Jeff Gordon has made ‘The Chase’ after all. In what was a topsy-turvy week in NASCAR circles, positions were won and positions were lost and, in the end, “The Chase” for 2013 ended up with 13 drivers competing for the Sprint Cup Championship in the final 10 races of the season.
Citing extraordinary circumstances, NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said, “More than anything, it’s the right thing to do. There were just too many things that went on Saturday night (at Richmond) that gave a clear disadvantage to the 24.” The 24, of course, is Jeff Gordon, 4 times NASCAR Champion.
NASCAR President Mike Helton was also at the press conference held at the track at Chicagoland Speedway. So, for the first time, there will be 13 drivers in ‘The Chase” competition for the Sprint Cup.
Jeff Gordon, who drives the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, had fallen just short of his usual place in the top ten points position. As per NASCAR rules, because he had no first place win during this year’s first 26 races, Gordon was not then eligible to earn one of the two Wild Card berths either.
What caused all the repercussions… read that mess… was a little mix up during the latter laps of the race on the short track at Richmond involving Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr. and Brian Vickers…each of whom has been penalized by NASCAR officials. All three drive for Michael Waltrip Racing, which was also penalized.
The way it worked out, Bowyer, Truex and Vickers were all docked 50 points for the incident which presumably kept Jeff Gordon from getting a fair shot at finishing Richmond with enough points to make the Chase. He seemed almost certain to place in the Chase before the race began.
Martin Truex Jr. was the big loser in the deal. He is out of the Chase competition. Ryan Newman, on the other hand, found himself suddenly elevated into the last remaining Wild Card position before the Geico 400 at Chicagoland began.
Brian France went on to say, “It is an unprecedented and extraordinary thing, but it’s also an unprecedented and extraordinary set of circumstances that unfolded in multiple different ways on Saturday night, and we believe his was the right outcome to protect the integrity, which is our number one goal, of NASCAR.
Rick Hendrick said that he applauded NASCAR “for taking the time for a full review.”
