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...

Marcos Ambrose Should Expect A Trip To The Big Red Truck

((HT: NASCAR on FOX))

Short tracks usually ring out an identical type of temper in NASCAR drivers...

The race at Richmond was no different...

Marcos Ambrose, apparently, caused a three-wide situation late in the race which caused a post-race discussion with the driver of the 13 car- Casey Mears.

And in the middle of the discussion, Ambrose did this to Mears...


Elsewhere, Brad Keselowski was mad at Matt Kenseth after the race was over and the Blue Deuce was not pleased with the #20's efforts

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...

DEVELOPING: Could Kenseth Win Be Blown Out...??? (UPDATE: The Boom Got Lowered And Kenseth Isn't Happy)

((HT: ESPN/Newton))

Remember how NASCAR said that they weren't going to tolerate any shenanigans when it came to any kind of tampering with the Gen 6 car...???

David Newton, while admittedly going on "sources," is saying that the Kenseth car that did this...
((HT: Fox Sports))


...is currently being evaluated...

The engine was brought back to NASCAR's Research and Development Center after passing the first inspection, failed the deeper inspection. The AP is saying the engine failed because one of the connecting rods did not meet the minimum weight requirement...

Well, then...

It's not the first time that NASCAR would be dropping the points hammer. Two weeks ago, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano got docked 25 points for their alleged monkeying with the rear housing- a major no-no with the Gen 6

PM UPDATE: Kenseth loses 50 points, is fined $200,000, his crew chief was suspended six races, he loses his three bonus points for his pole, and his pole was wiped out.

"JGR is not involved in the process of selecting parts or assembling the Cup Series engines," Toyota Racing Development President Lee White said in the statement. "It was a simple oversight on TRD's part and there was no intent to deceive, or to gain any type of competitive advantage.

"Toyota is a company that was built on integrity, and that remains one of the guiding principles of the company," White added. "The goal of TRD has always been -- and will continue to be -- to build high-performance engines that are reliable, durable and powerful, and within the guidelines established by NASCAR."

The part in question was three grams under minimum weight...

THURSDAY UPDATE: Kenseth talked about the whole thing and he was less than pleased...
((HT: ESPN))

Day 1 At Daytona= Wreck One

((HT: NASCAR on Speed))

What the HQ used to call the Clash is now something called the Unlimited...

We don't know if the ground rules are the same or not, but they're practicing at Daytona for the 500 mile race next Sunday.
Which, of course, means that big drivers may end up damaging their new paint schemes...

Matt Kenseth would be the guilty one there...

Here's the crash that took out Montoya, Martin, Kurt Busch, and Edwards...


"That was 100 percent driver error, my driver error," Kenseth said when asked about it afterwards. "I had no idea anybody was there and he had a run at the same time and I came down in front of him and he couldn't get slowed up from staying out of me. It was a hundred percent my fault."

So, the Car of Tomorrow is yesterday and we're now with Gen 6...

Changing Places: Kenseth, Logano switch teams

((ht: nascar.com))

Matt Kenseth/Ctsy: MattKenseth.com

Well, NASCAR's version of the Carousel has begun, only a little bit earlier than normal.

Matt Kenseth made it official today and was announced, well actually, presented as the newest driver for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Kenseth is leaving long-time partner Roush-Fenway racing after 15-years. And he will be replacing former Wunderkind Joey Logano in the #20 car.

Read the story from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

Kenseth will be part of a 3-car team featuring him, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch. Yes, he's still in the running for this years Sprint Cup title with Roush and will be running out the season in his all-too familiar #17 car.

As for the other change, the 22-year old Logano moves to Penske Racing after beginning his career with Gibbs. And yes, we'll say it, "Ironically" he'll be driving the #22 car in the 2013 season.

Read more from NASCAR.com RIGHT HERE

Interesting, isn't it NASCAR fans?

We've always known that racing has had a tradition of off-season driver switches, but they usually happen much closer to the end of the season and usually involves drivers not competing for the cup. And while Logano may not make the Top 12 this year, Kenseth has a pretty good shot at it.

So, as usual, prepare for changes. Probably the hardest will be getting used to Kenseth in the #20 car, but like everything else, we'll get used to it.

Because we love video here at OSG Sports, we'll remind you of Kenseth's latest claim to fame; that of target for Tony Stewart's race helmet just two weeks ago.

ICYMI: Tony Stewart was kinda pissed at Matt Kenseth

You might have missed this on Saturday night unless you are a "Die-Hard" NASCAR fan, and well, it was pretty funny.

During Saturday night's NASCAR race at the oval in Bristol, Tennessee, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth got tangled up late in the race.

And while we aren't exactly sure how Kenseth felt about the wreck, which on the surface, didn't look like it was anyone in particulars fault, Stewart was pretty mad.

So mad in fact that he threw his helmet at Kenseth after the 17 car got pieced back together and headed back out onto the track. Stewart wasn't so lucky, his night was over.

We might also add Stewart told the assembled media shortly afterward that "I'm going to run over him every chance I get for the rest of the year"....

So, take a look at the video from NASCAR.com. It shows the wreck and then the throwing of the helmet, including the in car view from Kenseth's perspective, it's pretty funny.

Your Daytona 500 recap: Fire, Rain and Matt Kenseth for the win

You could arguably call this the Mayan Apocalypse edition of the Daytona 500.

Why?

Well, you had the 1st rain delay in 54-years, you had a big crash on the second lap that took out some big names, a fire and a race that ended at 1 a.m.

And in the end, your winner: Matt Kenseth.

Okay, stop with the wild applause.

No, seriously, Kenseth led the last 38 laps to win his second Daytona 500 title...or as they say in racing land..."The Super Bowl of Motor Sports".

Kenseth was easily able to fend off perennial non-winner Dale Earnhardt Jr, who finished second. And rather than get into the details here, we probably should just go to the video, because quite honestly, there is very little that we can say, that would do what happened justice.

Here's the most bizarre incident of the night, the one where Juan Pablo Montoya loses control of his car on a yellow flag lap as he tries to catch the field. He slides and plows right into the jet dryer trying to clean the track from the previous incident.

((Video from NASCAR.com))



Here are your final couple of laps.

((Thanks NASCAR.com))