In September 2013, one of the biggest scandals in NASCAR history took place at Richmond (Va.) Raceway.
The 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400 was the final race in the 2013 Cup Series regular season. At the time, only 12 drivers made the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
After a chaotic evening that saw Carl Edwards snag the win, Michael Waltrip Racing was embroiled in a massive race manipulation scandal that played a huge role in the team’s eventual downfall. Clint Bowyer intentionally spun in the closing laps in an effort to help teammate Martin Truex Jr. make the chase, while Brian Vickers was told to come down pit road for the same reason.
When it was all said and done, Truex Jr. was booted from the Chase and ended up leaving the team at season’s end, along with longtime sponsor Napa Auto Parts. Bowyer was docked 50 points and saw his title hopes evaporate before the postseason even began and general manager Ty Norris was indefinitely suspended.
Former crew chief and NASCAR Vice President of Competition, Robin Pemberton, joined the “Dale Jr. Download” on Wednesday and explained NASCAR’s side of the story from that infamous evening nearly 12 years ago.
“About 10 o’clock in the morning (the day after the race) the phone rings,” Pemberton said. “It’s (former NASCAR president) Mike Helton. He goes, ‘We got frickin’ trouble. We got to do an investigation.'”
