NASCAR reacts to the finish between Logano and Truex at Martinsville Speedway

NASCAR is a contact sport

Joey Logano and Matt Kenseth crinkled all the fenders on the sprint to the finish line off the final corner at Martinsville Speedway. Logano put the bumper to Truex, drove under him and went on to pick up the win as Truex tried to collect his out of control race car.

The Logano fans loved it. The Truex fans hated it. But, everybody in that place got their money’s worth.

How does NASCAR react to the finish at Martinsville Speedway?

“I think our fans saw exactly what NASCAR is about,” NASCAR VP of Officiating and Technical Inspection, Elton Sawyer explained to ‘The Morning Drive’ via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“It is a contact sport. I think Joey said it best when the race was over, ‘It’s about Miami.’ ”

“We didn’t see anything from the tower from either driver that would indicate that a driver did anything that we would consider ‘crossing the line.’ They know where that line is. They were right there at it.”

“They competed hard. I think we saw what NASCAR racing is all about. That’s our DNA and we delivered on that.”

Joey Logano leads Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Martin Truex Jr, Kevin Harvick and CHase Elliott at Martinsville Speedway - NASCAR
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 28: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, leads a pack of cars during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 28, 2018 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Martinsville Speedway is a long race. The 500 lap event tends to have a few long green flag runs during the course of the event. But, more times than not in recent events, the ending is filled with drama.

“Overall, great side by side racing. We saw fierce competition. We saw some strategy, long-runs and short-runs,” Sawyer continued.

Right after a restart, the #2 car was fast. Then, he would fade a little bit. It looked like the #11 car might have had one of the better cars on the long run.”

“We ended up with Martin and Joey there, showing our fans exactly what we’re about. I don’t think we can be more excited about the end of the event.”

Joey Logano vs Matt Kenseth at Matinsville Speedway
Joey Logano vs Matt Kenseth at Matinsville Speedway

Matt Kenseth vs Joey Logano

There’s a fine line between exciting racing and going too far. A recent case of stepping over the line happened back in 2015.

Ironically, Joey Logano put the bumper to Matt Kenseth for the win and a playoff spot at Kansas Speedway. Weeks later, Joey Logano was in the lead at Martinsville Speedway. Kenseth was involved in a crash with Logano’s teammate, Brad Keselowski.

Kenseth went to the pits to make repairs on his machine. He re-entered the track, multiple laps down. As Logano came around on the outside to lap him, Kenseth turned right and put the leader in the wall.

It was payback for the weeks prior at Kansas Speedway. It’s tough for the sanction to make these calls but as the end of the day, rough driving is usually a judgement call. In that situation, NASCAR reacted to that incident sending a clear message of where the line is.

Related: Joey Logano vs Matt Kenseth At Martinsville Speedway (VIDEO)

NASCAR Suspends Matt Kenseth for Crashing Joey Logano at Martinsville Speedway
Matt Kenseth who was multiple laps down, spins the race leader Joey Logano

NASCAR penalty to Matt Kenseth

Matt Kenseth was suspended by NASCAR following his retaliation at martinsville Speedway. It was ruled a behavioral penalty, in violation of Sections 12.1 and 12.8 in the rule book.

Kenseth was suspended for two races and placed on probation for six months. The team appealed the penalty. It was upheld.

“Based upon our extensive review, we have concluded that the No. 20 car driver, who is no longer in the Chase, intentionally wrecked the No. 22 car driver, a Chase-eligible competitor who was leading the race at the time,” Steve O’Donnell, the NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer explained back in 2015.

“The No. 20 car was nine laps down, and eliminated the No. 22 car’s opportunity to continue to compete in the race.”

“Additionally, we factored aspects of safety into our decision, and also the fact that the new Chase elimination format puts a premium on each and every race. These actions have no place in NASCAR,” O’Donnell concluded in 2015.

Related: NASCAR CEO Brian France speaks on Matt Kenseth

More

Matt Kenseth Penalty Upheld by National Motorsports Panel (2015)

NASCAR Executives explain the reason For Matt Kenseth’s suspension (2015)

Martin Truex Jr called the move by Joey Logano a ‘cheap shot’; Roger Penske disagrees

NASCAR community reacts to the move by Joey Logano

Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr comment after the race at Martinsville Speedway

Martinsville Speedway: Race Results (October 28, 2018)

Truex is tired of getting run over by his fellow NASCAR competitors

Jimmie Johnson had to get special permission from NASCAR to pull the prank on Furniture Row Racing

Kyle Busch vs Martin Truex Jr crew confrontation at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (VIDEO)

Chase Elliott vs Denny Hamlin at Martinsville Speedway (Video)

Denny Hamlin vs Chase Elliott at ISM Raceway (Video)

Links

Joey Logano | Martin Truex Jr | Martinsville Speedway | NASCAR

Categories

Tags