Penske Racing may have cut a deal with Front Row Motorsports in the closing laps at Richmond for track position to help get #22-Joey Logano in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. In radio communications reviewed Wednesday by The Associated Press for Front Row driver #38-David Gilliland, his spotter informs the team of a request to let Logano pass him in the final laps of Saturday nights race. Logano was trying to claim a spot in the 12-driver Chase field. Both Penske and Front Row are Ford teams and thus considered partners. A voice on the radio, believed to be crew chief Frank Kerr, asks who the request is coming from. The spotter replies: ‘Weve got the big dog and all his cronies.” Kerr then says: ‘Travis knows what Ive been asking for’ an apparent reference to Penske Racing competition director Travis Geisler. Logano passed Gilliland on a restart and finished 22nd, one spot ahead of Gilliland and good enough for a berth in the Chase field. ‘Good job, good job, man’ the spotter says after the race. ‘Hopefully well get something out of that.” Statistics analyzed by AP also show Gillilands lap times dropped off by almost 1 second from the times he was running prior to the radio communication.( Associated Press )(9-11-2013) UPDATE: ‘NASCAR is aware of reports about the #22 and #38 radio communications at Richmond International Raceway and is looking into it, but has yet to see anything in full context that requires any action.”(NASCAR)(9-11-2013) UPDATE 2: Thursday morning release from NASCAR: ‘NASCAR is continuing to gather all the facts from last Saturday nights NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Richmond International Raceway. NASCAR will have no further comment until all the facts have been examined. ‘(NASCAR)(9-12-2013) UPDATE 3: NASCAR officials met with Front Row Motorsports crew chief Frank Kerr and spotter David Keith at Chicagoland Speedway on Friday morning to discuss Saturdays incidents at Richmond International Raceway. A separate meeting was held with Penske Racing vice president Bud Denker, competition director Travis Geisler, vice president of operations Michael Nelson, crew chief Todd Gordon and spotter Tab Boyd. Both teams reviewed radio communications and tape from the Richmond NASCAR Sprint Cup race. FRM general manager Jerry Freeze and Penske Racings Denker said the teams would not comment until after a decision was made by NASCAR. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said no decision had been made on whether a 13th team would be added to the Chase for the Sprint Cup.( Fox Sports )(9-13-2013) UPDATE 4: Following a comprehensive review of all available audio and video communications from last Saturday nights NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Richmond International Raceway, along with interviews with team personnel, NASCAR announced Friday the following decision: “¢ Both the Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations have been placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing). “¢ A 13th car the #24 would be added to this years Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. ‘Based on all of our findings this week, we determined both Front Row Motorsports and Penske Racing organizations would be placed on probation for the remainder of this season’ said Brian France, NASCAR Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. ‘Additionally, based upon the totality of our findings, to be totally fair and equitable we decided that adding a 13th car to this years Chase is the appropriate action. ‘Beginning with our decision Monday, which resulted in an unprecedented team penalty, and continuing with further examination of actions involving two other race teams, it is clear to us that attempts to manipulate the results impacted the Chase field. ‘The integrity of our sport remains the cornerstone of NASCAR, and our actions this week speak to our commitment to ensure a level playing field for all competitors.” Additionally, NASCAR will conduct a mandatory meeting with drivers, owners, crew chiefs and other team personnel [Saturday at 3:00pm/et] to address this issue moving forward.(NASCAR) AND see a full transcript of the announcement on the Second NASCAR Richmond Penalty Transcript Page .
