NASCAR fans love a good conspiracy theory. The latest one involves Paul Menard.
Menard is a teammate at Richard Childress Racing to Kevin Harvick who won the Wonderful Pistachio’s 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Harvick needed a late race caution to close up the gap on Jeff Gordon who had a huge lead with less than 20-laps to go. Thanks to a spin, by Menard, Harvick got that caution which enabled him to not only pit, but come out of the last pit stop in the lead.
Immediately after the race Gordon quipped “I thought it was interesting when I saw a Childress car sitting down this in the grass,” referring to Menard’s car.
On Thursday afternoon’s media availability in Chicago Gordon called the incident “fishy.”
Only NASCAR didn’t seem to think there was any rules violation. In fact an official statement said "we haven't seen or heard anything that would indicate the #27 did anything inappropriate in Richmond. We watch closely the activity in each event all season long to maintain a fair and even event for all competitors. We naturally will do the same for the balance of the season."
Gordon says that one of his #24 team members told him that they heard a radio transmission on SpeedTV’s nightly news magazine, between Menard and his crew, before the spin; to the effect of if a caution was needed.
SB Nation caught up with Menard who denied intentionally spinning out to bring the yellow flag. He also explained that the needing a caution discussion was in reality a directive that he shouldn’t unnecessarily retaliate with Matt Kenseth for an earlier incident. That is to the effect; “we don’t need to create a caution.”
Whether you believe Menard’s statements (in lawyer talk – self serving), Harvick’s disclaimer of an intentional manipulation of the race, or NASCAR’s pronouncement of no wrong doing, well you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Before you do; consider that although the last caution flag was convenient for Harvick, it by no means guaranteed that he’d have a killer pit stop, which placed him in front, or that Gordon would have a slow restart. And, yes, the last caution did erase Gordon’s big lead.
So there is plenty to think about.
Perhaps, for the command on Sunday, it should be changed from “drivers’ start your engines,” to “fans, start your conspiracy theories.”
UPDATE
On Friday morning car owner Richard Childress issued the following statement, "There were no team orders despite all the speculation in the media. I know Paul Menard well enough that he wouldn't have spun out on purpose even if he had been asked."
Menard is a teammate at Richard Childress Racing to Kevin Harvick who won the Wonderful Pistachio’s 400 at Richmond International Raceway.
Harvick needed a late race caution to close up the gap on Jeff Gordon who had a huge lead with less than 20-laps to go. Thanks to a spin, by Menard, Harvick got that caution which enabled him to not only pit, but come out of the last pit stop in the lead.
Immediately after the race Gordon quipped “I thought it was interesting when I saw a Childress car sitting down this in the grass,” referring to Menard’s car.
On Thursday afternoon’s media availability in Chicago Gordon called the incident “fishy.”
Only NASCAR didn’t seem to think there was any rules violation. In fact an official statement said "we haven't seen or heard anything that would indicate the #27 did anything inappropriate in Richmond. We watch closely the activity in each event all season long to maintain a fair and even event for all competitors. We naturally will do the same for the balance of the season."
Gordon says that one of his #24 team members told him that they heard a radio transmission on SpeedTV’s nightly news magazine, between Menard and his crew, before the spin; to the effect of if a caution was needed.
SB Nation caught up with Menard who denied intentionally spinning out to bring the yellow flag. He also explained that the needing a caution discussion was in reality a directive that he shouldn’t unnecessarily retaliate with Matt Kenseth for an earlier incident. That is to the effect; “we don’t need to create a caution.”
Whether you believe Menard’s statements (in lawyer talk – self serving), Harvick’s disclaimer of an intentional manipulation of the race, or NASCAR’s pronouncement of no wrong doing, well you’ll have to decide for yourself.
Before you do; consider that although the last caution flag was convenient for Harvick, it by no means guaranteed that he’d have a killer pit stop, which placed him in front, or that Gordon would have a slow restart. And, yes, the last caution did erase Gordon’s big lead.
So there is plenty to think about.
Perhaps, for the command on Sunday, it should be changed from “drivers’ start your engines,” to “fans, start your conspiracy theories.”
UPDATE
On Friday morning car owner Richard Childress issued the following statement, "There were no team orders despite all the speculation in the media. I know Paul Menard well enough that he wouldn't have spun out on purpose even if he had been asked."