Both NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon has avoided penalty from NASCAR after a fight that erupted after the second post-race fight in this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup took place Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway.
The race ruckus happened when Keselowski's move to pass Gordon entering turn one on lap 336 of the 341 lap race. Keselowski moved to the middle of the track to go inside Gordon, who restarted on the outside line in second, and the outside of Jimmie Johnson, the race leader. As Keselowski moved to the open space, Gordon came down, and the two drivers slammed into each other.
Because of the incident, NASCAR has suspended three Hendrick crew members for six races for being ''involved in a post-race physical altercation'' and fined them each $25,000. There is an additional fourth Hendrick crew member who was fined $10,000 and suspended for three races for the same offense.
From Gordon's team, crew chief Alan Gustafson and Kasey Kahne crew chief Kenny Francis were each fined $50,000 and placed on probation for six races because ''the crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members.''
NASCAR senior vice president of competition Robin Pemberton was not all too happy with the incident. They had reviewed the happening and said that NASCAR has "identified several crew members who crossed the line with their actions, specifically punching others."
Pemberton says "A NASCAR championship is at stake, but we can't allow behavior that crosses the line to go unchecked, particularly when it puts others in harm's way."
Hendrick team owner Rick Hendrick has release a statement following the fight saying "Emotions run high when you're racing for a championship, and that's exciting for our fans and everyone involved with the sport. But there's a line the competitors need to be cognizant of, and we understand that."
While Brad Penske is supportive of Keselowski saying his driver did not do anything wrong and that he rather race the excitement in the competition.
In a statement released by Penske it says "Brad Keselowski is a champion who competes to win in every race, which is what I expect of him. While the actions by others following the race in Texas were unfortunate, Brad has my 100 percent support as we now move on to Phoenix for the next stage of the NASCAR championship."
