HOMESTEAD, Fla. — NASCAR chairman Brian France defended the policy of fining drivers who make critical comments about the series, and said Friday he saw no benefit in making those penalties public.
“Look, don’t panic over this,” France said. “We’ll look at it over the offseason. If we need to change it, we’ll change it. Not a big deal.”
The Associated Press on Thursday reported that Brad Keselowski was fined $25,000 for critical comments made last week about NASCAR’s move to fuel injection next season. It marks at least four times in two years that drivers have been fined for comments and NASCAR has not announced them.
This latest incident has overshadowed NASCAR’s championship weekend, which was being celebrated for the title fight between Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart before word of Keselowski’s fine spread.
Meanwhile, rain washed out two practice sessions for NASCAR’s Sprint Cup season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The segments were postponed until this morning, meaning Cup drivers will have 2 1/2 hours of practice before qualifying for Sunday’s Ford 400.
• Austin Dillon, the 21-year-old grandson of NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, finished 10th in the Truck Series finale at Homestead — good enough to become the youngest champion in series history. Johnny Sauter won the rain-shortened race, holding off Denny Hamlin before the final caution dropped.
Margarito must undergo eye exam before Cotto bout
LOS ANGELES — The New York State Athletic Commission ordered a commission-authorized eye doctor to examine Antonio Margarito‘s right eye, raising doubts about whether he would be issued a boxing license for his scheduled rematch against Miguel Cotto on Dec. 3 at Madison Square Garden. Promoter Bob Arum and others close to the fight have discussed moving the junior middleweight championship bout from New York to Denver, Texas, Arizona or Mississippi.
Choi leads Titleholders
ORLANDO, Fla. — Na Yeon Choi shot a 1-under-par 71 in swirling wind to take a one-shot, second-round lead over Sandra Gal (69—138) at the LPGA Tour’s season-ending Titleholders.
• Jeff Freeman won the Champions Tour National Qualifying Tournament, shooting his fourth straight 5-under 66 for a four-stroke victory over Castle Rock’s Gary Hallberg (70—268) and Canadian Jim Rutledge (68) in Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Jason Kokrak shot a 3-under 69 for a share of the second-round lead with Kyle Thompson (70—134) in the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach (Calif.) Invitational.
Footnotes.
Italy retained the women’s World Cup volleyball title after the United States was swept 29-27, 25-23, 25-18 by Japan in the last match of the tournament in Tokyo. The Americans finished second.
• Connecticut freshman point guard Ryan Boat- right has been suspended six games for receiving improper benefits.
