Newman acknowledges he was fined by NASCAR for critical comments against series

Newman says he was fined by NASCAR

LONG POND, Pa. — Ryan Newman says he was one of the drivers fined by NASCAR for making critical comments about the racing series and hinted that Denny Hamlin was another.

Newman refused to disclose on Friday the amount of the fine or what he said. He implied that it was for comments he made after he crashed at Talladega Superspeedway.

People familiar with the penalties told the AP this week fines were levied because the comments were considered disparaging to the sport. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because NASCAR was not publicly identifying the topflight drivers it fined.

Newman says the penalties are “behind me. It’s behind Denny right now.” Hamlin was scheduled to meet the media later Friday at Pocono Raceway.

Newman says he was frustrated about the fine “because I didn’t understand what it was or why it was.”