JOLIET, Ill. – NASCAR took the first step toward restoring its credibility Saturday by telling its teams to give 100 percent at all times.
Teams were also told attempts to "artificially alter" a race will face severe punishment and examples were given as to what will be prohibited going forward.
NASCAR has been on its heels since Clint Bowyer spun his car with seven laps remaining last Saturday in the race that finalized the 12-driver field for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. It triggered two separate investigations into three instances of race manipulation that led to severe sanctions against Michael Waltrip Racing and Ryan Newman replacing Martin Truex Jr. in the Chase.
On Friday, France also took the unprecedented step of adding Jeff Gordon to what is now a 13-driver field.
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