Matt Kenseth’s Team Faces Major Penalties After Kansas Win

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013  Photo - Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Matt Kenseth, driver of the #20 The Home Depot/Husky Toyota, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 400 at Kansas Speedway on April 21, 2013
Photo – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Another élite organization is facing major penalties Wednesday. The Associated Press first reported that Matt Kenseth’s engine from his winning car at Kansas did not pass NASCAR‘s standards at the Research and Development Center.

The AP reported early Wednesday that one connecting rod did not meet minimum weight. Joe Gibbs Racing gets their engines from Toyota Racing Development out of Costa Mesa, California. Joe Gibbs Racing does not make their own engines. The part that failed inspection at the R&D Center may not have given Kenseth any advantage on Sunday when he won in Kansas. But NASCAR will still hold the 20 team responsible for the failed part. Continue reading

Dodge Organizing for a Return to NASCAR

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with a burnout after winning the series championship for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead - November 18, 2012   Photo - Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates with a burnout after winning the series championship for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Homestead – November 18, 2012
Photo – Todd Warshaw/Getty Images

Dodge is organizing for a return back to NASCAR, perhaps sooner than expected

Promising news is emerging that may have NASCAR and Dodge fans excited. Funding for the Dodge program in NASCAR has been approved says, Ralph Gilles.

Ray Alexander first reported that Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of the SRT Brand and Senior Vice President of Design at Chrysler Group LLC, said that NASCAR funding is approved by Chrysler but lack of personnel played a large role in Dodge’s exit from the sport. Personnel needed for Dodge’s NASCAR program includes engine builders, as well as a winning and championship contending team. But Gilles added, Chrysler is already talking to potential teams to bring back Dodge in the sport..

 

Possible teams that could be part of a Dodge return to NASCAR are uncertain. Chrysler tried to find potential teams to stay in the sport last season after Penske Racing announced that they would be switching to Ford. Chrysler was unable to find a suitable team that met their criteria and decided to back out of NASCAR at the end of the 2012 season.

A possible suitor is, Richard Petty Motorsports, as they have been running slightly better in 2013, including three straight top-ten performances between the No. 9 and No. 43 the past three weeks. Only Dodge knows exactly the criteria they are looking for in a potential team.

Ralph Gilles did not mention when Chrysler plans to have a Dodge back in the Sprint Cup field. Gilles also did not mention any additions to personnel for the NASCAR program at this time. But the recent news is a move in the right direction for Dodge’s return and any sign is better than no sign.

More potential news of a return for Dodge may come as the summer months draw closer and teams finalize deals for 2014. It is also possible for Dodge to plan a return that will come after 2014, only time will tell the rest of this story.

 

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Hendrick Motorsports Releases Statement After MIT Shooting

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The Boston Marathon bombings have been tough for the whole nation to understand this week. Last night’s shootings and death of Sean Collier makes it more real. Sean Collier’s death has hit the NASCAR community in-particular.

Andrew Collier is an employee of Hendrick Motorsports, and Sean Collier’s brother. Sean Collier was shot and killed Thursday night at MIT after law enforcement chased and fired on the brothers, suspected as behind the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Continue reading

Penske Racing Penalized by NASCAR

Crew members work on the rear end of Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Ford prior to the start of Saturday night's NRA 500.  Photo - Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway

Crew members work on the rear end of Brad Keselowski‘s No. 2 Ford prior to the start of Saturday night’s NRA 500.
Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway

The punishment has been dealt to the No. 2 & 22 teams of Penske Racing after their actions at Texas Motor Speedway. Both crew chiefs, Paul Wolfe and Todd Gordon, have been suspended and fined. Drivers, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski, have also been penalized after the teams’ actions at Texas.

The penalties handed down to Penske Racing from NASCAR involves drivers and crew. Saturday, NASCAR confiscated the rear-end housing off both the No. 2 and 22 cars hours before the race. According to NASCAR, the rules broken by Penske Racing were in violation of section 12-1; 12-4J and 20-12. Continue reading

Chip Ganassi To Sell Cup Team? To John Menard?

L-R Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray Photo - Sean Gardner/Getty Images

L-R Juan Pablo Montoya and Jamie McMurray
Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

The big news out of Thursday’s test day at Texas Motor Speedway is that Chip Ganassi could be selling his Sprint Cup team to a Menard. That is John Menard, a long-time racer and supporter in the Sprint Cup Series.

It is no secret that Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has struggled in recent years. Juan Pablo Montoya’s top-ten last week at Martinsville was his first since June of last season at Michigan. Neither Jamie McMurray or JPM have battled for wins since 2010 when McMurray won the Daytona 500 and at Indianapolis. The last time an EGR team made the Chase was in 2009 with JPM. Continue reading