Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth both have confronted Keselowski after races in the last five weeks, including a Gordon brouhaha that turned into a melee among the crews. But both drivers were knocked out of title contention last week along with Keselowski.
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There are three theories when it comes to payback: do it immediately; do it when it will hurt the other driver most; or do it when there is little left to lose.
“I don’t think I have anything to worry about,” Keselowski said Thursday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “Payback for what? If payback for anything is racing the way I race, then I don’t really consider that payback.
“I consider that hard racing, and I support that.”
Keselowski angered the other drivers with what they felt were inconsiderate moves while trying to win a Chase race. It didn’t go unnoticed to Keselowski that Ryan Newman, who door-slammed Kyle Larson at Phoenix to gain a position and earn a spot in the final round, seemed to trigger less criticism.
The 2012 Cup champion tweeted earlier in the week:
“Clearly the standards are different across the driver platforms,” Keselowski said Thursday. “I think we all see that.”
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Keselowski doesn’t seem to be all that concerned about the double standard but plans to keep on doing what he’s been doing.
“I can sweat that or I can sit here and point out that I am still the youngest one of the guys that’s won a championship in the last decade, which makes me kind of the newest guy on the circle and I’m a threat to those that are established in the sport,” Keselowski said.
“I understand that. I accept that. And they’re going to try to put a double standard on me to try to hold us back. I’m not going to stand for it. I’m going to continue to do the things I do knowing that … will put me in a position to continue to be a threat for many years to come.”
