Harvick not happy with Kenseth after Martinsville wreck: #4-Kevin Harvick put #20-Matt Kenseth on notice at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. Harvick told reporters following the Goody's 500, "He will not win this championship. I can promise you that." On Lap 228, Kenseth bounced off the back of Denny Hamlin, slowed and wheel-hopped, then clipped Harvick and sent the #4 Chevy spinning into the wall in Turn 2. Tony Stewart was also collected in the melee but recovered and finished fourth. Harvick was forced to retire to the garage for repairs and didn't return until 40 laps later. He restarted in 40th, 41 laps off of the pace. Harvick, who started 33rd moved up into the top 10 on Lap 113. When Harvick returned to the track, he brake-checked Kenseth "four or five times" according to the driver of the #20, who added, "he's trying to knock my radiator out."
"I don't blame (Harvick) for feeling that way, honestly," Kenseth said. "It was a mistake - he was an innocent bystander and was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I totally understand how he feels and I totally understand why he would say that. I totally get it. He knows it was a mistake, too, but that doesn't really help him. I don't really blame him. He got taken out of the race for being in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Harvick finished 33rd. Although he tried to take the situation in stride, he was clearly frustrated. "The good thing about this format is you have two more weeks and two race tracks that we can win on," Harvick said. "Everybody was so worried about us starting in the back and we wrecked at the front. Unfortunate."(Motorsport)(10-27-2014)
Craven to remain with ESPN: Former NASCAR Sprint Cup race winner Ricky Craven has agreed to a new contract and will remain with ESPN as NASCAR analyst for SportsCenter and other ESPN news platforms. Craven, who started with ESPN as an analyst in 2008, will make regular appearances in the ESPN studio around NASCAR Sprint Cup races and to analyze breaking news as warranted. ESPN is in its final year of televising live NASCAR racing. "Our news and information platforms will continue to provide NASCAR fans with coverage of the sport and insightful analysis going forward," said Michael Shiffman, senior coordinating producer, SportsCenter. "Ricky Craven has proven to be a valuable voice and analyst and we are very happy that he is remaining part of the ESPN team into the future."
As the 2014 NASCAR season heads toward the finish line, NASCAR fans will see Craven and hear his analysis on SportsCenter on the day before, day of and day after each of the three remaining races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. "I'm completing my seventh year with ESPN and I've been challenged and rewarded," said Craven. "I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience and greatly appreciate the vote of confidence."(ESPN)(10-27-2014)
Oh my.