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16th
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NASCAR Chairman, Brian Z. France told television reporter Dagen McDowell of Fox Business News that driver, Brad Keselowski would not be fined for his televised outburst after Saturday night's race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Before the race both Keselowski's and Penske Racing teammate, Joey Logano's rear-end housings were confiscated by NASCAR officials. As of Monday afternoon there was no mention of any sanctions to be imposed relating to that infraction.
After the race a very frustrated Keselowski told reporters he felt that his team was being unfairly treated “I feel like we've been targeted over the last seven days more than I've ever seen a team targeted.”
He also expressed he was worried he'd lose his crew chief, Paul Wolfe, to a NASCAR penalty. Moreover he used some language, which in the past, usually drew penalties.
When the interviewer asked if Keselowski would be fined for that interview. France answered "No, we are not.” Then he added “that's the beauty of NASCAR we allow the drivers to express themselves in that way even if they say things that we disagree with. I would certainly disagree with everything he said. But look they are frustrated. This is the most intense racing in the world and not surprising that every once in a while that things don't go your way you just sort of blow off a lot of steam."
Earlier this year Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 for saying that the Gen-6 car wasn't performing as well as the Gen-5.
France explained the difference "the line that we draw is you can't criticize the racing product," France said. "You can criticize our decisions, you can criticize everything else, which is more than any other sport might allow. But just don't go talking about our racing product isn't the best in the world because it is."
A few minutes after the interview NASCAR spokesman Brett Jewkes tweeted "#NASCAR still reviewing multiple issues from past weekend but can confirm @Keselowski will not be fined for post-race comments... however, we do disagree with Brad's comments.”
This means that NASCAR can avoid the appearance of a gag order on Keselowski and punish the team severely for a technical violation. That penalty could be announced on Tuesday.
Before the race both Keselowski's and Penske Racing teammate, Joey Logano's rear-end housings were confiscated by NASCAR officials. As of Monday afternoon there was no mention of any sanctions to be imposed relating to that infraction.
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| Brad Keselowski. (Photo: NASCAR) |
After the race a very frustrated Keselowski told reporters he felt that his team was being unfairly treated “I feel like we've been targeted over the last seven days more than I've ever seen a team targeted.”
He also expressed he was worried he'd lose his crew chief, Paul Wolfe, to a NASCAR penalty. Moreover he used some language, which in the past, usually drew penalties.
When the interviewer asked if Keselowski would be fined for that interview. France answered "No, we are not.” Then he added “that's the beauty of NASCAR we allow the drivers to express themselves in that way even if they say things that we disagree with. I would certainly disagree with everything he said. But look they are frustrated. This is the most intense racing in the world and not surprising that every once in a while that things don't go your way you just sort of blow off a lot of steam."
Earlier this year Denny Hamlin was fined $25,000 for saying that the Gen-6 car wasn't performing as well as the Gen-5.
France explained the difference "the line that we draw is you can't criticize the racing product," France said. "You can criticize our decisions, you can criticize everything else, which is more than any other sport might allow. But just don't go talking about our racing product isn't the best in the world because it is."
 |
| Photo: NASCAR |
A few minutes after the interview NASCAR spokesman Brett Jewkes tweeted "#NASCAR still reviewing multiple issues from past weekend but can confirm @Keselowski will not be fined for post-race comments... however, we do disagree with Brad's comments.”
This means that NASCAR can avoid the appearance of a gag order on Keselowski and punish the team severely for a technical violation. That penalty could be announced on Tuesday.