NASCAR officials may be in hot water for more secret penalties; and what's up at Tony Stewart's? Hey, isn't the storyline supposed to be Brad Keselowski's big win?

  Richard Childress: hit with $150,000 fine by NASCAR for hitting Kyle Busch (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)
  
  

   By Mike Mulhern
   mikemulhern.net

  

   Probation will allow Childress to continue attending all NASCAR events.
   So, too heavy a penalty?
   Or too light?
   What is NASCAR thinking in all this?
   And what should fellow team owner Joe Gibbs be thinking now?
   One take: http://bit.ly/lmFzos
   Another: http://bit.ly/kkVyDR
   Another: http://sbn.to/kgHcDb
   And another: http://on-msn.com/k6M1Xq
   And another:  http://bit.ly/kWcPcd
   And another: http://bit.ly/myT1HY
   And here's a sidebar to the whole thing:  http://bit.ly/j3Bfmj
   Did NASCAR really secretly fine Ryan Newman $50,000 for punching Juan Pablo Montoya in the NASCAR hauler at Darlington?
   The issue of secret NASCAR fines raised a big stink last summer when it was revealed that Newman and Denny Hamlin had both been secretly fined by NASCAR for saying things the sanctioning body didn't like. Newman, for complaining about danger and safety at Talladega. Hamlin, for questioning NASCAR's thinking in throwing caution flags.
   And, oh by the way, Brad Keselowski scored a big win here in Sunday's Kansas 400....a storyline that should be the big one, if not for NASCAR executives' actions Monday.

   The official statement from NASCAR:
   "NASCAR has fined owner Richard Childress $150,000 and placed him on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for violating Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing – involved in an altercation in the garage area) of the 2011 NASCAR rule book. The violation occurred following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race June 4 at Kansas Speedway.
   "The probation includes all NASCAR-sanctioned events."
   Then the sanctioning body added a side note statement, somewhat unusual:
   "The penalty we have announced today for Richard Childress reflects NASCAR's response to the incident at Kansas Speedway on Saturday. We feel this action is appropriate and are confident all parties involved understand our position on this matter and will move forward appropriately."
    Childress then issues a statement of his own:
   "First of all, I'm responsible for my actions, plain and simple.
   "As you know, I am a very principled person and have a passion for what we do at Richard Childress Racing. I believe passionately in defending my race teams and my sponsor partners.
    "In this instance, I let that passion and my emotions get the best of me. I accept the penalty NASCAR announced today and, as a company, we will now focus on this week's races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway."
    There was no immediate response from Busch himself.

    In other NASCAR news Monday, Tony Stewart has promoted Matt Borland to competition director of his two-team operation and released veteran Bobby Hutchens.
   Stewart, since nearly winning Las Vegas in March, has struggled on the stock car tour. Over the weekend Stewart blamed Ford's new engine for being a significant advantage over his own motors, which come from Rick Hendrick, saying he felt like he was bringing a knife to a gun fight.
   Hutchens was key in building the Stewart team, which debuted two years ago.

  Bobby Hutchens: veteran competition director, looking for a new job (Photo: Getty Images for NASCAR)