NASCAR fines Ron Hornaday $25,000, docks him 25 points

 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Ron Hornaday Jr. Penalized Following On-Track Incident at Rockingham Speedway

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 17, 2013) – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Ron Hornaday Jr. has been penalized by NASCAR following his involvement in an on-track incident last Sunday at Rockingham Speedway.

Hornaday Jr., driver of the No. 9 truck, was found to have violated Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing. Altercation with another competitor on the race track during a caution period) of the 2013 rule book.

As a result of this violation, Hornaday Jr. has been fined $25,000, docked 25 championship driver points and placed on NASCAR probation until June 12.

Congressman Pittenger also honors NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski

 

  Picture of Mooresville Mayor Miles Atkins, NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski, and Congressman Pittenger at White House ceremony

  WASHINGTON –Today, Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) honored Mooresville resident Brad Keselowski and his Penske Racing team for winning the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Congressman Pittenger hosted a reception at the U.S. Capitol and later joined Keselowski for a ceremony at the White House.

   “NASCAR is a source of entertainment for millions of Americans, but also a source of jobs to thousands of residents in Mooresville and the greater Charlotte region,”said Congressman Pittenger. “We’re proud that the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion calls Mooresville home, and I congratulate Brad Keselowski not just for his championship, but for his commitment to serving the community.”

   In addition to chatting with Brad Keselowski and his race team, Congressman Pittenger used part of the reception to explain the economic impact of motorsports to other members of Congress.

Did Ron Hornaday get away with one at The Rock?

   After a caution had been displayed late in Sunday's NASCAR Truck Series race at Rockingham Speedway, Ron Hornaday intentionally wrecked driver Darrell Wallace Jr., sending him hard into the wall.

   Hornaday's only punishment at the time was to be put at the tail end of the longest line at the next restart. At least one driver in the past in a similar situation - Kyle Busch - was parked and missed two races for the move.

   NASCAR has said it will review the incident but would anything that came out this week make up for not addressing the issue correctly when it happened?

Grandson of Bill France Jr. wins first NASCAR race

  Ben Kennedy captured his first career win in dominant fashion - leading the NAPA Auto Parts 150 wire-to-wire as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East made its inaugural visit to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., on Saturday.   Earlier in the day, Kennedy established himself as the one to beat at the half-mile track in his home state - topping the speed chart in practice and winning the Coors Light Pole Award in qualifying.

   The 21-year-old from Daytona Beach, the grandson of the late NASCAR Chairman Bill France Jr., held off multiple challenges throughout the 150-lap event and maintained command even after his sizeable lead was erased by a late-race caution.

   "It's so cool to come here to Pensacola and win," said Kennedy. "This is a track with so much prestige and this is phenomenal."

   Fifteen-year-old series rookie Gray Gaulding had to settle for second, with John Van Doorn third. Brett Moffitt came home fourth, followed by Kenzie Ruston. Bryon Ortiz, Dylan Kwasniewski, Sergio Pena, Ryan Gifford and Brandon Gdovic completed the top 10.

   Kennedy, the great-grandson of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., got his first win last year in the Euro-Racecar Series in Tours, France. This was his first win in the U.S. and came in his 30th NASCAR K&N Pro Series East start. His previous best finish was third (twice).

NASCAR confiscates parts from both Penske cars

   Both Penske Racing cars my face penalties this week after NASCAR confiscated the rear end housing and other parts from both cars before Saturday night's NRA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

   Both the No. 2 Ford driven by Brad Keselowski and the No. 22 Ford driven by teammate Joey Logano went through pre-race inspection at least twice on Saturday before NASCAR had both teams remove parts from the rear end of both cars.

   So long as both cars still passed inspection, the drivers would assume their respective starting positions for the start of the race.

   Any NASCAR penalties would generally be released by Tuesday.

Jimmie Johnson on the fine line sports walk when it comes to rivalries

   Five-time Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson offered an interesting explanation on Friday to the fine line all of sports must walk between encouraging intense rivalries and promoting a rash of fights and punches.

    Johnson was asked why it was good for NASCAR to take - for the most part - a hands-off approach to rivalries. Here is Johnson's answer:

    "I think rivalries are good. That is the fine line that sports walk. Unfortunately, regardless of sport if it’s someone charging the mound like what happened yesterday to drivers charging other drivers that draws a lot more attention to whatever sport it is. There are a small percentage of people that like that and they want to see punches thrown, but I think in general sports fans like rivalries," Johnson said.

   "We all thrive for that moment. That is kind of a line we walk and where the wave crashes. We want the rivalries, we want heated emotions and we want door banging. I don’t think the fans want a sterile environment they want some trash talking. That is the part we want, but we don’t want broken backs. We don’t want drivers injured issues like that. It’s a fine line that our sport walks and all sports walk.”

Want to ask NASCAR star Denny Hamlin a question?

   Five NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stars will participate in a Q & A session with ticket tholds to the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown on April 25 prior to the race at Richmond International Raceway.

   The Q&A is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. in the Amphitheater and is open to all April 25 ticketholders. Fans can tweet their questions ahead of time to @DHFoundation. Drivers scheduled to participate include: Hamlin (who will not race), Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, Michael Waltrip and Matt Kenseth.

   This season marks the third year the Denny Hamlin Short Track Showdown will run at Richmond. The race, which typically features a dozen NASCAR drivers and celebrities battling on the ¾-mile track with some of the best local Late Model Stock Car drivers, will serve as a fundraiser for the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

 

   In 2012, the Denny Hamlin Foundation committed to a 3-year grant totaling $150,000 for the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR).  Funds from the grant, which are raised through events like this year’s Short Track Showdown, will help accelerate the Denny Hamlin Cystic Fibrosis Research Lab's ability to bring new therapies to cystic fibrosis patients. In addition, the newly established Denny Hamlin Foundation Summer Scholars program will help train the next generation of CF research scientists.

 

   Tickets for the event are general admission and $25. Children 12 and younger are free with a ticketed adult. Tickets include the Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race, which precedes the Short Track Showdown. Call (866) 455-7223 to purchase tickets.