The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

(AP) -- Ryan Newman says he was one of the drivers
fined by NASCAR for making critical comments about the racing
series and hinted that Denny Hamlin was another.

 Newman refused to disclose  the amount of the fine or
what he said. He implied that it was for comments he made after he
crashed at Talladega Superspeedway.

 People familiar with the penalties told the AP this week fines
were levied because the comments were considered disparaging to the
sport. The people spoke on condition of anonymity because NASCAR
was not publicly identifying the topflight drivers it fined.

 Newman says the penalties are "behind me. It's behind Denny
right now." Hamlin was scheduled to meet the media later Friday at
Pocono Raceway.

 Newman says he was frustrated about the fine "because I didn't
understand what it was or why it was."

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)