Keselowski, Stewart Penalized

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Two NASCAR drivers have been penalized with heavy fines and probation in post-race actions after the conclusion of the race Saturday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Behavioral penalties were issued where Brad Keselowski was fined $50,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Nov. 12. Tony Stewart was fined $25,000 and placed on NASCAR probation for the same duration.

According to NASCAR officials, the pair violated two sections in the 2014 rule book: actions detrimental to stock car racing and a behavioral penalty that involved post-race incidents.

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OPINION: NASCAR’s Chase Format Creates Pressure, Drama

Posted on Author WKVI
A general view during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
A general view during pre-race ceremonies prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 11, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

It wasn’t until Saturday night’s Bank of America 500 that I realized how much this new Chase format may be getting to some drivers and teams.

The tempers boiled between Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski and Matt Kenseth after Kevin Harvick won the race and moved onto the eliminator round of the Chase.

With 63 laps to go on a restart lap, Matt Kenseth had a big run and Keselowski snuck up in front of him which caused Kenseth to smack into the wall. That incident caused Kenseth to drop from fourth to 18th and deeper in the field.

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Paralyzed Racer Gets First Feature Win

Posted on Author WKVI
Eric Saunders
Eric Saunders

He’s waited for this moment for four years. Eric Saunders found his way back to his winning ways after four years of confidence testing and the will to succeed.

The Lakeville, Indiana resident was on his way to a successful Motocross career when his dreams of achieving more than 10 state championships and 500 career wins came slamming to a close in a blink of an eye.

On Aug. 29, 2010 prior to his 18th birthday, Saunders was practicing runs in the backyard of his home when he went airborne on his cycle and landed incorrectly.

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NASCAR NNS Crew Chief Penalized

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

NASCAR penalized the No. 74 team or a rules infraction committed during Nationwide Series practice on Sept. 26 at Dover International Speedway.

Officials found that a weight fell out of the racecar during the event as it was not properly attached. That was a violation of the rules concerning car weight and it was found to be an action detrimental to stock car racing.

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NASCAR Crew Member Indefinitely Suspended

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A crew member for a team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series has been suspended indefinitely for failing a drug test.

William Coralline was working as a crew member with the No. 55 team at the time of the violation.  He was a regular crew member in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Coralline reportedly violated two sections in the NASCAR Rule Book: actions detrimental to stock car racing and a violation of the NASCAR Substance Abuse Policy. The violation occurred on Wednesday, Sept. 24.

Gordon Gets Fourth Win of 2014 at Dover

Posted on Author WKVI
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images
Jeff Gordon, driver of the #24 Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway on September 28, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images

Is this Jeff Gordon’s year? He’s had his best season in years and collected his fourth win of the season in Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway putting him safely into the contender round of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Gordon stayed in the top five for the entire race and took over the top running spot twice during the day’s contest. Gordon would have to work to get by Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick who dominated the race. Harvick led 223 laps on the day. His streak ended when an issue with the left front tire would damage the splitter and his chances of a win. Despite leading 223 laps of the 400-lap race, Harvick finished one lap down in the 13th spot.

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Tony Stewart Will Not Face Charges in Sprint Car Death Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
Tony Stewart
Tony Stewart

An Ontario County, New York grand jury deliberated less than an hour to reach a decision in the case involving the death of 20-year-old Kevin Ward, Jr. on Aug. 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in New York.

According to a statement released by Ontario County District Attorney Michael Tantillo on Wednesday, the grand jury determined that there is “no basis to charge Tony Stewart with any crimes”. The case was “no-billed” by the grand jury.

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Gaughan Sneaks in a Win at Kentucky Speedway

Posted on Author WKVI
Brendan Gaughan in Victory Lane
Brendan Gaughan in Victory Lane

The last restart was key for Brendan Gaughan to bring home a win for Richard Childress Racing at Kentucky Speedway in the VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300.

He took the frontrunner three wide with his teammate Ty Dillon and Chase Elliott to capture the lead with seven laps to go. Elliott initially took the lead from Dillon after a caution came out due to an accident with Eric McClure. Gaughan had battled back after slipping out of the top 10 early in the race but methodically made his way back up to race with the frontrunners. A gutsy call by his crew chief Shane Wilson to take two tires on the last pit stop got Gaughan the track position he needed to put him into the hunt for the win.

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INTERVIEW: Michael McDowell

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael McDowell
Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell is filling the seat of the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske at Kentucky Speedway tonight.  He’s qualified well and hopes to keep the car out front like many of the other drivers have this season.  He talks about his work with one of the top teams in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in this Behind the Wheel interview:

Michael McDowell Behind the Wheel

INTERVIEW: Justin Boston

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Justin Boston
Justin Boston

It’s the first time he’s run in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and it’ll be a good test for Justin Boston in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 at Kentucky Speedway.  In this Behind the Wheel interview, he talks about his time with JGR so far and what his future races will be:

Justin Boston Behind the Wheel

Interview: Dakoda Armstrong

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Dakoda Armstrong
Dakoda Armstrong

Indiana’s own Dakoda Armstrong has had a steady season in the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.

He stands 14th in the points in this 2014 season thus far and hopes to improve as the NASCAR Nationwide Series year draws to a close.  He’s ready to tackle Kentucky Speedway in this Behind the Wheel interview:

Dakoda Armstrong Behind the Wheel

NCWTS Crew Chief Suspended

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NASCAR handed down a penalty to a Camping World Truck Series team after officials found that the truck failed post-race inspection on Sept. 13 at Chicagoland Speedway.

