Carolina Panthers' Luke Kuechly gets NASCAR assignment

 

   Luke Kuechly, linebacker for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, will serve as honorary pace car driver for the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

   Kuechly has been the leading tackler for the last two seasons for the Panthers and was the 2013 Associated Press Defensive Player of the year.

   In his rookie season, Kuechly, the ninth overall draft pick out of Boston College, made an immediate impact by leading the NFL in tackles an earning 2012 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

NASCAR penalizes driver Kasey Kahne's crew chief

   Press release

   Kenny Francis, the crew chief for the No. 5 team that competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with driver Kasey Kahne, has been penalized for rules violations committed during qualifying May 3 at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

   The infraction is a P3 level penalty and violates Sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 12-4.3(A)1-c (unapproved added weight and/or weight affixed improperly) of the 2014 rule book.

 

   As a result, Francis has been fined $25,000. The infraction was discovered in post-qualifying inspection.