Kenseth Hit with Stiff Penalty Hard Work Pays
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1106_GDP_FRI_CLASS_Classifieds 11/5/2015 4:36 PM Page B7 gwinnettdailypost.comgwinnettdailypost.com FRIDAY, NOVEMBERFRIDAY, NOV E6,M B2015ER 6, 20 1•5 •7 BB7 Kenseth hit with stiff penalty Hard work pays BY JONATHAN INGRAM plus SAFER barriers. So, at Kansas — he likely must intent and that his actions The Sports Xchange officials turned drivers win in Texas or Phoenix to did not seem out of the off for Martinez loose when it came to get into the next, and final, ordinary given a lack of There was good news contact during races. round. conclusive evidence. So BY REID SPENCER performs the same role for this week in NASCAR When Logano summar- Has NASCAR now put NASCAR’s current sus- The Sports Xchange Suarez’ No. 51 Kyle Busch and then there was the ily plowed into Kenseth at the Big Chill on drivers pension does not suspend Motorsports Truck Series other news. the Kansas Speedway in doing everything within the specter of drivers When Pedro Martinez team. The good news was that Round 2 of the Chase, the their power to win a doing whatever it takes to moved from San Antonio, As Suarez was learning four-time champion Jeff ensuring discussion didn’t race in the closing laps survive the Chase. Texas, to his new home in English, Martinez was part Gordon has advanced to mention safety very often, — when it’s generally Another conclusion is Mooresville, N.C., NAS- of his support group. the final round of the Chase although the accident took understood by drivers that obvious: the pressure on CAR racing was the last of “There’s only a few His- for the NASCAR Sprint place at 180 mph. Rather, the only rules are the ones drivers is enormous under his concerns. panics in the sport,” said Cup at the Homestead- the argument turned on they make and enforce the new Chase format, The 8-year-old rising Martinez, who like Suarez Miami Speedway in three whether Logano intention- themselves? young and old alike. The fourth-grader was more is a product of NASCAR’s weeks. No matter who else ally hit Kenseth and if so NASCAR fined Gordon usually mild-mannered interested in other sports, Drive for Diversity pro- joins the popular Gordon, what warrants a driver in dollars and points after and well disciplined Kens- and those interests carried gram. “I understand how set to retire at the end of the ramming the rear bumper a similar payback of Clint eth blew up during the him though South Iredell it’s hard for him. There’s season, the Championship of the leader? Bowyer in 2012, which Chase last year when he High School as a soccer a language barrier there, round has gained a special NASCAR officials resulted from an incident headlocked Brad Kesel- player, wrestler and boxer. just the way you have to aura as he tries to win a decided it was hard rac- earlier in that season at owski in the garage after It wasn’t until friends explain stuff to the crew title under the Chase format ing. Kenseth ultimately Martinsville where Bowyer the Charlotte race and persuaded him to attend chief. I think the hardest for the first time. decided Logano didn’t made a bizarre banzai again this year at Mar- a race at Charlotte Motor part is the language bar - The other news has also deserve to be the cham- attempt at race’s end that tinsville after contact with Speedway that Martinez rier and having to explain enjoyed widespread circu- pion under such circum- ruined Gordon’s chances Keselowski that led to first became acquainted yourself really well.” lation: former champion stances and paid him back for victory. That decision dumping Logano into the with NASCAR. And then Eduardo “Eddie” Tro - Matt Kenseth has been at Martinsville. made sense given Bowyer’s wall a few laps later. he was hooked. conis, a native of Mexico, suspended for two races The opinion here is extreme takeover attempt, At Talladega, when “What I liked about it also was a vital part of for intentionally crashing that Logano might have maybe, but it was not much Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost to was the competition, the Suarez’ early success, leader Joey Logano at the avoided the fiasco had he different than Logano ef- Logano by about a foot adrenaline rush,” Martinez because he could com- Martinsville, Va., race, acknowledged he hit Kens- fectively ending Kenseth’s and therefore failed to told the NASCAR Wire municate with the driver in thus enabling Gordon to eth intentionally, instead title hopes at Kansas. advance to Round 3, he Service in advance of his Spanish. win. The