The No. 20 truck driven by Austin Dillon for NTS Motorsports did not meet post-race body height/ground clearance requirements as outlined in the rule book.

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Grand Jury to Review Evidence in Ward Death

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Ontario County District Attorney in the state of New York has taken all evidence into the investigation into Kevin Ward, Jr.’s death to the grand jury.

Ward died after being struck by the rear of a sprint car driven by NASCAR driver Tony Stewart during a dirt track competition at Canandaigua Motorsport Park on Aug. 9. Ward and Stewart had contact on lap 14 which created a caution. It was during the caution when Ward exited his racecar and walked onto the dirt racing surface. Stewart passed by and hit Ward as he was approaching Stewart’s racecar. The impact resulted mortal injuries. Ward died of massive blunt trauma, according to an autopsy.

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Keselowski Collects First Win in Chase, Wins Second Consecutive Race

Posted on Author WKVI
nscs_checkered_091414
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 14, 2014 in Joliet, Illinois. Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images

He battled back from outside the top ten twice on the day to capture the first win in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup in the MyAFibStory.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway. This was his second consecutive win and fifth win on the season.

Keselowski now moves into the second round in the Chase grid called the contender round. He and 11 others will make the move after the race at Dover International Speedway two weeks from now.

Here’s how the rest of the Chase drivers did in the race:

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Debut in ARCA Series a Great Start for Reeves

Posted on Author WKVI
Josh Reeves
Josh Reeves

Josh Reeves brought home the No. 40 FRYESTRONG/Texas Sales Dodge in 23rd position Saturday night in his ARCA Series racing debut at Salem Speedway in Indiana.

Reeves reported a tight condition throughout much of the race. He started in the 21st spot and had worked his way up to 17th when a right front tire caused trouble for the driver about halfway through the 200-lap race. Reeves was able to keep the car from sustaining any damage and the entry for the Carter 2 Motorsports team had a positive showing in the contest.

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Busch Wins Fourth Truck Series Race

Posted on Author WKVI
Lucas Oil 225
Kyle Busch, driver of the #51 Dollar General Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Lucas Oil 225 at Chicagoland Speedway on September 13, 2014 in Joliet, Illinois. Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/NASCAR via Getty Images

He started the race from the rear of the field twice and still managed to win the Lucas Oil 225 Saturday night at Chicagoland Speedway.

Kyle Busch passed 61 trucks throughout the race after having to start the race in the 32nd spot and charging to the front. A speeding penalty after the competition caution on lap 32 sent Busch back to the end of field but he was back up battling for the lead within 20 laps.

The racing surface, although one of the roughest on the schedule, provided many grooves for the drivers to find their way around the 1.5 mile track. At times there were drivers fanning out four wide for position.

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Investigation into Sprint Car Death Complete

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The investigation into the death of Kevin A. Ward, Jr. is complete, according to New York’s Ontario County Sheriff Philip C. Povero.

Ward died from injuries sustained after being hit by a sprint car on Aug. 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York.

NASCAR driver Tony Stewart and Ward had contact on lap 14 in a race in which they were competing which brought out a caution. During the caution situation, Ward removed himself from his car and walked onto the racing surface. As he neared Stewart’s racecar, the rear of Stewart’s car struck Ward. Ward sustained massive blunt trauma and died of those injuries.

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Reeves to Make Debut in ARCA Series at Salem Speedway

Posted on Author WKVI
Josh Reeves
Josh Reeves

Goals can be attained as long as determination and will are behind passion.

That’s what development driver Josh Reeves is working on as he will strap into the seat of a Carter 2 Motorsports racecar on Saturday, Sept. 13 in the ARCA Series race at Salem Speedway.

The Bassett, Virginia native will be making his debut in the series in what Reeves hopes to be the beginning of a career in the upper brackets of racing.

He recently completed a successful test at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina and will be using what he learned there to apply to the race at Salem Speedway in Salem, Indiana this week.

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Keselowski Gets Win at Richmond, Chase Field Set

Posted on Author WKVI
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 6, 2014 in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on September 6, 2014 in Richmond, Virginia. Photo by Rainier Ehrhardt/Getty Images

From the green flag to the checkered flag, Brad Keselowski and the No. 2 team had the car to beat at Richmond International Raceway. The car was fast on the track and the pit crew members got Keselowski out of pit road first on every pit stop. To say it was a dominant performance by the Team Penske group may be an understatement.

Keselowski, who had the pole for the race, led 383 out of the available 400 laps in the race to win his fourth race this season. He is the first driver to win that many races this season and has gained the top seed entering NASCAR’s post season next week in Chicago. He captured the 400th win for owner Roger Penske.

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Kahne Wins at Atlanta

Posted on Author WKVI
Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 31, 2014 in Hampton, Georgia. Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images
Kasey Kahne, driver of the #5 Farmers Insurance Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on August 31, 2014 in Hampton, Georgia. Photo by Todd Warshaw/NASCAR via Getty Images

You can’t always bet that the most dominant car is going to win any race. Kasey Kahne proved that Sunday night in the Oral-B USA 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Kevin Harvick had the car to beat but Kahne got the better of him at the end.

A caution came out with about 30 laps to go when Brad Keselowski got into the back of Josh Wise. Denny Hamlin was about ready to pit and couldn’t get to pit lane as another car was slowing to let Hamlin go by which caused a bottleneck in that area. Wise slowed and Keselowski couldn’t avoid the collision.

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