Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Kenseth suspended for two races by NASCAR | Drivers react

Matt Kenseth was issued a two-race suspension from NASCAR for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway. Logano was leading the race at the time when Kenseth, who was several laps down, got into the 22 of Logano on Lap 454 and both cars went into the wall. Kenseth was also placed on probation for a six-month period.

The friction between the drivers began two weeks earlier at Kansas Speedway when Kenseth was leading the second race of the Contender Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup with five laps to go when Logano made contact with him that led to Kenseth spinning out. Logano went on to win the race in a green-white-checkered finish but Kenseth was none too pleased about the ending.

“Based upon our extensive review, we have concluded that the No. 20 car driver, who is no longer in the Chase, intentionally wrecked the No. 22 car driver, a Chase-eligible competitor who was leading the race at the time,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The No. 20 car was nine laps down, and eliminated the No. 22 car’s opportunity to continue to compete in the race.

“Additionally, we factored aspects of safety into our decision, and also the fact that the new Chase elimination format puts a premium on each and every race. These actions have no place in NASCAR.”

A series of appeals were heard on Thursday and Kenseth’s two-race suspension was upheld. His probation period was decreased from six months to through December 31, 2015.

This is a rare penalty in the sport. In fact, the closest type of penalty seen like it came in 2011 when Kyle Busch was parked for XFINITY and Sprint Cup races at Texas in November of that year. Busch was parked for retaliating and wrecking title contender Ron Hornaday Jr. in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile track. Busch was also fined $50,000 and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.

Here is a look at several major penalties issued by NASCAR in recent years.

Michael Waltrip Racing | Richmond International Raceway, September 2013
Violation: Section 12-4: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. MWR’s three teams in the Sprint Cup Series (the No. 15, 55, 56) were penalized with the loss of 50 championship driver and 50 championship owner points, respectively. These point penalties were assessed following the season’s 26th regular-season race and not after the seeding for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. That resulted in Martin Truex Jr. being eliminated from the second Wild Card spot in the playoff field. NASCAR also fined the MWR organization $300,000 and indefinitely suspended Ty Norris, MWR Executive Vice President/General Manager and spotter for the No. 55 car, for violating Section 12-4. The three crew chiefs — Brian Pattie (No. 15), Scott Miller (No. 55) and Chad Johnston (No. 56) — were all placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31.

Penalty: Loss of 50 Cup Driver Points for each MWR team.*

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway, July 2014

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 20-2.1: Car body must be acceptable to NASCAR officials and
Section 20-3.4.5: A rear firewall, including any removable panels or access doors, constructed using magnetic sheet steel a minimum of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick), must be located between the trunk area and the driver’s compartment and must be welded in place. Block-off plates/covers used in rear firewalls in place of blowers, oil coolers, etc., must be constructed of 22 gage (0.031 inch thick) magnetic sheet steel. Block-off plates/covers must be installed with positive fasteners and sealed to prevent air leakage. Carbon fiber or aluminum block-off plates/covers will not be permitted.

Penalty: Loss of 75 Cup Driver Points*

Carl Long, No. 146 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2009

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4-I: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR rules: Section 20-5.4A: Engine exceeded the maximum engine size of 358.000 cubic inch displacement.

Penalty: Loss of 200 Cup Driver Points.

Ryan Newman, No. 31 | Auto Club Speedway, March 2015

Violations: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. 20.16: Wheels and Tires: A. Any device, modification, or procedure to the tire or wheel, including the valve stem hardware, that is used to release pressure, beyond normal pressure adjustments, from the tire and/or inner shield, will not be permitted.
20.16.2: Tires: F. Modifications to the tires, by treatment or any other means, will not be permitted.
Section 12.5.3.5.1 lists P5 Penalty Violation examples that could include but are not limited to:
A. Effecting, modifying and/or altering the standard tires in any way, other than through authorized means such as tire pressure adjustments within the recommended range, permitted tire cooling when mounted on the race vehicle; or heat-cycling on the race vehicle on the race track earlier in the event.

