NASCAR denies ‘crashgate’ affair

NASCAR officials said on Saturday there is no evidence to support allegations that Paul Menard spun out intentionally to bring out a caution and affect the finish of last weekend's Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway.

Spokesman Kerry Tharp said officials listened to audio of Menard's radio transmission before he spun out with 16 laps remaining and found nothing to indicate he did anything deliberately.

"Yeah, it's behind me,'' Menard said after qualifying second for Sunday's race. "If they had something I'd love to see it. I'm glad they said that (it was over) and we're moving forward.''

NASCAR looked at the incident in response to four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon saying there was something "fishy'' about the spinout that opened the door for Menard's teammate, Kevin Harvick, to win.

Gordon led before the final caution, but Harvick beat him off pit road to lead when the race restarted with 12 laps to go.

Menard and Richard Childress Racing denied any wrongdoing, saying Menard's tire went down, causing the spinout.