Kenseth intentionally wrecking Logano joins list of infamous NASCAR moves
NASCAR could announce a decision Tuesday on whether to issue penalties for rough driving incidents in Sunday's Martinsville Speedway race. How officials will rule is anyone's guess, but here's a look at some notable on-track incidents from the past decade and what NASCAR did -- or didn't do -- about them.
RACE: Martinsville Speedway, Sunday
WHAT HAPPENED: Matt Kenseth waited for Joey Logano to pass him, then drove into Turn 1 and never lifted until Logano’s car was smashed against the wall.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: To be announced Tuesday.
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RACE: Martinsville Speedway, Sunday
WHAT HAPPENED: Danica Patrick was moved out of the groove by David Gilliland, then later wrecked him and tried to dive at him again as he drove past following the crash.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: To be announced Tuesday.
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RACE: Talladega Superspeedway, October 2015
WHAT HAPPENED: Kevin Harvick turned right and crashed into Trevor Bayne on the restart of an overtime finish, triggering an 11-car crash to end the race.
VERDICT: Unclear.
NASCAR REACTION: None.
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RACE: Kansas Speedway, October 2015
WHAT HAPPENED: While racing for the lead, Matt Kenseth blocked Joey Logano twice and Logano moved Kenseth out of the way, sending him spinning.
VERDICT: Racing incident.
NASCAR REACTION: NASCAR chairman Brian France praised Logano’s move, calling it “quintessential NASCAR.”
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RACE: Phoenix International Raceway, November 2014
WHAT HAPPENED: Ryan Newman needed one more point to advance to the championship race, so he shoved past Kyle Larson on the final lap.
VERDICT: Intentional, but viewed as good racing.
NASCAR REACTION: None. France praised Newman’s move.
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RACE: Texas Motor Speedway, November 2014
WHAT HAPPENED: On a late restart, Brad Keselowski tried to go three-wide for the lead and instead made contact with Jeff Gordon’s tire, which damaged the latter’s championship hopes.
VERDICT: Racing incident.
NASCAR REACTION: None. France said it was “exactly what I would expect any driver” to do with that much on the line.
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RACE: Auto Club Speedway, March 2013
WHAT HAPPENED: While racing side-by-side for the win on the last lap, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin touched and Hamlin ended up crashing into the inside wall – an accident which broke his back.
VERDICT: Racing incident.
NASCAR REACTION: None.
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RACE: Phoenix International Raceway, Nov. 2012
WHAT HAPPENED: Jeff Gordon wrecked Clint Bowyer, still mathematically alive in championship contention, in retaliation for several incidents that stretched back to March of that season.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: Gordon was fined $100,000, docked 25 points and placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
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RACE: Phoenix International Raceway, November 2011
WHAT HAPPENED: Brian Vickers cleaned out Matt Kenseth after the two had clashed several times the prior month in a race at Martinsville Speedway.
VERDICT: Likely intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: None.
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RACE: Texas Motor Speedway, Nov. 2011 (Camping World Truck Series)
WHAT HAPPENED: Kyle Busch wrecked championship contender Ron Hornaday while under caution.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: Busch was parked for that weekend’s Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series races, fined $50,000 and placed on probation for the rest of the season.
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RACE: Gateway Motorsports Park, July 2010 (Xfinity Series)
WHAT HAPPENED: After earlier contact between the drivers, Carl Edwards spun Brad Keselowski coming to the finish line to win the race.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: Edwards was docked 60 Xfinity Series points (under the old points system), fined $25,000 and placed on probation for the rest of the season, along with Keselowski.
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RACE: Atlanta Motor Speedway, March 2010
WHAT HAPPENED: Carl Edwards spun Brad Keselowski, who then went airborne and flipped.
VERDICT: Semi-intentional. Edwards meant to spin Keselowski, but not flip him.
NASCAR REACTION: Edwards received probation for three races.
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RACE: Homestead-Miami Speedway, November 2009
WHAT HAPPENED: Juan Pablo Montoya put Tony Stewart in the wall after two earlier racing incidents.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: Montoya received a two-lap penalty for aggressive driving.
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RACE: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, September 2005
WHAT HAPPENED: After being wrecked by Kyle Busch, Kasey Kahne waited in his wrecked car for Busch to pass him and then crashed into him under caution.
VERDICT: Intentional.
NASCAR REACTION: Kahne was fined $25,000 and docked 25 points (under the old points system).
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