NASCAR President Helton responds to supposed "cold war" between Simpson and NASCAR

[Joe Fan]

"The perception is that its a cold war between us (NASCAR and Bill Simpson) but the truth of the matter is NASCAR never, ever implied or stated that we felt that there was anything wrong with a Simpson product. We did launch an investigation because we had a separated belt. And everybody agrees that the belt separated in the accident, including Simpson Products.

"And I don't believe that Bill Simpson told Dale Earnhardt about the installation. Because I know, no one from Simpson Products ever told NASCAR about any of that. No one, not Bill or anyone representing Simpson Products ever told us about dumping, ever told us that there was a possibility that a belt could separate. And they never addressed the installation of the belts in cars, and particularly the three car. And Richard Childress says that no one did to him either, or his crew chiefs that worked for Dale over the years. And I believe Richard Childress."

"Evidence is out in the garage area, tonight's race; the majority of belts in those cars are made by Simpson Products. And if we wanted to do something about that, I think we could. But that is not the issue here. Our effort was to find as much information and facts and present those which we did Tuesday. It was not to exonerate anyone or not to point blame at anyone, and that's the truth of it all."