NAPA dropping MWR, does it change where you will shop for 1:1 parts?

[Thatswhatshesaid]

Michael Waltrip was a crappy driver and is a crappy team owner. I think the whole 'jet fuel' thing was the first race for MWR.

MWR is a low class team. They need to employ third rate drivers like Danica and Montoya.

[Dave Van]

As I stated in an earlier post this wasn't strike one.

Why then does a certain Chevy team get repeated fines and penalties for flagrant cheating get a pass??? A hydraulic operated trunk lid is MUCH MUCH worse than a alleged spin w/o any proof. This device took much more planing and intent than the MWR incident.

ADD to it during my 20 years working in the sport MUCH worse things were done......don't try and tell me NASCAR history.....1980 or 2013.

Also see Hondagate......

I stand by my statement. MWR is being used as a scapegoat for an incident NASCAR thought would move them into the stick and ball sports arena but became a media tar baby.

[KingSix]

LOL! I can understand that. I wouldn't let my wife buy Tide when they sponsered Darrell.

When I lived in NH I was close friends with the morning DJ crew of a local Portsmouth radio station. They were doing a remote from NHIS while NASCAR was in town. They were doing an interview with "Mikey" and the guy was a total a$$. When they went to a commercial break he'd pick up his paper and ignore everyone until the came back live. Then he'd chat it up like everything was cool. This happened 3 times. The looks on everybody's faces were priceless. Not a class act at all ...

[Dave Van]

Why the uproar now??? What was the trigger that caused it??? Why cheating much more against the written rules, not the Spirit rules junk, was OK and just passed over??? I'm not a MWR fan.....just do not understand the discrimination towards one team??? Any other sport would be called out for actions like this.

[Joe Handley]

I do find it funny that NAPA Seems to be concerned with how this "cheatting" scandal will make them look, but the whole genre of racing originated with drivers who historically made money violating state and federal laws, and in the following years had cheating become a cat and mouse game played with the tech inspectors.

[Dave Van]

Also interesting how NAPA is now looking at title sponsorship of the now 'Nationwide' series.....the day after breaking with MWR.....you couldn't write a story with that good of timing!!!!

[tabsscale1]

So yesterday NAPA announced that they were dropping Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of the year due to the "scandal" and subsequent fallout/penalties from the Richmond race. On their Facebook page, there were many responses, good and bad, to NAPA's decision.

My question is- Does NAPA's announcement affect where you will purchase parts for your 1:1 vehicles?

Without starting an argument over auto parts suppliers, please keep your responses to my question above.

Nope don't buy from NAPA around here anymore their prices are higher than anybody else. I know as I have been price checking alot latelt as I have spent $3000 on my car in the last year as I put a new Engine int and Advance Auto parts has beat everybody in prices and to topit of if they don't have it they acn have it at the store in 2 hours

[mikemodeler]

Also interesting how NAPA is now looking at title sponsorship of the now 'Nationwide' series.....the day after breaking with MWR.....you couldn't write a story with that good of timing!!!!

Not sure what the cost of sponsoring the Nationwide series is but the MWR sponsorship ran about $18,000,000/year for NAPA. Considering how poorly the Nationwide series is covered, I think you will see NAPA stay with a Sprint Cup team.

I do think you will see Martin Truex take NAPA with him to another team and that team is .....................................Stay tuned, I predict an announcement by next weekend, if not sooner.

[brad4321]

I'm a huge Nascar fan. I have my favorites and those I can't stand. But this plays no role in what I buy. My favorite driver is Kenseth sponsored by Home Depot. My least favorite driver is Jimmie Johnson sponsored by Lowes. If the Lowes is closer or has the same item for less, that's where I'll shop.

[Nick Winter]

Nope, them dropping a racing sponsorship has absolutely no effect on me buying auto parts from them for myself or customers

Nick

[kingiguana]

I don't give a rat's behind about NASCAR, or any professional sport,.....so I don't care one bit. I buy my parts from whomever has them in stock and the cheapest, and with gas prices being what they are the closest. Who they sponsor or don't sponsor has no effect on my purchase or non purchase. And on a side note, if NASCAR was like the old days where they ran true stock cars, Id be way more interested.

[Dave Van]

. And on a side note, if NASCAR was like the old days where they ran true stock cars, Id be way more interested.

True stock cars??? Then the last time you were interested in NASCAR was the 1950's!! NASCAR stock cars from 1960-1971 contained SOME street parts.....but not a lot. By 1972 they were dedicated race cars using some modified factory parts......but under the skin.....pure race car.

If they ran 'stock cars' today the entire field would be Chargers and 300's.......nothing else.

[kingiguana]

True stock cars??? Then the last time you were interested in NASCAR was the 1950's!! NASCAR stock cars from 1960-1971 contained SOME street parts.....but not a lot. By 1972 they were dedicated race cars using some modified factory parts......but under the skin.....pure race car.

If they ran 'stock cars' today the entire field would be Chargers and 300's.......nothing else.

Well pretty much, Im too young to have enjoyed the good old days. But even in the 60s they were mostly stock,....a local Ford dealer had a 64 Galaxie on their showroom floor, and it was way closer to stock than anything today. Plus today, there's way too much regulation, and rules, sorry to todays fans, but it's plain boring, plus Toyota in NASCAR ???? Yea, I'm sure a lot of moonshiners back in the day were running Corollas with a trunk full of shine. :-) Again, no offense, to each his own.

[Harry P.]

If they ran 'stock cars' today the entire field would be Chargers and 300's.......nothing else.

