Ryan Newman's Race Team Does Hype Video for Sprint Cup Final

((ht: foxsports.com))

Nice...haven't seen a lot of hype videos in the NASCAR world. Maybe they are catching on to this whole social media thing.

Or maybe not.

Anyway, check out this cool video done for Ryan Newman by the folks at his Richard Childress Racing team.

Newman is one of the 4 drivers left in the Elimination challenge. We'll find out who wins the whole shebangie this weekend when the Chase makes it's final stop at Homestead.

All Newman has to do....finish ahead of Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick. He doesn't have to win the race, just has to beat all 3 of the other guys to the finish line.

May the best driver win...

((NOTE---We have no idea why this was produced in the ancient 4x3 video format instead of HD, it's not like Childress can't afford the whole modern technology thing))

Morning Wrap: Harvick Wins Chase Eliminator; Final Four Set

((ht: foxsports.com))

If you aren't paying attention--and many football fans aren't, NASCAR is in the midst of it's first "Eliminator" chase for the Sprint Cup title.

Each week for the past several, drivers have been eliminated from the chase based up their point totals and finish in races.

Sunday's race at Phoenix was the one to determine your finalists.

And it was won, in dominant fashion by Kevin Harvick

No, there were no fights, though late in the race, Ryan Newman, who also made the final 4, drove Kyle Larson into the wall and managed to move up to 11th place in the race. Which got him the extra point he needed to bump 2nd place finisher Jeff Gordon from the final four.

Confused? We sure are.

Your other finalists: Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.

The racing season ends this coming week at Homestead Speedway in South Miami. Whomever among the final four places the highest, gets the Cup title--

Here are your Phoenix Highlights:

Smoke And The Blue Deuce Visit The Big Red Truck

((HT: NASCAR their own selves/NASCAR on ESPN))

You remember the end of the Charlotte race and all of the associated shenanigans...

Well, if you don't, we'll show you...


And, if that wasn't all, Keselowski did this in the infield garage. The long version was missed by ESPN cameras...

IN THE INFIELD GARAGE!!!


NASCAR came down with their decisions today:

NASCAR has assessed behavioral penalties to drivers Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart for their involvement in post-race incidents on Oct. 11 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Keselowski has been fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:

· Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
· Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty – involved in post-race incidents

Stewart has been fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the next four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events through Nov. 12 for violating:

· Section 12-1: Actions detrimental to stock car racing
· Section 12-4.9: Behavioral penalty – involved in a post-race incident

“These penalties are about maintaining a safe environment following the race,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president, competition and racing development. “We knew that the new Chase format was likely going to raise the intensity level and we want our drivers to continue to be themselves. However, the safety of our drivers, crew members, officials, and workers is paramount and we will react when that safety could be compromised.”

"Behavioral penalties..."

Never heard that one before...

Does anyone remember that Kevin Harvick actually won the race...???

All Hell Breaks Loose Postrace In Charlotte

((HT: NASCAR on ABC/ESPN))

First, the end of the race in Charlotte this evening gave Kevin Harvick a win to advance in the new version of The Chase...
But all hell broke loose after the fact...

Your finish


And a longer version with commentary from some rather intense, very young NASCAR fans (NSFW)...


Then, Kenseth jumped Keselowski between the haulers out back to express some severe displeasure


Expect Kenseth, Keselowski, and Hamlin to visit The Big Red Truck very soon- and to, perhaps, be a little lighter in the wallet...

Reminded the HQ of something like this


Doesn't it...???

Here's postgame with Doc and Brad and Vince and Denny...

NASCAR Fun: Hamlin Throws Car Part at Harvick After Crash

Oh those angry boys of NASCAR...

Saturday night at Bristol showed yet again why race car drivers need to learn somehow to control their tempers.

Racing under the lights with the lead, Denny Hamlin slowed slightly coming off a corner. Kevin Harvick, just behind Hamlin tries to get behind him, but misjudges Hamlin's move, hits the back of Hamlin's car and sends him spinning.

Hamlin's car tags Dale Earnhardt Jr, taking out his door and side panels and for a brief moment, chaos ensues.

Hamlin eventually gets out of the car and in a fit of anger, grabs the Hans device (neck restraint) and throws it at Harvick's car when it passes by again under caution.

It didn't do any damage, but the point being, why throw something at him? And then the post wreck interview?

Yeah, we get it, racing is intense and nobody wants to back down. But when you are driving that fast in a tight pack of cars, accidents happen.  They always will.

For what it's worth, Joey Logano would go on to take the checkered flag and get the win.

Video of the crash, Hamlin's interview and shot of him throwing stuff at Harvick are all on this clip from NASCAR.com:

Not How NASCAR Wants The Season To Start

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

It was the Sprint Unlimited last night at Daytona- where past pole sitters, winners, and such all get together for another payday... and it was an interesting look...

It had almost everything...
Including their pace car catching on fire...


Not quite the JP Montoya-running into a jet dryer-thing, but interesting nonetheless...
And whaddya want to bet that Chevy will be looking into that car...

Then, in the ARCA race... you had a 15-car crash with Buster Graham started that looks like it knocked out half the field...


Denny Hamlin would survive the actual race, but Matt Kenseth took out half of the field here...


Wreckin' is more than rubbin', so we'll see how the 4 Stewart-Haas squads go from here...

At Least Joey Logano Is Consistent- Fighting 2 Weeks In A Row

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

For the second week in a row, Joey Logano has created some angst and agita at the end of a NASCAR event...

This time it was created with Tony Stewart at the restart at the end of the race at Fontucky...
Both made it over the finish line (in various pieces), but when they both made it to pit road Stewart had had enough...

He'd had all he can stands and can't stands no more...
Punches were thrown... and the HQ sides with Stewart in this one...


Oh, the 18 car won and Dale Junior finished second...
No word on whether or not the 14 and 22 are heading to the Big Red Truck at present...

More when we know more...

Here's another version of the fight with some Steve Byrnes-ian post edited in...

Joey Logano Doesn't Like His Ex

Ex-teammate, that is...

The race in Bristol is like bumble bees in a washer dryer...
It's the Roman Colosseum...
It's a bunch of fighter jets rolling on a small track with no room to mess around.

Starting with Matt Kenseth getting impaled when he ended up in Jeff Gordon's tail after he blew a front right tire...
And continuing when Denny Hamlin wasn't taking any quarter from Joey Logano as the 20-car looked like it was trying to pinch from up high...

Logano took exception and went hunting after the race...
((HT: NASCAR Images))