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A16 sports
Tuesday 29 March 2022
NASCAR must reveal Keselowski's massive infraction

By JENNA FRYER NASCAR rewrote its penalty
AP Auto Racing Writer system ahead of the Next
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — There Gen debut to warn it won't
is a problem with NASCAR be messing around when it
and its sport-transforming comes to the car. In addi-
new racecar. tion to the points penalty,
We know NASCAR found Keselowski's crew chief was
that RFK Racing had made suspended four races and
an illegal modification to a fined $100,000. And, should
vendor-supplied spec part Keselowski somehow re-
for the car. NASCAR then cover to still make the play-
buried Brad Keselowski and offs, he'll be docked 10
his team with season-crip- playoff points at the start of
pling penalties to appar- the championship stretch.
ently make it crystal clear Marks and the owners of
the series is serious about its Spire Motorsports both told
Next Gen car. AP their employees have
What we don't know: been told they will be fired
What the No. 6 team has if they play outside the
been accused of doing or rules. Trackhouse and Spire
where it was trying to gain are two of the small start-
an advantage. NASCAR Brad Keselowski steers his car through Turn 5 during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series auto up new teams benefitting
hasn't publicized what it race at Circuit of the Americas, Saturday, March 26, 2022, in Austin, Texas. most from the Next Gen.
found during a "teardown" Associated Press "I think if you ask everybody
inspection last week at its in the garage, we'd all like
North Carolina facility. Ke- NASCAR to spill the details. When the penalties against know why his competition to see what they did," Spire
selowski isn't talking, citing The Next Gen has been the RFK were announced, officials had not revealed co-owner Jeff Dickerson
his ongoing appeal. great equalizer through the Marks immediately called what was found on the No. said. "Back in the day they
It was just one big specula- first six races and has deliv- into Trackhouse with a di- 6. Garage chatter honed used to show the parts,
tive mystery this weekend ered everything promised, rective to stay firmly within in on an allegedly modified mostly to educate, so I think
at Circuit of the Americas, with much-improved rac- the rulebook. rear bumper, but nobody it would show that they
where everyone wondered ing and parity throughout "I want to know exactly knows for sure. know how to police this car
why Keselowski was hit with the field. what they did," Marks said. This is counterintuitive to and they aren't afraid to
a staggering 100-point pen- Second-year team Track- "If we get two parts from the core mission of the Next drop the hammer.
alty. It dropped the 2012 house Racing suddenly the same vendor and Gen, an industry-wide proj- "This new car is our gamble,
champion, in his first sea- seems very, very good, and they don't look exactly the ect that required total buy- this was the mortgage, and
son as driver and co-owner new driver Ross Chastain same? We are going right in from every stakeholder. we told our team on Day
of Jack Roush's rebranded delivered a breakthrough to NASCAR. That's a big The car is supposed to be in 1 that we will not be the
team, to last in the stand- first win. Trackhouse, penalty. I don't want our the best interest of the se- example. So we want to
ings among full-time Cup owned by former driver team penalized." ries, a way for less-wealthy know what was done on
Series drivers. Justin Marks and Pitbull, is NASCAR President Steve teams to compete since that car because we will
Driver after driver, including now a playoff team able to Phelps on Saturday told The the basics are the same for not be caught in the same
Sunday's winner, called on race with the big boys. Associated Press he did not all. position."q

NFL makes adjustments to Rooney Rule to aid minority hiring

Monday at the owners the ball is lacking, as Steel- terview for open positions."
meeting include adjust- ers owner Art Rooney II reit- Dasha Smith, the NFL's
ments to the Rooney Rule erated Monday. chief administrative officer
adopted in 2003 and "We recognize we have and one of the league's
amended frequently in at- seen progress on some highest-ranking females,
tempts to enhance oppor- fronts," said Rooney, chair- noted that for the first time,
tunities for people of color man of the league's Diver- a woman was interviewed
and women for nearly all sity, Equity & Inclusion Com- for a general manager's
league and team jobs. mittee, "but we still have a position this year.
Beginning this season, all way to go on other fronts." Smith also said that virtual
32 clubs must employ a fe- Teams will receive league interviews will no longer
male or a member of an funding toward the coach's be acceptable for head
ethnic or racial minority to salary for up to two years. coach and general man-
serve as an offensive assis- Overall, including women ager positions, and there
tant coach. The person will in all Rooney Rule require- will be specific require-
Pittsburgh Steelers football head coach Mike Tomlin, second receive a one-year con- ments is designed to ad- ments for candidates to
left, arrives to speak to journalists at a coaches press availability
during the NFL owner's meeting, Monday, March 28, 2022, at The tract and work closely with dress under-representation become offensive assis-
Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla. the head coach and of- of women in key football tants. Those would include
Associated Press fensive staff to gain experi- positions. The league be- at least three years of ex-
ence. lieves this will "encourage perience on the college or
By BARRY WILNER the NFL has added require- In recent years, head the further identification pro level.
AP Pro Football Writer ments on the hiring of of- coaches have predomi- and development of wom- There currently are five mi-
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — fensive assistant coaches, nantly had offensive back- en candidates and the nority head coaches in the
To ensure more opportuni- and women in general. grounds. The pipeline for ability to provide them ad- NFL. There are seven Black
ties for diverse candidates, The moves announced minorities on that side of ditional opportunity to in- general managers.q