JOLIET, Ill. -- Jeff Gordon was added to the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship Friday when NASCAR chairman Brian France used his power to make an unprecedented expansion to the field after two separate investigations into radio chatter revealed numerous instances of race manipulation. France determined Gordon did not have a fair chance to race his way into the 12-driver field last Saturday night at Richmond because of the actions of at least three organizations over the closing laps at Richmond. The four-time NASCAR champion was bumped from eligibility by Joey Logano, who unknowingly received assistance from two Michael Waltrip Racing drivers trying to aid their teammate. Logano also picked up another track position when David Gilliland apparently moved aside when Gillilands team tried to bargain with Penske Racing over the radio. "Too many things altered the event and gave an unfair disadvantage to Jeff and his team," France said. "More than anything its just the right thing to do. There were just too many things that went on Saturday night." It was a stunning conclusion to a surreal week for NASCAR, which should have been celebrating Sundays start of the Chase at Chicagoland Speedway. Instead, the sanctioning body has been scrambling to uncover who did what and why since Clint Bowyer spun his car with seven laps remaining at Richmond as 10 drivers jockeyed for the five available spots in the Chase. NASCAR acted quickly in disciplining MWR on Monday night, then learned Wednesday of a second apparent problem involving Penske and Front Row Motorsports, which appeared to ask for a deal if Gilliland moved over for Logano. Logano did get by Gilliland, who then seemed to slow down by at least 1 mph, according to an Associated Press review of radio communications and data. France said NASCAR could not determine there was ever a deal between Front Row and Penske, but that putting Gordon in the Chase and placing Penske and Front Row on probation for the rest of the season was necessary to protect the integrity of the series. Gordon, the four-time champion, now joins Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, the five-time champion, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne in the Chase. "Its been a roller coaster ride of emotions this week. Unprecedented set of circumstances," Gordon said. "Im extremely happy for this. Were proud to be in it. An incredible set of opportunities now lie on our shoulders to show we belong in the Chase." Gordon goes into the Chase as the 13th seed, 15 points behind leader Matt Kenseth. Owner Rick Hendrick was pleased with the ruling. "I applaud NASCAR for taking the time for a full review," he said in a statement. "Were extremely proud to have all four cars in the Chase for the second consecutive season. Jeff and the No. 24 team earned this spot." Johnson was happy for his teammate but not thrilled to have an additional driver to race for the title. "I believe there should be 12 cars. One in and one out should be the deal," he said. Trading favours on and off the track is common in NASCAR, but the series had to investigate the Penske and Front Row bargaining allegation following the embarrassment of Michael Waltrip Racings attempt to manipulate the outcome of the race to benefit Martin Truex Jr. NASCAR on Monday punished the MWR organization for its shenanigans over the final seven laps and pulled Truex out of the Chase in favour of Ryan Newman. Truex, in his first comments since he was knocked out of the Chase on Monday, said its been a surreal week. An unwitting victim of his teammates efforts to help him, he lost his Chase bid after driving the last two weeks with two broken bones in his wrist and a cast on his right arm. "All I did the last two weeks was drive my heart out," he said Friday. "I went from feeling like I really climbed a mountain in that race at Richmond to going to be knocked out of the Chase." Truex wasnt pleased with NASCARs decision to add Gordon to the Chase. "Im not even sure what to say at this point. Im kind of at a loss for words," Truex said. "How they make a spot for somebody -- they kick me out to make a spot for somebody and then they dont do the same for the other guys? Its just unfair and nothing I can do about it." Truex is out as punishment for his teammates working so hard to help him get in, and NASCAR will hold a mandatory team and driver meeting Saturday to clarify "the rules of the road" moving forward. France would not specify what wont be tolerated going forward. "Obviously we drew a line with the penalties with Michael Waltrip Racing," France said. "Were going to make sure that we have the right rules going forward, so that the integrity of the competitive landscape of the events are not altered in a way or manipulated." The entire mess began a mere seven laps from the finish Saturday night with Newman en route to a victory that would have given him the final spot in the Chase. MWR driver Clint Bowyer spun, bringing out a caution and setting in motion a chain of events that cost Newman the win and a Chase berth. It also cost Gordon a Chase berth and put Truex and Logano into the final two spots. It later became clear that Bowyers spin was deliberate -- although NASCAR has said it cant prove that -- and that Bowyer and teammate Brian Vickers allowed Logano to gain late finishing positions to bump Gordon out of the Chase to aid Truex. Among the penalties levied against MWR was