Penalty: Loss of 50 Cup Driver Points*

Matt Kenseth, No. 20 | Kansas Speedway, April 2013

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to the NASCAR Rules detailed in Section 20 of the NASCAR Rule Book, or has not been approved by NASCAR prior to the Event. Section 20-5.5.3E.: Only solid magnetic steel connecting rods with a minimum weight of 525.0 grams will be permitted. Connecting rod failed to meet the minimum connecting rod weight.

Penalty: Loss of 50 Cup Driver Points.*

Jeremy Mayfield, No. 12 | Talladega Superspeedway, April 2000

Violation: Section 12-4-A: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 8-8: Fuel used by a Competitor that does not meet NASCAR specifications. Section 12-4-AA: Use of altered fuel or fuel other than the official fuel at the Event.

Penalty: Loss of 151 Cup Driver points.

Johnny Sauter, No. 70 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2008

Violation: Section 20-3.1.3A: Wing mounting locations were not as specified by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

Appealed: NASCAR Penalty upheld.

Scott Riggs, No. 66 | Lowe’s Motor Speedway, May 2008

Violation: Section 20-3.1.3A: Wing mounting locations were not as specified by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Owner points.

Appealed: NASCAR Penalty upheld.

Brian Vickers, No. 83 | Martinsville Speedway, October 2008

Violation: Section 12-4-Q: Section 20-2.1D: Exterior sheet metal body parts did not meet the specified minimum thickness.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

Martin Truex Jr., No. 1 | Daytona International Speedway, July 2008

Violation: Section 12-4-Q: Section 20-3.8A: Roof of the car does not conform to the specifications of the NASCAR Rule Book.

Penalty: Loss of 150 Cup Driver points.

Travis Kvapil, No. 43 | Pocono Raceway, June 2010

Violation: Section 12-1: Section 12-4-J: Section 20-10.7J: Unapproved modification to valve stem hardware.

Penalty: 150 Cup Driver Points

Clint Bowyer, No. 15 | September 2010, New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Violation: Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing. Section 12-4-J: Any determination by NASCAR Officials that the Race Equipment used in the Event does not conform to NASCAR Rules: Section 20-3: The car body location specifications in reference to the certified chassis, does not meet the NASCAR-approved specifications.

Penalty: 150 Cup Driver Points

*These penalties are ranked according to their severity in proportion to the points system used at that time. NASCAR moved to a one-point-per-position format in 2011.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Kenseth suspended for two races | Appeal date set | Drivers react

With Matt Kenseth on the sidelines pending Thursday’s appeal of his two-race suspension, a prime seat in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series garage is open. Though a clear front-runner exists, time to examine the top candidates to fill the vacancy in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota:
 
Erik Jones: The 19-year-old prodigy sits at the head of the class in Joe Gibbs Racing‘s talented farm system. With two high-profile Sprint Cup substitutions for JGR regulars Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin already under his belt, Jones has an elite opportunity for extra seasoning as his career arc continues upward. The odds-on favorite.
 
Daniel Suarez: Another star in the making in JGR’s developmental pipeline, Suarez has made strides in his first full season of NASCAR XFINITY Series competition. His lack of Sprint Cup competition is a clear hurdle to placing him in the No. 20 seat, but priming him with premier-series experience could be an enticing option, especially at Phoenix — in close proximity to a fervent fan base near his native Mexico.
 
David Ragan: The nine-year veteran filled in for nine races in JGR’s No. 18 Toyota for the injured Kyle Busch earlier this season, and participated in testing for the Gibbs organization at Atlanta last week and this week. Ragan jumped to JGR once before in an effort to showcase his skills; if given the opportunity, he’d likely do so again as his Michael Waltrip Racing team plays out the string before closing at season’s end.
 
