NAPA TO LEAVE MWR AT END OF SEASON

"Dear Facebook Fans and the NAPA Community:

After thorough consideration, NAPA has made the difficult decision to end its sponsorship arrangement with Michael Waltrip Racing effective December 31, 2013. NAPA believes in fair play and does not condone actions such as those that led to the penalties assessed by NASCAR. We remain supportive of the millions of NASCAR fans and will evaluate our future position in motorsports."

NAPA

With those words, the final chapter on the goings-on at Richmond International Raceway in the final race before the Chase clicked shut.

NAPA, via the post above on its Facebook page, announced that it would abandon a long relationship with Michael Waltrip Racing over conduct it viewed as enough to pull out even though it re-signed with the Cornelius, N.C.-based team last year through 2015.

Driver Martin Truex Jr. is affected most, as NAPA is his primary sponsor in the No. 56 Toyota. He had raced into the Chase on points, but was summarily penalized after teammate Clint Bowyer spun with seven laps left in the race, preventing Ryan Newman from winning the race. In its ruling, NASCAR penalized all three MWR cars a total of 50 driver and 50 owner points, suspended General Manager Ty Norris indefinitely and docked the team a total of $300,000.

Norris was the spotter for Brian Vickers, the third MWR car, and brought Vickers into the pits in order to make sure Truex qualified for the Chase. 

“Michael Waltrip Racing respects the decision NAPA announced today following the events at Richmond," read a statement from the team. "There is no doubt, the story of Michael Waltrip Racing begins with NAPA Auto Parts, but there are many more chapters yet to be written. MWR has the infrastructure and support of Toyota for three teams plus three Chase-caliber, race-winning drivers. With the support of our corporate partners we are preparing to field three teams in 2014. MWR is a resilient organization capable of winning races and competing for the championship and that remains our sole focus.” 

The NAPA brand has been the bedrock upon which MWR was built. The company was the first primary sponsor for the team, along with Toyota, and was on team owner Waltrip's car for both of his victories in the Daytona 500.

Waltrip spoke to that relationship later Thursday.

“NAPA has been with me from winning two Daytona 500s, to missing races with a new start-up team, and back to victory lane again," he said in a statement. "The relationship grew far past that of just a sponsor, but more of a partner and a friend. We will not be racing a NAPA car in 2014, but I have friendships that will last a lifetime.

“To the fans and those who made their voice heard through social media, as the owner, I am responsible for all actions of MWR. I sincerely apologize for the role our team played and for the lines NASCAR has ruled were crossed by our actions at Richmond. NASCAR met with the competitors in Chicago and we all know how we are expected to race forward.”

The long-running relationship produced a lot of buzz for the sponsor and the team, with Waltrip being one of the sport's best pitchmen.

Other sponsors, including Aaron's, 5-Hour Energy and Peak Motor Oil, have not yet weighed in as to whether they will take action regarding the events at Richmond.