NASCAR creates new penalty system for behavioral offenses

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR has beefed up its punishment system and will define specific behavioral offenses with predetermined penalties.

The new system will serve as a personal conduct code for members in all three national NASCAR series. Unveiled two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, the guidelines deal with on- and off-track infractions.

Among the sanctions, NASCAR will punish a competitor who takes premeditated action against a driver in the Chase.

Matt Kenseth complained last season about a two-race suspension for intentionally wrecking Joey Logano during the Chase. He said there was no precedent for NASCAR to suspend him for his action.

The wide-ranging rulebook can serve punishments for infractions ranging from domestic abuse to critical comments directed toward the series.

NASCAR will not issue punishments via a class system like it does for technical infractions.