NASCAR Cup Series

Penalty costs Kenseth in title Chase

Published Sep. 19, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Sometimes getting help from a friend can cost you.

Several cars ran out of fuel in the closing laps of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Geico 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on Monday, including polesitter Matt Kenseth. The Roush Fenway Racing driver was pushed through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap by J.J. Yeley, even though the team didn’t request an assist.

Kenseth crossed the line eighth, but NASCAR penalized the No. 17 by scoring him 21st, the first car one lap down.

“I don’t know what to do about the fuel mileage,” Kenseth said. “It is really frustrating to be a race car driver and they drop the green on the last run of the day when you are supposed to put on a show for the fans and you have to run half throttle and can’t floor it or you will run out of gas.

"It is pretty aggravating to do all the work and qualifying and pit stops and adjustments, but none of it makes a difference.”

Kenseth, who led four times for a total of 46 laps, is now 10th in the standings, 24 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.

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