NASCAR: Brian Vickers, Matt Kenseth Meet To Discuss Phoenix And Martinsville Incidents

Brian Vickers and Matt Kenseth met with NASCAR on Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway to discuss racing incidents at Martinsville and, most recently, Phoenix.

Both drivers came away satisfied with the meeting, as did NASCAR.

"We let them talk about it," NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said. "We listened, and then also told them what we expected from them at the racetrack. I think there's a clear understanding of that; I think we made our point."

Each driver had an opportunity to explain their side of the incidents, with Vickers clarifying his comments from last week that his actions were unintentional.

Vickers told SB Nation on Saturday that the initial contact was innocent, but acknowledged driving Kenseth into the wall. 

"Last week at Phoenix was a situation where he lifted and braked 10 car lengths early," Vickers said. "He said he did in the meeting. He can't say he didn't – it was on the in-car camera. You brake 10 car lengths early with someone right on your bumper, and you're going to get hit.

"Now, after that, was I pissed and did I finish the job? Yeah."

Vickers insisted he did not come off Turn 2 with the intention to make any kind of contact with Kenseth. The No. 83 car was capable of winning the race, Vickers said, and the driver did not want to mess that up in the name of revenge.

But once Kenseth pulled up in front of him and the two made contact, Vickers changed his mind.

"After my nose was knocked in because a guy stopped on me 10 car lengths early in the middle of the straightaway, OK, the rest is another story," Vickers said. "But that doesn't change the fact I didn't set out to tear up a good race car."

Vickers said he watched the replay and admitted "it looks pretty bad." But he insisted he would still have made the initial contact with the car in front of him, "even if that was my best friend."

Driving him into the wall, though, was because of their Martinsville history.

"I'm not saying what I did was right or wrong, but it was no different than what he did (at Martinsville)," Vickers said. "Even if what he said is true – and I'm not saying that – it's still no different."

Asked if he accepted Vickers' explanation, Kenseth indicated he was simply ready to get the situation behind him.

"It doesn't really matter that much how it all got started," he said. "We met with NASCAR and all that, so I think we're just ready to move forward."

Kenseth said there were things both drivers said in the meeting they still don't totally agree on, but added, "We're both going to move on and get back to racing."

Said Vickers: "Everybody put their perspectives on the table. I'm good with it. I want to get back to racing hard, having fun. And he said the same."

In related news, Vickers said he still doesn't know where he'll be driving next season, but said he was "close on a couple things" that would keep him in the Sprint Cup Series.

"But in my mind, honestly, close means nothing," he said. "I've seen some really great close deals not happen."