Gordon prepared for desperate drivers in Texas

Associated Press

FORT WORTH, TEXAS

Jeff Gordon knows there could be some desperate drivers in Texas on Sunday trying to get what he already has — one of the four spots to race for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship in the season finale.

With Matt Kenseth starting a two-race suspension after intentionally wrecking Chase contender Joey Logano last weekend at Martinsville, the big question with only two races and three championship spots left before Homestead is if drivers will change their approach if racing for a win in the late laps.

“Nobody should have to tell you what happened at Martinsville was wrong,” said Brad Keselowski, who has the pole at Texas. “And if somebody has to tell you, then you should have never made it this far in the sport.”

Kenseth’s car was damaged in a wreck with Keselowski. Kenseth later returned to the track and was nine laps down when he drove race-leading Logano into the wall as retaliation for a crash between the two drivers three races earlier.

“Racing is racing. Guys have wrecked each other since racing started, OK? That’s not going to change,” said Martin Truex Jr., who is third in Chase points behind Gordon and Kyle Busch. “Guys get mad all the time. I think that people will go about it differently now because of what happened this week, for sure. How far that goes, I’m not real sure. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Kurt Busch told NBC Sports on Saturday that Keselowski had intentionally wrecked Kenseth.

Keselowski winS Xfinity RACE

Brad Keselowski won the NASCAR Xfinity race at Texas, leading a race-high 62 of 200 laps and wrapping up a third consecutive owners’ championship for Roger Penske.

While Penske got a title, the Xfinity drivers’ championship is still undecided with two races left.

Points leader Chris Buescher finished 11th and has a 24-lead over defending champion Chase Elliott, who finished eighth.

Patrick FINED

Danica Patrick says she was doing what she felt she had to do when wrecking another driver in retaliation.

Patrick said Saturday that there are times when drivers have to demand respect from somebody based on actions on the track.

She was fined $50,000 and docked 25 points but not suspended after intentionally wrecking David Gilliland last weekend at Martinsville.

That was the same race for which Matt Kenseth drew a two-race suspension after he intentionally wrecked race-leading Chase contender Joey Logano.