NASCAR President Mike Helton defends action taken after Richmond cheating scandal
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NASCAR president Mike Helton talks to the media during a news conference at the NASCAR championship weekend auto races in Homestead, Fla., Friday, Nov. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Darryl Graham) (The Associated Press)
NASCAR President Mike Helton believes the series took appropriate action against those involved in a cheating scandal before the start of the Chase.
By levying harsh penalties against Michael Waltrip Racing, Helton believes there's a clear understanding in the garage that teams cannot manipulate races.
Helton called the Sept. 7 race at Richmond "a defining moment" for NASCAR. It began when Clint Bowyer spun his car to bring out a caution with seven laps remaining to trigger a series of events that got teammate Martin Truex Jr. into the Chase field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NASCAR found that MWR deliberately manipulated the finish to get Truex into the Chase, and replaced him in the field with Ryan Newman. Jeff Gordon was later added as a 13th driver.