UNB! NETWORK STAFF REPORT
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (November 3, 2015) -- Matt Kenseth , the driver of the No. 20 car, has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Kenseth has been suspended from NASCAR through the completion of the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for a six-month period following issuance of the penalty notice.
"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."
Logano was out front and had led almost half of the event to that moment in the race. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, said Sunday evening that those two factors weighed heavily in the minds of race officials, who parked Kenseth's No. 20 for the rest of the day shortly after the two cars came to rest.
"In our minds, that's a little bit different than two drivers really going after it coming out of Turn 4 for a win versus what happened tonight," O'Donnell said.
O'Donnell restated that in Tuesday's penalty report from NASCAR's sanctioning body.
"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," O'Donnell said in a statement. "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."
Danica Patrick, the driver of the No. 10 car, has been penalized for an infraction that also took place during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Patrick has been fined $50,000, assessed with the loss of 25 series championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
The penalty drops Patrick to 27th in the Sprint Cup Series championship points standings.
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.
Patrick and Gilliland have has issues withe each other in the past, including a conflict 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."
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| Matt Kenseth (No. 20 Toyota) turns Joey Logano (No. 22 Ford) with 47 laps to go in Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. |
"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."
Logano was out front and had led almost half of the event to that moment in the race. Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, said Sunday evening that those two factors weighed heavily in the minds of race officials, who parked Kenseth's No. 20 for the rest of the day shortly after the two cars came to rest.
"In our minds, that's a little bit different than two drivers really going after it coming out of Turn 4 for a win versus what happened tonight," O'Donnell said.
O'Donnell restated that in Tuesday's penalty report from NASCAR's sanctioning body.
"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," O'Donnell said in a statement. "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."
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| Danica Patrick (No. 10 Chevrolet), turns David Gilliland (No. 38 Ford) during a caution flag period in Sunday's Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. (PHOTO: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) |
Danica Patrick, the driver of the No. 10 car, has been penalized for an infraction that also took place during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Patrick has been fined $50,000, assessed with the loss of 25 series championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
The penalty drops Patrick to 27th in the Sprint Cup Series championship points standings.
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.
Patrick and Gilliland have has issues withe each other in the past, including a conflict 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."
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