Regan Smith: The XFINITY Series regular has already established a solid reputation as a super-sub in the Sprint Cup garage, with high-profile pinch-hitting roles for Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch and Kyle Larson in the last two years. He’s never driven anything other than a Chevrolet in his Sprint Cup career, but with his JR Motorsports tenure coming to an end, a ride in the No. 20 Toyota could be an eye-catching audition for 2016.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (November 3, 2015) – Today at the 2015 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas, NASCAR and Universal Technical Institute (NYSE: UTI) announced a 10-year partnership extension, ensuring the official partner will continue providing training for students seeking employment in the motorsports and automotive services industries.

The partnership was highlighted by the opening of UTI’s subsidiary school, NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech) in 2002. NASCAR and UTI have partnered to offer a curriculum that has developed new generations of technicians to serve motorsports and the automotive services industries.

“UTI has created a pipeline of highly skilled automotive technicians that have been embedded throughout the NASCAR ecosystem for the past 15 years,” said Norris Scott, NASCAR vice president of partnership marketing. “Our 10-year extension underscores the mutual benefit of our partnership and sets us up for a decade of success.”   

UTI Vice President John Dodson will discuss the early renewal live on Fanschoice.TV from the Las Vegas Convention Center, where each year more than 100,000 industry executives, buyers, influencers and car enthusiasts attend the SEMA Show. Afterward, a special panel of NASCAR Tech graduates, each now gainfully employed within the motorsports industry, will share stories about the program’s impact on their professional careers.

“This long-term renewal accentuates the sustained success of our program, and perfectly aligns with our plans to celebrate UTI’s 50th anniversary this upcoming year,” said Dodson. “By offering students hands-on experience and the opportunity to build relationships with key manufacturers, our students graduate with the ideal skill set to succeed in this competitive industry.”

NASCAR Tech has become the leader in the industry for technical education, graduating thousands of students. Four out of five graduates from NASCAR Tech find employment in careers within their field of study. Team Penske has hired nearly 50 NASCAR Tech graduates, more than any other team.

NASCAR Tech alumni featured at the SEMA Show include Jennifer LaFever, who manages quality assurance at Roush Yates Racing Engines, and Van Nguyen, a development engineer for Toyota Racing Development.

The graduates will be joined on the panel by Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Prior to competing in NASCAR’s national series, Larson won the 2012 championship in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, where his Rev Racing car engines were built and maintained by NASCAR Tech students.

The No. 2 UTI / NASCAR Tech Rev Racing Toyota Camry, driven to Victory Lane at Dover International Speedway by current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East driver Collin Cabre, is on display at the NASCAR booth. The race-winning car’s engine was also a product of the NASCAR Spec Engine Program.  

Other NASCAR Activities at SEMA

•    In addition to the No. 2 Rev Racing Toyota, there are three other NASCAR vehicle attractions on display at the SEMA Show, which runs through Nov. 6: The No. 21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion driven by NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney, the No. 31 Whelen Chevrolet Corvette DP that competes in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 – highlight the NASCAR area on the show floor.

•    The display also includes demonstrations of the new pit road technology used in NASCAR that has increased the accuracy, efficiency and safety of pit-road officiating.

•    NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty is joining several current drivers from NASCAR’s national and Touring & Weekly Series and IMSA for appearances at the NASCAR display, where fans following the event from their computer, tablet or mobile device can watch driver interviews live on Fanschoice.tv.

•    Scott Atherton, president of IMSA, will discuss the importance of technology and innovation in growing the series during the Racing and Performance Forum, part of the SEMA Show’s Technology Briefing Seminars.

Tune-in to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Eliminator Round’s second race, the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and PRN, with additional coverage on NASCAR.com.

Posted on by

RELATED: Kenseth suspended for two races

Joe Gibbs Racing statement regarding today’s ruling by NASCAR

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (November 3, 2015) – Joe Gibbs Racing announces today that driver Matt Kenseth will appeal the penalty issued by NASCAR.  
 
The appeal will challenge the severity of the penalty which is believed to be inconsistent with previous penalties for similar on-track incidents. There will be no further comments from JGR personnel during the appeal process.

Posted on by Nascar

Jeff Gordon earned a berth in the Championship Round of this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, and according to team owner Rick Hendrick, it couldn’t have come at a better time or taken place at a better track.
 