Joe Gibbs Racing of couching it under “hard There’s the real rub: almost seemed relieved to home race this weekend at “They really wanted me driver lost his initial appeal racing.” He could be for- NASCAR more or less let the Chase pressure fall Texas Motor Speedway. to be a part of his team on Thursday and NASCAR given for getting frustrated condoned Logano tak- by the wayside. He decided to become a this year — be a coach, Chief Appellate Officer that Kenseth made it so ing Kenseth — one of his Prior to the start of the part of it. give a little advice … and Bryan Moss upheld the difficult to pass him. And chief competitors — out Chase in Chicago, nearly Martinez used his when he had a hard time verdict later in the day. he could be forgiven for of the title hunt. What’s every one of the 16 eligi- athletic ability to develop understanding because There are a multitude not waiting for another op- to prevent other drivers in ble drivers who had spent skills as a tire-changer. He of the language barrier,” of implications for what portunity — given that he the future from being the 26 races valiantly trying was a quick study, and he said Troconis, who served is a landmark action by may well have been faster first one to get his licks in, to get into the playoffs found a way to translate his as a race engineer for the NASCAR in an attempt to — in the final five laps. then let officials throw the talked about the pressure background in other sports No. 51 team earlier this preserve the integrity of Instead, Logano didn’t flag on the second incident once they started. Harvick, into his new vocation. season. the Chase’s new format, man up and offer at least because it’s easier to see the defending champ, “The soccer part is the “At the beginning of the which has three elimina- some remorse and instead the payback intent? characterizes the current footwork,” Martinez said. year, he spoke very little tion rounds followed by a acted the role of entitled That would be espe- Chase format as a matter “The wrestling is the con- English, but now he can final championship race. young star, an image that cially true of a driver in of survival. centration and how well carry himself. When he Is this the end of “Boys has dogged his career. Logano’s position. He Although he was not you prepare for the week- was trying to express what Have At It,” a slogan Logano had an opportu- had already won a race in likely to catch Gordon for a end, and then the boxing the car was doing, that’s introduced by NASCAR nity to have it both ways — Round 2 and had nothing record number of consecu- skills are just your hand- what I was there for.” officials several seasons to behave like a champion to lose by taking Kenseth tive starts, Kenseth’s streak eye coordination basically Now that Suarez has ago after the incessant while serving notice that out of contention. will end at 577 races. — when you change tires improved his English- meddling of officials over drivers risked consequences There was a lot of Gordon, meanwhile, will and you hit the lug nuts.” language proficiency driver contact had begun if they incessantly blocked discussion about skulldug- continue building on his And Martinez’ Hispanic dramatically, Troconis to stymie the racing? him. As it was, Logano gery after the Talladega remarkable record of 794 background also proved has moved on to a crew The oft-quoted phrase never did prove he had the Superspeedway round, straight starts and having useful, when Mexican driv- chief’s role with KBM’s delivered by Robin Pem- faster car. Currently last when many suggested that never missed a single start er Daniel Suarez advanced No. 54 Toyota, with driv- berton was the sanctioning among the eight remaining Kevin Harvick intention- in his Sprint Cup career. to the NASCAR Xfinity ers Christopher Bell and body’s way of confirming drivers in points headed ally caused a wreck on the He now has his sights and Camping World Truck Gray Gaulding. But he still a new era of safety had into Sunday’s race at the final restart to advance his set on start number 797 Series. Though Martinez lends engineering support been established with the Texas Motor Speedway, ability to make it to Round at Homestead, where he currently changes tires to the No. 51 team, and he Car of Tomorrow, new Logano is in the precise cir- 3. NASCAR decided it likely will have to win the for BK Racing in the remains close with Suarez seats and head restraints cumstances as Kenseth was could not judge Harvick’s race to win the title. Sprint Cup Series, he also and Martinez.