#20-Matt Kenseth talked to the media Thursday morning at Richmond: What was your reaction to the penalties NASCAR announced yesterday? Do you think they were severe? ‘I think the penalties are grossly unfair. I think its borderline shameful. Theres no argument the part was wrong. They weighed it and it was wrong. However, there is an argument that there certainly was no performance advantage. If you can find any unbiased, reputable, knowledgeable engine-builder and if they saw the facts, what all the rods weighed. The average weight of all the rods was well above the minimum “ 2.5 (grams) above the minimum at least. There was one in there that was way heavy. There was no performance advantage, there was no intent, it was a mistake. JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) had no control over it. Certainly to crush Joe Gibbs like that “ to say they cant win an owners championship with the 20 this year is just, I cant wrap my arms around that, it just blows me away. And the same with Jason Ratcliff (crew chief). I dont feel bad for myself at all, but for Jason and Joe, I just couldnt feel any worse. Theres no more reputable, honest hard-working guys with good reputations more so than those two “ I feel really bad for them.” Do you expect a positive response from the appeals process? ‘I dont know. Ive never been through it so I honestly dont know. Thats the hope, thats why its setup. Youve seen some examples of both. I dont know. Thats what the hope is, thats why its setup. Well just go through that and see what happens and see whatever the final verdict is “ well have to live with that and move on.”(Toyota Racing PR)