a $300,000 fine and the indefinite suspension of general manager Ty Norris. Bowyer, Truex and Brian Vickers were docked 50 points each, and their crew chiefs were placed on probation through the end of the year. Bowyer has denied the spin was deliberate. NASCAR could only prove one action -- radio communication between Norris and Vickers in which a confused Vickers was told to pit as the field went green with three laps to go. Once NASCAR singled out that action, a Pandoras box was opened and the apparent bargaining between Penske and Front Row became dicey. And Gordons anger began to grow. Gordon said he felt that Bowyer also deserved to be punished for giving up late track position, just as Vickers did, and he called NASCARs penalties "half right." And now hes in the Chase with Bowyer -- but only after the second controversy. Air Jordan 1 Best Price . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. 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Although head coach Randy Carlyle jokingly wondered how much actual training Bolland got done while in London. "I dont know how much training goes on when you go back to the junior team that you played for so I wouldnt read too much into that," laughed Carlyle after the Maple Leafs were put through an up-tempo practice that concluded with a 10-minute bag skate on Thursday. "I was in London once at a bar called "Joe Cools" and they have numerous stools there that have players names on them that Ive coached, and hes one of them." In all seriousness though, that Bolland has put himself in a position to even discuss a potential return just 110 days since suffering a laceration that he said went right through the muscle and tendon in his ankle, nearly down to the bone, is a remarkable feat of determination that has not been lost on his coach. "The level of professionalism that he displays day in, day out right from when we first saw him in training camp, that has continued here," said Carlyle. "Hes pushing himself and with the help of our training staff and our strength and conditioning (coaches), hes done a heck of a job to get himself back where he is now." So where exactly is he? Neither Carlyle nor Bolland would pin down a specific return date but Bolland did sound more encouraged with his progress than he did when he offered his last update on February 5 in Tampa Bay. "Im close, its getting there," he said on Thursday. "Im on my way upwards." Carlyle suggested yesterday that a decision would be made next Wednesday as to whether Bolland will dress when the Leafs resume their schedule against the New York Islanders on February 27. "Ah, well see," Bolland added when asked if he expects to play against the Islanders. His impending return was welcomed news to Dion Phaneuf. "Thats a very big boost," said the Leafs captain. "Bollands an experienced guy whos played a lot of hockey in the league. Hes a big part of our team. Hes big in the room; hes big on the ice. Hes a leader in our dressing room and he plays hard night in and night out so were excited too get him back.dddddddddddd." But despite just 22 regular season games remaining for the Leafs, Bolland will not be re-inserted until he declares himself ready. "When he says hes ready to go, thats one of the things were adamant about here is that the player is not going to come back and say hes 85 per cent and were going to put him in the lineup," Carlyle said. "Hes got to tell us hes 100/110 per cent and then were ready to go. That makes it a lot easier for everybody involved." When Bolland was injured, he was playing on a line with Mason Raymond and David Clarkson. Since then, Clarkson has been moved to a line with Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri which Carlyle indicated he has been pleased with. At this point, consider it audition time for the right wing spot with leading candidates likely being Nik Kulemin and Troy Bodie. "We think that Bolland and Mason Raymond and whoever we decide to put there could give us a 2A and 2B type of offensive numbers," said Carlyle. But dont expect too much too soon when Bolland does return, Carlyle cautioned, suggesting he will keep an eye on his minutes and potentially avoid penalty killing duties early on. "I dont think Ill be stepping into the same role as I was at the start of the season," Bolland said. "I missed two and a half, three months of hockey and just coming back and throwing yourself in the mix is never fun. Its tough coming back from injuries and coming back will be something where Ill be eased in and not just thrown to the wolves. My expectations will be a little bit lower but gradually (after) the first two or three games, Ill be back in the mix." The chance to get Bolland back for the stretch drive, whether its in the first game back against the Islanders or a few games later, is an addition that Carlyle feels will have a significant impact on the team, almost akin to a trade deadline acquisition without giving anything up. "Anytime you can add a player of that caliber, it does change the makeup of your lineup," said Carlyle. "We lost two centres (Bozak and Bolland) early in November and weve been taxing people and putting younger players in situations that have somewhat overwhelmed them at times. We feel its a huge compliment to the depth of our organization that our young players have come in and filled that gap. Theres no ifs, ands or buts adding a David Bolland, we feel it has an impact into our line up." ' ' '