NASCAR fines Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart; Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin escape penalties

Brad Keselowski and Tony Stewart were penalized for their involvement in incidents following Saturday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR fined Keselowski $50,000, while Stewart was docked $25,000. Each driver was placed on probation through Nov. 12 (four races).

Both Keselowski and Stewart received sanctions for hitting a competitor on pit road after the conclusion of the Bank of the America 500. After Keselowski ran into Matt Kenseth on pit road he also struck Stewart’s car, who then backed up and slammed into the nose of Keselowski’s Ford.

Neither Kenseth nor Denny Hamlin was penalized for their actions. Teammates at Joe Gibbs Racing, Kenseth and Hamlin were upset with Keselowski for separate transgressions.

Kenseth attempted to tackle Keselowski in the garage post-race and appeared to throw a punch, which didn’t connect and NASCAR couldn’t corroborate. Hamlin brake-checked Keselowski in Turn 3 on the cool-down lap.

“These penalties are about maintaining a safe environment following the race,” said Robin Pemberton, NASCAR senior vice president, competition and racing development. “We knew that the new Chase format was likely going to raise the intensity level and we want our drivers to continue to be themselves. However, the safety of our drivers, crew members, officials, and workers is paramount and we will react when that safety could be compromised.”

Keselowski said Saturday he was retaliating from a run-in with Kenseth the two had earlier in the night and against Hamlin for the brake-check. Kenseth took offense because Keselowski struck him after he had removed his seatbelts and head-and-neck restraint device.

“I figure if we’re going to play car wars under the yellow and after the race, I’m going to play, too,” Keselowski said. “Those guys can dish it out and they can’t take it. I gave it back to them and they want to fight.”

Said Kenseth: “If he wants to come up and talk about it like a man, go do that. To wreck somebody on the race track and come down pit road with other cars and people standing around and my seatbelts off and drive in the side of me is inexcusable. There’s no excuse for that.”

Hamlin attempted to confront Keselowski in the garage once he got out of is his car, but was restrained by crew members.

“(Keselowski) just ran right into us,” Hamlin said. “I just showed my displeasure on the cool down lap. Then on pit road, he ran into the 20 (Kenseth) and 14 (Stewart). Then he ran into us again. Then he was doing burnouts in the garage area. He was just out of control.”