Kenseth suggests satellite teams helping Penske

Michael McDowell calls Matt Kenseth's suggestion that McDowell has tested for Team Penske's benefit a matter of "sour grapes." Kenseth raised the issue after qualifying Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway when asked about Penske's success this season. Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano have started no worse than the second row in the last three races and Keselowski swept last week's Nationwide and Sprint Cup races at Las Vegas. Kenseth pointed to McDowell and Leavine Family Racing with helping Keselowski and Logano. "Without opening a can of worms, it's my understanding that they (Team Penske) got to do a lot of testing – I think they've been to all three tracks with their 'satellite teams' – Michael McDowell and cars like that I think in the Penske trailer," Kenseth said.

Leavine Family Racing, a Ford team, purchases chassis and parts from Team Penske. That's a new arrangement. Leavine Family Racing bought its cars from Roush Fenway Racing the past three years. McDowell and Leavine Family Racing have used two of their four allotted tests at Cup tracks at Phoenix and Bristol this season. "What was he really suggesting or saying that somebody had an unfair advantage?'' car owner Bob Leavine said of Kenseth. "They could go out and do what they want to do."

McDowell noted the relationship between Joe Gibbs Racing and Michael Waltrip Racing for Toyota. "This sport, the way it is, as fast as it is developing, you have to be aligned with a manufacturer that is working with all the teams," McDowell said. "The reality is there might be some sour grapes there because they haven't been able to align themselves with an organization that can help them to do some of those things like RCR, Hendrick and Stewart-Haas and all the other teams have." Motor Racing Network