Suspensions have been rare in previous cases like these
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NASCAR officials are expected to rule Tuesday on separate incidents involving Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth, Team Penske's Brad Keselowski, and Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner/driver Tony Stewart following Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
What occurred as the field was coming to pit road after the conclusion of the race, as well as what took place in the garage afterward, could result in either monetary fines, points deductions, probation or any combination of the three.
Keselowski made contact with Kenseth as the two came off the track; Stewart backed his car into Keselowski's after being hit from behind; and Hamlin and Keselowski had a brief run-in in the garage – with Keselowski eventually speeding away, leaving tire marks across the garage floor -- before Hamlin attempted to confront him after climbing from his car.
Kenseth physically attacked Keselowski moments later when the Team Penske driver was walking between haulers, setting off a melee that included crewmen from both teams.
The most recent occasion that resulted in NASCAR officials reacting to a physical confrontation between two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers took place earlier this season at Richmond International Raceway when Marcos Ambrose punched Casey Mears after Mears shoved the Richard Petty Motorsports driver into a car in the garage area.
Ambrose was fined $25,000 and placed on probation for the punch while Mears was fined $15,000 and also placed on probation.
While technical infractions, such as failing pre- or post-race inspection, carry pre-determined penalties, incidents involving competitors, referred to in the rulebook as "behavioral infractions" are judged individually, with the circumstances and severity surrounding the altercation taken into consideration.
In 2011, Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick were each fined $25,000 and placed on probation for a post-race altercation on pit road at Darlington Raceway.
That same season, team owner Richard Childress was fined $150,000 and placed on probation after a physical confrontation with Busch at Kansas Speedway.
In 2006, Jeff Gordon was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for shoving Kenseth on pit road following a race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Suspensions have been levied in the past, but aren't the norm. In 2003, Jimmy Spencer was suspended for one week and fined $25,000 after he punched Kurt Busch following a race at Michigan International Speedway. Busch was placed on probation for his part in the altercation.
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