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The NAPA Departure: Winners and Losers

"Don't cheat.  Helps if you actually LISTEN to me
for once--Ty, I'm looking in YOUR direction."

Today NAPA announced that they will be leaving Michael Waltrip Racing at the end of this season.  Losing one of the sport's stalwart sponsors is never a good thing, but after going to Richmond and, well, cheating, it wasn't really unexpected.  As the dust settles, let's see who comes out ahead, who comes out behind, and who's comin' out, they want the world to know, gotta let it show.

Michael Waltrip Racing:  Nascar's newest top-level team losing its longest-running sponsorship--one that was for the entire Cup schedule.  This on the heels of having one of its drivers kicked out of the Chase, another severely penalized, and being levied the largest set of fines in Nascar history.  And to make matters worse, the vending machine in the lower break room is out of those trail mix bars Brian Vickers really likes.  LOSER

Michael Waltrip:  All of the above, plus he has to live with the fact that he's Michael Waltrip.  LOSER

Karma:  Finally, proof that sometimes bad things DO happen to bad people.  WINNER

Robert Kaufmann:  The rarely heard-from co-owner of MWR should soon be fielding a call from his business partner asking if RK Motors would mind "…stepping up its sponsor commitment to about 20 races".  LOSER

NAPA:  Short Term--"Finally, we can pick whatever team we want, whatever driver we want.  We're free agents!"  WINNER … Long Term--"Wait.  We sponsored that team for almost 10 years and got ONE stinkin' win?!?"  LOSER

Martin Truex Jr.:  The only seemingly innocent victim in all of this has lost his sponsorship and (possibly) his ride.  If its any consolation, Martin, you're still in much better shape professionally than Stuart Kirby.  LOSER

Martin Truex Jr., The "Sweep The
Leg" Guy, and a Brendan Gaughan
look-alike
The "Sweep The Leg" Guy:  The Karate Kid actor gets to re-film his cameo commercial appearance!  WINNER

Ron Capps:  He has to deal with another long commercial shoot with The "Sweep The Leg" Guy bugging him constantly for naked pictures of Angelle Sampey.  LOSER

Furniture Row Racing:  They might be able to parlay their open seat and in-house sponsorship into an alliance with MWR and, by extension, a coveted contract with Toyota.  They'll even get to keep their prized World's Dullest Paint Scheme award.  WINNER

Me:  Sure, I get loads more of material, and less inane commercials.  But, as I look to my left and see my vast collection of Kyle Petty 1:64th diecast cars, I'm reminded that I am still a LOSER