Why Does Kenseth Get Penalized While Logano Gets Off Free?

I don’t even care if I tell you I have a bias on this one right up front.

So what I’m lead to believe from Jayski’s coverage of the Matt vs. Joey feud is that some intentional wrecks are suddenly not ok while other wrecks that are just as intentional are fine.

And what about all the other guys who intentionally wrecked people but were not penalized?

Where’s the consistency in all this?

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Jayski does a great job covering this stuff.

  • Logano comments on Kenseth’s penalty: #22-Joey Logano said NASCAR made the right decision to suspend #20-Matt Kenseth two races for wrecking him at Martinsville Speedway because series officials “needed to regain control of our sport.” “Obviously, they put their foot down,” Logano told [NBC’s Tony] DiZinno. “I feel like it’s a good thing. They needed to regain control of our sport. I feel like it’s a good direction and the right thing to do.”
    Logano also reaffirmed that his contact with Kenseth at Kansas was different from what happened at Martinsville. At Kansas, they were racing for the lead in the final laps. At Martinsville, Kenseth was 10 laps down and Logano led with 45 laps left. “If I look at Kansas, it’s a racing thing,” Logano told NASCAR Talk. “If I look at the way we were racing each other, he threw some blocks, I understand that. The third one, I was on the inside, I didn’t back out. There’s really not much for me to say to him after that. That was kind of what happened. And he knows what happened. He’s a smart enough race car driver to know what happened. Whatever happened at Martinsville was, apparently to NASCAR, unacceptable.”
    Both Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. said this week that they believe Logano didn’t help himself with comments he made after the Kansas race, saying that further ignited the situation with Kenseth and played a role in Kenseth’s desire for retaliation. Logano said he had not heard what Gordon or Earnhardt said, but defended himself. “I think this is a test of your character and a test of your faith,” Logano said. “You need to stay true to your character in these types of situations and the type of person you are. It’s an amazing opportunity is the way I look at it. We have an opportunity right now to win a championship. “Our minds are focused on doing that. We can be the great team we know we are. This isn’t going to shut us down. We’re way stronger than that. I’m excited to get to Texas. I’m excited to get back on the track and give it our best shot.”(NBC Sports)(11-4-2015)

  • Penalty Announcement: Kenseth suspended 2 races; Patrick fined UPDATES: Matt Kenseth , the driver of the #20 car, has been penalized for an infraction that occurred during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Kenseth has been suspended from NASCAR through the completion of the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship events and placed on NASCAR probation for a six-month period following issuance of the penalty notice.
    “Based upon our extensive review, we have concluded that the #20 car driver, who is no longer in the Chase, intentionally wrecked the #22 car driver, a Chase-eligible competitor who was leading the race at the time,”said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The #20 car was nine laps down, and eliminated the #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.”
    Danica Patrick, the driver of the #10 car, has been penalized for an infraction that also took place during the Nov. 1 race at Martinsville Speedway. This is a Behavioral Penalty (Sections 12.1, 12.8). Patrick has been fined $50,000, assessed with the loss of 25 series championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.(NASCAR)(11-3-2015)
    UPDATE: Joe Gibbs Racing announces today that driver Matt Kenseth will appeal the penalty issued by NASCAR. The appeal will challenge the severity of the penalty which is believed to be inconsistent with previous penalties for similar on-track incidents. There will be no further comments from JGR personnel during he appear process.(JGR)
    UPDATE 2: JGR’s appeal will be expedited, meaning Kenseth’s case will be heard by a three-person panel this week before Sunday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway. If he loses, he can make a plea to Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss. While Kenseth appeals the suspension, it can be deferred at NASCAR’s discretion. Depending on the timing of the appeal hearings, that means Kenseth could be driving his #20 Toyota in practice or qualifying at Texas this weekend in advance of Sunday’s race. The appeal likely would be settled before then, however.(NBC Sports)
    AND: Kenseth currently has 571 consecutive Sprint Cup starts, second only to Jeff Gordon’s 794. He has run every race since the beginning of the 2000 season.
    UPDATE 3: The National Motorsports Appeals Panel has scheduled Kenseth’s expedited appeal of his NASCAR penalty for 9:00am/et Thursday in Concord, NC.(11-3-2015)

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