news-record.com

Car owner Jack Roush denied ordering Trevor Bayne to leave Jeff Gordon and draft with Matt Kenseth at the end of Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway.

While Roush, Trevor Bayne and Eddie Wood denied team orders, they acknowledged the need to help another Ford car. Wood, whose family-run team has been aligned with Ford throughout its history, said on Sirius Satellite Radio that "loyalty prevails."

Bayne's late-race move has come under scrutiny by some fans because of the deal he and Gordon struck before the final restart to work together. Both were without drafting partners at that point. Bayne's move combined with Tony Stewart saying earlier in the weekend that former drafting partner David Gilliland couldn't work with Stewart because Stewart was not in a Ford led some fans to question the tactic by Ford teams.

Things changed when Kenseth lost his drafting partner and ran up on Bayne's back bumper with less than two laps left. Gordon got dumped as he was running third and finished 27th.

After the race, Bayne wrote on Twitter that "I would have rather pulled over and finished last than tell (Gordon) I would work with him and then be strong-armed into bailing."

That comment was later removed from Bayne's Twitter account.

Roush said the drivers are the ones deciding who to run with.

"At Roush Fenway Racing, we expect our individual drivers to make decisions that put themselves in the best position to win each and every race," Roush said in a statement.

Yet, that countered what Wood said on Sirius Satellite Radio.

"It came across the radio that Matt (Kenseth) needed help," Wood said. "So, then, that's when we helped Matt. At the end of the day, we've been with Ford Motor Company for 61 years. Loyalty prevails in our case.

"We kind of gave up a shot at maybe winning the race. You're either with someone, your teammate or the people that have cared and looked after you for years. Loyalty is big."

A&T BAND PERFORMING: The N.C. A&T marching band will perform before Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway and also perform the national anthem.

LOCAL FAN HONORED: Billy Roach, who operates Bessemer Tire and Auto in Greensboro, will be the honorary pit crew member on Martin Truex Jr.'s team this weekend at Martinsville. He will be honored in pre-race festivities and have his name decaled on Truex's car.

Contact Dustin Long at 373-7062 or dustin.long@news-record.com