Prior to Saturday’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, NASCAR confiscated rear-end housing parts and pieces from both Penske Racing entries and forced the organization to make changes to their suspensions.
2013 NRA 500: Brad Keselowski questions NASCAR, says No. 2 team is “targeted”
Following the confiscation of some illegal parts, an incensed Brad Keselowski defended his Penske Racing team and said NASCAR is “targeting” the defending Sprint Cup Series champions.
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
As a result, the cars of Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano were in scramble mode in the moments leading up to the start of the NRA 500 and there was question whether Logano would actually make it onto the track.
Both drivers did make the start, however, and raced their way to top-ten finishes -- Logano finished fifth and Keselowski ninth.
But according to ESPN.com, afterward, Keselowski had some very pointed words for NASCAR and the chaos that unfolded beforehand during technical inspection.
“I have one good thing to say,” Keselowski said. “That’s my team and effort they put in today in fighting back with the absolute bull that’s been the last seven days in this garage area. The things I’ve seen over the last seven days have me questioning everything that I believe in, and I’m not happy about it. I don’t have anything positive to say and I probably should just leave it at that.”
Texas wasn’t the first time Keselowski’s team has run afoul of NASCAR recently.
Keselowski barely made it out on the track for his qualifying lap last week at Martinsville as his car was delayed in inspection. Then in the race a borderline penalty was called on him when his tire appeared to be outside his pit box.
Replays were inconclusive, but by all appearances it was a questionable call at best.
These incidents made the defending Sprint Cup Series champion question whether his team was being targeted.
“There’s so much stuff going on,” Keselowski said according to ESPN.com. ”... I could tell you there’s nobody, no team in this garage with the integrity of the 2 team. And the way we’ve been treated over the last seven days is absolutely shameful.
“I feel like we’ve been targeted over the last seven days more than I’ve ever seen a team targeted. ... We’re not going to take it. We’re not going to be treated this way.”
He wouldn’t elaborate when asked why the Penske team was being scrutinized by NASCAR.
NASCAR will announce any penalties for the rules infraction likely Monday or Tuesday. In similar instances, the sanctioning body typically docks points from the offending team and suspends the crew chief for up to six weeks.
And it is that possible suspension of his crew chief, Paul Wolfe, which has Keselowski concerned the most.
“I’m very worried about losing my crew chief, Paul Wolfe,” Keselowski said. “But I tell you I’ve got one of best owners (Roger Penske) in the garage and I’m going to be first one at his desk telling him if anything happens. We’ll both be in a meeting with anybody and everybody who’ll listen.”
More from SB Nation:
See More:
