Kenseth loses appeal on two race suspension

Kenseth will be tending to his garden the next two weeks

A three-member panel upheld behavioral penalties against driver Matt Kenseth on Thursday, keeping him sidelined for the next two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel heard the appeal at the NASCAR Research & Development Center, ultimately ruling that Kenseth did not provide sufficient evidence to overturn his suspension or probation for his on-track incident last weekend with rival Joey Logano.

The team's last attempt to have the penalty either reduced or rescinded will be heard later Thursday by National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss. Unlike the first appeal, the burden of proof shifts to Kenseth for the final appeal. In the first hearing, the burden of proof was NASCAR's responsibility.