If NASCAR ran true "stock" cars (with a very few safety items like racing tires and roll cages thrown in), I would think the whole thing would be way more interesting. As it is, I have zero interest in it. All the cars are exactly the same. But if they were "real" cars from different manufacturers racing each other like they did in the 50s, now that would be something that I might tend to watch every so often. Who knows what the manufacturers might come up with if "Stock car" racing actually meant stock car racing, and the manufacturers were trying to "one up" the other manufacturers? It could have been very interesting.

[Nick Winter]

If NASCAR ran true "stock" cars (with a very few safety items like racing tires and roll cages thrown in), I would think the whole thing would be way more interesting. As it is, I have zero interest in it. All the cars are exactly the same. But if they were "real" cars from different manufacturers racing each other like they did in the 50s, now that would be something that I might tend to watch every so often. Who knows what the manufacturers might come up with if "Stock car" racing actually meant stock car racing, and the manufacturers were trying to "one up" the other manufacturers? It could have been very interesting.

Get this man a trophy! That's pretty much my feeling as well Harry, and with having some conversations with older friends, they feel the same and build models of what they feel are Real Stock cars.

Nick

Edited September 22, 2013 by Nick Winter

[Slapfight]

Sorry, I disagree with the decision that NAPA made. If it were to happen again, then yes, drop them.

I don't believe it would affect the sales at all.

I am not a Ron Capps fan, but, I still shop at NAPA.

The only product I buy because of who they sponsor is CASTROL.

But, that's just me.

There are more important reasons to buy/not buy from a company than NASCAR, e.g. I will never purchase Castrol again because of BP. I know it doesn't matter in the big scheme of things, but you gotta do what you gotta do. Also, I regret there are no NAPA stores convenient to me, because they are pretty good.

[charlie8575]

NAPA is expensive for a lot of things, and competitive on others. For a lot of cars, especially the ones I prefer, they're the only choice in town- no biggie.

I have AAA. AAA members get 20% off their purchases except chemicals.

I'm friends with the family that owns the NAPA a couple towns over. If I can spare the time to get over there, I'll get the parts there, and get my discount, too.

Unlike a lot of the big chain stores, NAPA, CarQuest, Bumper-to-Bumper and similar are staffed by people who know which end is up. Occasionally, I'll find someone at Auto Palace or Advance that knows which end is up, but they're scarce.

I'll go to people who know what they're doing.

For the record- 0 interest in NASCAR.

Charlie Larkin

[johnbuzzed]

I guess my big question is: What is or was the alleged situation that can be described as cheating?

[Dave Van]

I guess my big question is: What is or was the alleged situation that can be described as cheating?

NASCAR CLAIMS MWR planned to spin out the #15 car to cause a caution to help their team car get into the Chase. Unlike many 'cheating' incidents in the past (moving trunk lid) NASCAR did not have a rule covering this alleged act. MWR out smarting NASCAR brass made them mad as heck and thus the huge fine, points deduction and media spin by NASCAR. My issue with the entire situation is NASCAR has not made a huge issue out of blatant cheating in the past, cheating covered by written rules in a book, but CHOSE to blow this issue out of the water......which has become a tar baby that many folks on the inside wish had never happened.......NASCAR wants to become as relevant as the stick and ball guys (IE money wise) and they hoped this would be a step.......NOT.

Just IMHO....but I worked in the sport for 25 years....and still do to an extent.

Edited September 23, 2013 by Dave Van

[Dave Van]

So when multiple cars for a single team are caught cheating but it is over looked somehow does not relate to this situation??? (Sanoma '07)

It's still the death penalty for stealing a apple.

I gotta stop looking at this thread...it's just going to get me in trouble.

Just one note.....When asked about what he thought about this entire mess....a now retired but known Cup racer replied...'In the 70's I was paid to spin out in the name of 'excitement' or making the race better.' This is nothing new....the hypocrisy around the entire incident is what angers me......everyone I talk to that has worked in the sport understands.....no one outside does. I'll just have to live with that.

[1930fordpickup]

So when multiple cars for a single team are caught cheating but it is over looked somehow does not relate to this situation??? (Sanoma '07)

It's still the death penalty for stealing a apple.

I gotta stop looking at this thread...it's just going to get me in trouble.

Just one note.....When asked about what he thought about this entire mess....a now retired but known Cup racer replied...'In the 70's I was paid to spin out in the name of 'excitement' or making the race better.' This is nothing new....the hypocrisy around the entire incident is what angers me......everyone I talk to that has worked in the sport understands.....no one outside does. I'll just have to live with that.

Dave what I find funny is why they only care about this one race . Teams have acted together all season buy now they care .

[Dave Van]

Dave what I find funny is why they only care about this one race . Teams have acted together all season buy now they care .

EXACTLY!! And the reason is 'it affects' the Chase.....but with teams making or not making the Chase by a SINGLE piont....things done at Daytona last Spring affect the Chase.....

[Dave Van]

I don't know about what happened at Sonoma in '07; perhaps you could be a bit more specific with the details?

While you're at it, you might also want to ask that "now retired but known Cup racer" whether any of those spins he was paid to do ever influenced the outcome of a race or help determined who won championships.

Finally, I don't think the fact you "worked in the sport for 25 years....and still do to an extent" make your opinions are any more valid than anyone else's. Just my .02 ...

1. Sanoma '07...easy to look up....if I explain I'm a hater for telling the facts.

2. Yes it did. 1983 Before all this Chase junk.

3. I say this as so many 'experts' have followed the sport since 1998! I'm just showing my credentials in the sport....and inside info not available to all.

[bbowser]

You go Dave ! Followed the sport since 1998 indeed. This has been going on since the Flocks raced in the 50's and probably before that. Now that NASCAR has been embarrased and "the Chase" exposed for the marketing gimmick it is it's suddenly a crisis. No such thing as 'bad' publicity?

[Thatswhatshesaid]

NASCAR is a joke. Tony Stewart was right a few years ago when he likened it to the WWE.