After Sunday’s post-race melee at Texas Motor Speedway involving Brad Keselowski and Jeff Gordon, team owner Roger Penske has offered his full support to Keselowski as he remains one of the most controversial figures in NASCAR today. 

The incident occurred after Keselowski and Gordon made contact in the final laps of Sunday’s AAA Texas 500, in which Gordon’s left rear tire was cut and resulted in a late-race spin for the No. 24 Chevrolet. Gordon took issue with Keselowski’s aggressive move for the lead, while the Team Penske driver said there was an opening and he tried to take it. 

“The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup has provided great excitement and intense competition,” Penske said in a statement released Monday afternoon. “Brad Keselowski is a champion who competes to win in every race, which is what I expect of him. While the actions by others following the race in Texas were unfortunate, Brad has my 100 percent support as we now move on to Phoenix for the next stage of the NASCAR championship.” 

Gordon’s team owner Rick Hendrick was seen giving his driver a hug and offering his support following the incident at Texas Motor Speedway, while Hendrick Motorsports told FOXSports.com on Monday they are “reviewing the situation.”

Gordon was the leader on what was expected to be a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish. Keselowski restarted third and tried to wedge his car in a gap between Gordon and Hendrick teammate Jimmie Johnson. The gap quickly closed when Gordon came down the track and the contact between Keselowski and Gordon caused Gordon to get a flat tire and spin. He went from racing for a win and the automatic berth to the Nov. 16 Chase finale at Homestead to a 29th-place finish. He’s now fourth in the eight-driver Chase field, and only four drivers will race for the title.

Keselowski was adamant that he saw a hole between Gordon and Johnson, and he also was going for the victory and the berth into the Chase’s final round. Keselowski was fined $50,000 by NASCAR last month for a post-race meltdown at Charlotte, where a poor finish jeopardized his Chase chances. Denny Hamlin had to be restrained after the race from confronting Keselowski, and Matt Kenseth jumped Keselowski from behind in the garage. Kenseth was not fined because did not throw a punch.

Keselowski went on to win the next week at Talladega and advance to the third round of the playoffs. After the race, Penske also firmly defended his driver, who has six wins this season and gave Penske his first career Cup title in 2012.

“These guys are jealous of the job he’s done this year,” Penske said after Talladega “He’s won six races. He’s made poles. He’s been up front. Nobody likes to see a guy win like that. I want him to get mad. I don’t want him to take it.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.