Gordon, 44 and closing out one of the most impressive careers in the history of NASCAR, scored his 93rd career victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway, automatically earning a chance to race for a fifth, and final, title three weeks from now at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
 
“I won my first race (as an owner) there,” with driver Geoff Bodine, Hendrick told NASCAR.com on Tuesday. It was a victory that “kept us alive,” he said.
 
This most recent win “puts Jeff in the Chase in his final year. … He’s been such a big asset to our company and to me personally as a friend. It’s pretty darn special.”
 
Hendrick said there were several things that made Sunday’s victory in the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 more meaningful than most. Which is pretty strong when one considers that Hendrick teams have won 238 points races, including the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Legendary races at legendary facilities.
 
“We were so close last year with Jeff,” Hendrick said. “We go to Texas leading the points (and) he gets taken out. We go to Phoenix, he runs second. He goes to Homestead and leads the better part of that race and you think what could have been. Because the race was actually over in Texas and they threw that damn caution. That was kind of bitter.
 
“You start this year and we didn’t run as good this year as we did a year ago. Then you go to Martinsville, a place that’s been so good to us, the 22 or so wins, and it’s been a place where we’ve had tragedy. …
 
“To see him on his ‘farewell tour,’ his last race, go to Homestead and be one of four cars that have a shot to win the championship, I think that’s a storybook (finish) all in itself, no matter how he ends up. That’s a great deal. It’s going to be special for a lot of his fans and the sport itself. I just think Martinsville was a super, unbelievable win. It’s got to go in there, probably ranks as one of the most important and special wins in our career.”
 
Gordon won championships for Hendrick in 1995, ’97-98 and ’01. He has not won a title since the Chase format was adopted in 2004, but has finished as high as second (2007).
 
As of now, he’s the only driver guaranteed to be racing for the championship. Stops at Texas, up this weekend, and Phoenix in two weeks, will trim the eight-driver field down to its final four.
 
“I think by winning early for Jeff, he won’t be as nervous at Phoenix and he won’t be as nervous at Texas and there will be a whole lot of guys around you racing awfully nervous,” Hendrick said, “… a mistake’s going to cost them.
 
“There are a lot of good guys and it’s going to be really interesting to see who the final four are going to be, when you’ve got some guys at the bottom that are on the outside looking in. Somebody’s going to be disappointed in the next two weeks.”
 
Gordon has driven for no other team owner in the Sprint Cup Series since making his debut with HMS at the end of the 1992 season. Hendrick has seen the driver thoroughly dominate the competition – he won 47 races in a five-year span between ’95 and ’99 – and he’s seen him struggle, going winless in ’08 and ’10.
 
Although Sunday’s victory was Gordon’s first of the season, Hendrick says he knows the No. 24 team has the talent and ability to win the title.
 
“Just knowing Jeff Gordon and how he can step it up when it’s time,” he said. “He’s not going to go back there and turn over people to run 15th or 11th.
 
“You haven’t seen him in a situation where it’s all the marbles for a championship. Usually you work all year long and it’s every single week. Now it’s a one-race championship really, that’s what it’s come down to. At a place where he won the race the year before last, led a lot of laps last year. Different rules, but he likes the track, just like Martinsville.”
 
Hendrick would like nothing better than to see his driver go out on top, a fitting end to an amazing career. The stakes won’t be any higher but the owner says he has no trouble keeping things in perspective.
 
“It ain’t life-threatening, that’s what I always say,” Hendrick said. “I’ve learned if you let it eat you alive, you never get better. When we lose, it motivates us to go back and work harder.
 
“We’re just going to do the best we can; we’ll go down there with the best stuff we have and try to beat the rest of them.
 
“We made it this far; we made it to the final round and right now we’re the only ones that can say that.”

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: NASCAR suspends Kenseth | Drivers react to ruling

 

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, a teammate of Matt Kenseth, said Tuesday night on FS1’s “Race Hub” that Kenseth was upholding the “driver code” when he tangled with Joey Logano on Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.

