Press Box: NASCAR issues Kenseth team stiff penalty
Matt Kenseth paid a heavy price as the result of his winning car's engine failing a postrace inspection after the Sprint Cup race last Sunday at Kansas Speedway.
NASCAR issued sanctions on Wednesday that included stripping Kenseth of 50 points in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, his pole-position award at Kansas and bonus points for winning the STP 400 if he qualifies for the 10-race championship playoff at the end of the season..
In addition, crew chief Jason Ratcliff was suspended for six races, fined $200,000 and placed on probation through Dec. 31. Car owner Joe Gibbs lost 50 points in the owners' standings and his owner's license was suspended for the next six races. And engine maker Toyota was stripped of five points in the manufacturer standings.
According to NASCAR, Kenseth's car did not pass a secondary inspection after at NASCAR's Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. The car had made it through an initial inspection at the track after the race. The problem was with the weight of one of the eight connecting rods not meeting minimum weight requirements.
SOCCER
--- Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's actions came back to bite him when the English Football Association banned him for 10 games after sinking his teeth into an opponent during a Premier League game.
The suspension, which effectively ends his season, prompted Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre to say the club was "shocked and disappointed" by the ruling. Suarez will miss the remaining four games this season and the first six next year.
Suarez admitted to biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on the upper right arm on Sunday during a game at Anfield. He later apologized.
BOXING
--- Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov secured the rights to a future heavyweight championship fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin for what is believed a record $23,333,330 on Wednesday.
Both Klitschko and Povetkin have bouts scheduled against other fighters next month, but they face a mandatory defense.
"We all were totally surprised," Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, told ESPN.com. "We only have to make sure that the money goes into escrow and that it's real. We are definitely willing to go through with it, but we have to make sure this is not one of those fake Don King purse bids."
Because Klitschko is the reigning champion, he would receive 75 percent ($17,499,997) and Povetkin would get the other 25 percent ($5,833,333).
