NASCAR watching, but not policing, Hamlin-BK feud

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Despite a continuing and open display of dislike for each other that now and again seems to include knocking into each other with their race cars, Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski's budding rivalry is being embraced by NASCAR and not discouraged.

Video Recap

An escalating difference of opinion between Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski has roots before this season.

Charlotte

• Tempers flare in 2008 race
• Addressing post-race melee

Dover

• Keselowski wrecks Hamlin
• Keselowski, Hamlin react

Fontana

• Another incident slows Hamlin

Phoenix

• Hamlin, Keselowski at it again
• Strong words by budding foes

Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, said officials from the governing body had spoken with both drivers separately following the latest incident involving them during Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Neither was penalized or punished in any way, and Pemberton said he considers their latest brush with each other concluded.

"We talked to Denny and Brad separately. We talked to each of them [Saturday] and again [before Sunday's race]," Pemberton said. "It was nothing major. It was just to remind everybody of the bigger picture.

"It really was not to tell them not to race hard at all. They need to keep racing as hard as they want to. That's what people come to see. So we didn't tell them not to race hard."

Joe Balash, Nationwide Series director, added: "I think we've really finished all the events from [Saturday]. There were no penalties from anything that happened out on the race track and no calls from the [control] tower and we're moving on to our next race."

Pemberton added that such rivalries as the one blossoming between Hamlin and Keselowski are good for the sport.

"They are rivalries, and you'd like to let things take care of themselves and have the guys work it out, on and off the track," Pemberton said. "They owe that, because many of these guys are going to be racing each other for years to come -- decades, potentially. When you're in close quarters like that, not everyone agrees on what real estate they have to own -- and you'll see that from time to time.

"I see out there in some of these younger guys the potential for these rivalries to be in the style of Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt, or in the David Pearson-Richard Petty style," Pemberton said. "We've got a lot of young, talented guys out there who are really standing on the gas and picking up their game -- and they've very, very competitive. I think that helps add to the competition at the race track every weekend. (Continued)