Harvick and Kahne fined
NASCAR has penalised Nextel Cup stars Kevin Harvick and Kasey Kahne for an end-of-race conflict at Phoenix last weekend. Each has beee fined $US10,000 and placed on probation until the end of the season
The incident is the latest row in a season packed with controversy on and off the track, including a fight on pit road between Tony Stewart's Joe Gibbs Racing crew and Kahne's Evernham team at Chicago, Robby Gordon's deliberate on-track elimination of Greg Biffle at New Hampshire and then the Penske Racing South drivers' recent post-race crash at Martinsville.
The Phoenix incident started after Harvick and Kahne (who makes his Craftsman Truck debut at Darlington this weekend) began bumping on the track toward the end of the race, although neither spun or suffered damage. As the cars steered to pit road after the chequered flag, Harvick turned his car so as to block Kahne's, then got out and began a discussion with Kahne before the rookie got out of his car.
Harvick was pulled away by Kevin Hamlin, crew chief for his RCR team-mate Jeff Burton, and the matter went no further.
The penalties are in line with that recorded against Rusty Wallace at Martinsville. Wallace was fined for bumping Penske Racing South team-mate Ryan Newman's car on the pit lane, apparently in retaliation for a late-race pass Newman had made. The two drivers are still said to be at odds over the issue.
In a separate violation, Tony Eury Sr, crew chief for Dale Earnhardt Jr's DEI Chevrolet, was fined $US2,500 for using a windshield of insufficient thickness (0.25in is the minimum) at Phoenix. The violation was discovered during opening inspection.
Why NASCAR's most resilient driver has landed on his feet at 23XI
In a career that has had many ups and downs, Kurt Busch has been written off many times before. But facing career uncertainty after the sale of Chip Ganassi's NASCAR team, the 2004 Cup champion has found a new berth at Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan's 23XI organisation - which underlines his enduring value
The F1 nearly-man winding back the clock in NASCAR’s European cousin
A multiple F3000 race winner, Marc Goossens was on the precipice of making Formula 1 in the 1990s - but a lack of budget left him without a path to the promised land. Turning to an illustrious racing career in sportscars, Goossens left the endurance circuit to try his hand at racing stock cars - and now calls the NASCAR Euro Series home
Why a British prospect is trying to make it in NASCAR
There has never been a full-time British driver in the NASCAR Cup. But Alex Sedgwick, who is rising through the stock car ranks, wants that to change and could be a trailblazer for European talents to reach the top echelons of the NASCAR ladder
How Earnhardt’s death changed American motorsport
It's 20 years since legendary driver Dale Earnhardt Sr died at the Daytona 500, but the legacy of his crash continues today through the pioneering safety work done by NASCAR
The NASCAR subplots to keep an eye on in 2021
This weekend's Daytona 500 kickstarts a NASCAR Cup season that promises plenty of intrigue courtesy of new owners and a refreshed calendar. Here's what you need to know ahead of the new season
How a second-chance NASCAR ace is rebuilding his career
From a disgraced NASCAR exile, Kyle Larson has been given a shot at redemption by the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports squad. Replacing seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson is no easy billing, but Larson has every intention of repaying the team's faith
Autosport's top 5 NASCAR machines
The American stock car scene is more famous for its close racing and occasional punch-ups, but there have been some fantastic machines too. As part of Autosport's 70th anniversary celebrations in 2020, we picked out five of its best
Why NASCAR's latest second-generation champion is just getting started
Chase Elliott's late charge to the 2020 NASCAR Cup title defied predictions that it would be a Kevin Harvick versus Denny Hamlin showdown. While the two veterans are showing no signs of slowing down, Elliott's triumph was a window into NASCAR's future
