NASCAR: Nothing wrong with Menard’s actions at Richmond

NASCAR: Nothing wrong with Menard’s actions at Richmond

 

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(September 17, 2011)

 

JOLIET, Ill.—NASCAR has found nothing to indicate that Paul Menard did anything inappropriate in the closing laps of last Saturday’s Sprint Cup race at Richmond, the sanctioning body confirmed Saturday.

 

NASCAR president Mike Helton said Friday that NASCAR would look into suspicions, based in part on radio traffic, that Menard’s spin with 17 laps left was a deliberate attempt to cause a caution and help Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick, who subsequently won the race.

 

NASCAR spokesperson Kerry Tharp indicated, however, that no information available to the sanctioning body suggested Menard did anything wrong.

 

Menard, who had denied spinning intentionally, was happy the matter was settled.

 

“Yeah, it’s behind me,” Menard said after qualifying second for Sunday’s Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. “If they had something, I’d love to see it, because I don’t know what we would have done. … I’m glad it’s behind us, and we’re moving forward.”