Matt Kenseth’s suspension upheld on final appeal

As of now, Matt Kenseth is still suspended for two races. [UPDATE: And he’s officially out for both.]

Kenseth’s appeal of his two-race suspension was heard Thursday morning by a three-person NASCAR appeals panel. The panel upheld the suspension. Kenseth will make a final appeal at 1 p.m. ET.

Kenseth was suspended for two races for intentionally crashing Joey Logano at Martinsville. Kenseth was nine laps down when he crashed Logano, who was the race leader. Had Logano won the race, he would have advanced to the final round of the Chase.

The crash was in retribution for contact the two made at Kansas Speedway while racing for the lead. Kenseth went spinning with five laps to go and he finished 14th. He was eliminated from the Chase after the second round.

Kenseth is slated to miss races at Texas and Phoenix if the suspension is upheld on final appeal.

UPDATE: The final appeal also upheld the penalty against Kenseth, so he is officially out of the 20 car for the next two races.