NASCAR to drivers: Revenge-style crashes forbidden – SportingNews.com

Call it the Texas corollary to the Sprint Cup doctrine. NASCAR officials told drivers on Sunday they don’t want to see another instance of retaliation at Sunday’s AAA Texas 500.

Delivered at the pre-race driver’s meeting, the mandate comes after Matt Kenseth wrecked Joey Logano at Martinsville. It clarifies NASCAR’s stance that hard racing is desired, but within limits.

MORE: Must-win race at Texas | Word of weekend: weepers | Green flag: 2:16 p.m. ET

Kenseth drew a two-race suspension, beginning this week, for his action at Martinsville. Nine laps down, he got behind Logano’s car and shoved it into the wall. Logano was leading the race and building his case as favorite to win for the Sprint Cup. Kenseth was no longer in the Chase, in large part because Logano had caused him to spin out at Kansas two weeks earlier.

“What happened in Martinsville crossed the line and we reacted.” – @odsteve https://t.co/5XzR1Psw2C

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 8, 2015

Sunday is the first of Kenseth’s two banishments. Erik Jones is replacing him in the No. 20 car for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Also Sunday: Three Gibbs cars were flagged during inspection, forcing the team to replace splitters. Splitter problems are not uncommon; several teams have had to replace them this season. The front-end component below a car’s bumper helps generate downforce and improves traction at high speeds.

The cars are driven by Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards, who are in the Chase for the Sprint Cup; and Denny Hamlin. None was penalized.

However, Performance Radio Network was reporting that NASCAR confiscated the splitters and sent them for technical review. Gibbs could be facing penalties, PRN reported.

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Sunday’s orders came from NASCAR vice president Steve O’Donnell during the standard pre-race drivers meeting. Also announced: a competition caution on Lap 25 to assess track conditions.

Speedway officials spent the weekend battled “weepers,” places where moisture seeped through the pavement. They were at work again Sunday morning.

Saturday’s racing activities at Texas Motor Speedway near Fort Worth was limited because of the moisture.