctioning organization did the right things. Almost.

With its integrity at stake, NASCAR fined Michael Waltrip Racing $300,000 for manipulating the race outcome. It's the largest fine in NASCAR history. Martin Truex Jr., an MWR driver who benefited from teammate Clint Bowyer's caution-causing spin with seven laps remaining, was booted from the Chase after being docked 50 points. Ryan Newman, who was leading the race when Bowyer spun, will replace Truex.

MWR's Ty Norris, who made the call to have Brian Vickers pit to aid Truex' finish, was suspended indefinitely from activity at races. He can continue in his job as executive vice president of business development and general manager.

Bowyer's crew chief, Brian Pattie, and other MWR crew chiefs Scott Miller (Vickers) and Chad Johnston (Truex) were placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Where NASCAR dropped a wrench on its foot is allowing Bowyer to still start the Chase seeded eighth. Bowyer, who was following team orders, was docked 50 points, along with Truex and Vickers, but Bowyer's penalty doesn't apply to the Chase standings. What if Bowyer wins the Chase? Talk about tainted titles . . .

Norris has said he made a "split-second call" for Vickers to pit on the final restart. The move allowed Joey Logano to pass Vickers and finish in the 10th and final automatic Chase spot. The two points Logano gained by moving past Bowyer and Vickers enabled him to finish one point ahead of Jeff Gordon in the standings.

Norris, a Delaware native, has worked in NASCAR for 25 years and is a quality person. But he made the Vickers call and has to suffer the consequences.

Understandably, Jeff Gordon is upset that he's not a Chaser. His boss, Rick Hendrick, said Gordon was "robbed."

The Chase begins Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway.

Speaking on "NASCAR Race Hub" on Fox Sports 1 yesterday, Waltrip said there was no "master plan" for what occurred at Richmond.

"The decisions were made based on circumstances," he said. "As we look back, obviously we would've been smarter and done things differently, had we had that option. If I had been standing beside Ty at that moment, I don't know that I would've done it any differently."