NAPA has decided to part ways with Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of this season due to the team's penalties for manipulating results of the final regular-season NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
A review board determined that MWR drivers Clint Bowyer and Brian Vickers "took liberties with the spirit of competition" at Richmond International Raceway, the site of the last race before the Chase, according to NASCAR.
NASCAR fined the team $300,000 and deducted 50 driver points from Bowyer and Martin Truex Jr. two days after the event. Truex Jr., who is sponsored by NAPA, was removed from the Chase for the Sprint Cup post-season field as well.
"After thorough consideration, NAPA has made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing effective December 31, 2013," said NAPA in a press statement. "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."
Bowyer supposedly spun to bring out a caution flag with just seven laps to go in the race, and NASCAR determined the spin was intentional.
Vickers was then ordered to pit by MWR before the last restart, which allowed Joey Logano to gain position on the track. The move earned Chase spots for both Logano and Truex.
Ryan Newman was given the final Chase spot after Truex Jr. was removed.
"The actions taken by Michael Waltrip's Racing team this past weekend leading to the penalties assessed by NASCAR are very concerning," NAPA said a few days after the race. "We are disappointed that a partner associated with our organization would make such a significant error in judgment.
NAPA launched their own review to determine the future of its partnership with the race team. After it was clear what MWR tried to do, the company decided to end the partnership.
MWR released a statement saying they respect the decision made by NAPA and still plans on fielding three Sprint Cup teams.
"Michael Waltrip Racing respects the decision NAPA announced today following the events at Richmond," the statement said. "There is no doubt, the story of Michael Waltrip Racing begins with NAPA Auto Parts, but there are many more chapters yet to be written.
NAPA had sponsored driver and team co-owner Michael Waltrip since he won the 2001 Daytona 500 with Dale Earnhardt Inc. Waltrip started his own team in 2007.
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