CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR is reviewing evidence to determine if Michael Waltrip Racing attempted to manipulate the outcome of race that set the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship field.
NASCAR President Mike Helton told The Associated Press before Sunday's Truck Series race at Iowa that race control did not believe Clint Bowyer's spin with seven laps remaining at Richmond was suspicious.
It brought out a caution with Ryan Newman leading Saturday night and poised to claim the final berth in the 12-driver Chase field. That set in motion a chain of events leading to Bowyer's teammate Martin Truex Jr. earning the final berth and Newman losing both the race and a spot in the Chase.
An ESPN replay that included communication between Bowyer and his team implied the spin was deliberate. Helton says NASCAR will look for evidence of wrongdoing.
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AP Sports Writer Luke Meredith in Newton, Iowa contributed to this report.
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