Car owner Michael Waltrip said that there was no plan to ensure that #56-Martin Truex Jr. made the Chase last weekend at Richmond, but admits he might have made some similar decisions. Waltrip spoke Tuesday to ‘Race Hub” on FOX Sports 1, which also employs him. His interview came a day after NASCARs penalties knocked Truex out of the Chase, allowing Ryan Newman to make it in. NASCAR penalized each of MWRs teams for a series of actions late in the race. It started with Clint Bowyer spinning and purposely losing two laps. It continued with Ty Norris, the teams general manager, ordering Brian Vickers to pit to give up positions. Waltrip defended his organization Tuesday in the ‘Race Hub” interview . ‘Were not immoral, were not irresponsible’ he said. ‘The decisions were made just based on circumstances. As we look back, obviously, we would have been smarter and done things differently had we had that option. What the penalties were for (was Vickers) coming down pit road to give up a spot that enabled (Truex) to make the Chase. It was impossible to defend because we did it. The caution was out and Ty was looking at the numbers and its like, ‘Pit, pit “¦ we need that position, so we pitted. I dont know if I would have done it any differently. Weve seen people give up positions all the time in this sport to give a teammate a point. It happens. Weve seen the leader pull over so another guy can lead. I would have screwed that one up, too.” Asked if Bowyer intentionally spun – Bowyer has repeatedly denied that, Waltrip defended his driver. ‘You saw the video, you heard the audio’ Waltrip told FOX Sports 1. ‘I stand by my driver.”( Motor Racing Network )