 

The penalty of a two-race suspension — which NASCAR handed out to Kenseth on Tuesday — was therefore too harsh, Hamlin said.

“There’s an unspoken driver code,” Hamlin said. “We talk about this a lot. A lot of fans don’t understand what driver code is, (but) any race car driver that has been doing this long enough understands what driver code is. I feel like the driver code that’s been established for — since racing began, 100 years ago — that driver code is more compromised now than ever.

“NASCAR said in years past — they said this year — that they like the drivers to police themselves. Matt was policing himself and he was policing the driver code, in my opinion.”

NASCAR on Tuesday suspended Kenseth for two races following Sunday’s on-track incident in which Kenseth, multiple laps down at the time, drove Logano, leading at the time, into the fence with less than 50 laps remaining.

Joe Gibbs Racing announced it would appeal the penalty. NASCAR announced it would expedite the appeals process.

Still, the ruling didn’t sit well with the driver of the No. 11 Toyota.

 

“You know, they digest a lot,” Hamlin said of NASCAR. “And they are the parent figure within our organization and tell us what the rules are. We try to play by them every week. Sometimes those rules are gray.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Daniel Hemric is moving to Brad Keselowski Racing for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the team announced in its 2016 driver lineup.

Hemric will pilot the No. 19 Ford F-150 with support from partners California Clean Power and Cequent, while Tyler Reddick will shift over to the No. 29 Ford F-150 with support from Cooper Standard.

“Our main goal is to build off our momentum from 2015 and pursue a championship with two great full-time drivers,” team owner Brad Keselowski said in a team release. “Both Tyler and Daniel have shown a lot of success on the race track and have more than earned this opportunity. We have two of the best drivers in the Series running on a full-time basis and I’m really happy about that and very optimistic about our future and chance for success in 2016.”

Keselowski will look to field a third team with a variety of drivers behind the wheel, according to the release. In 2015, the organization fielded two full-time teams with Reddick piloting the No. 19 Truck and a variety of drivers including Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Austin Theriault among those behind the wheel of the No. 29 Truck.

Hemric, 24, is in his first full-time season in the series and competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors with NTS Motorsports. He is seventh in the standings with four top fives and 12 top 10s. Reddick, 19, is third in the point standings this year for BKR and has two wins on the season.

“When the opportunity was available with Brad Keselowski Racing and all of our great partners, it seemed like a good deal for everyone concerned,” Hemric said in a team release. “It’s an honor to team up with Brad and to have common goals when you go to the race track: win races and put yourself in contention for a championship. To be able to insert yourself on a championship contending team and a team that has a solid baseline on what they need every weekend.”

Posted on by Staff Report

NASCAR announced a two-race suspension for Matt Kenseth on Tuesday for his on-track actions against Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway.

RELATED: NASCAR suspends Kenseth | Official JGR statement

The NASCAR community sounded off on the decision via Twitter.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: NASCAR official release | Kenseth suspended for two races

 

NASCAR officials penalized Danica Patrick on Tuesday for her aggressive on-track actions with David Gilliland last weekend at Martinsville Speedway.
 
NASCAR fined Patrick $50,000 and assessed her the loss of 25 points in the Sprint Cup Series driver standings. The behavioral penalty also places Patrick on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.

The points penalty dropped Patrick to 27th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series point standings.
 
Gilliland’s Front Row Motorsports No. 38 Ford made contact with Patrick’s Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Chevrolet, sending her car into the Turn 3 wall during the later stages of Sunday’s Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 . Patrick retaliated with a similar move, twice shoving Gilliland’s car up to the Turn 3 and 4 walls, bringing out a caution period on Lap 419 of 500.
 
Patrick rammed into the back of Gilliland’s car during the yellow flag before taking her car to the garage. She retired from the race in 40th place. Gilliland finished 24th in the 43-car field.
 
The two have been at odds in the past, with tensions rising in the spring of 2013 at Kansas Speedway. Patrick issued warnings over her team radio in response to Gilliland’s hard-nosed racing. Gilliland replied through a team spokesperson, telling Patrick to “shut up and race.”