In NASCAR, if you can't say anything nice ...

LONG POND, Pa. – Here is what we know.

Sprint Cup drivers Ryan Newman and Denny Hamlin have both been assessed previously undisclosed and significant monetary fines this season for comments the sanctioning body considered "materially damaging" to NASCAR.

If only the aftermath were as succinct.

Both Newman and Hamlin acknowledged Friday at Pocono Raceway they were the anonymous drivers mentioned in an Associated Press report earlier this week that detailed NASCAR’s "secret" punishment for comments officials considered over the line.

"Yes, I was one of the drivers," Newman told the Observer and ThatsRacin.com. "Nobody likes to be penalized, whether they believe they were right or wrong.

"It's neither here nor there. It's over with. It's unfortunate. I'm good with it."

Newman said he didn't know what he had said that prompted the fine, the amount of which he would not reveal.

"I understand why, I know why they did it," Hamlin said during his weekly media availability. "Whether you agree with it or not, it happened. They're in control.

"I've always been raised to speak my mind and be maybe too over-opinionated at times."

While NASCAR has repeatedly encouraged its drivers to "have at it" on the track and take a larger role in self-policing, the sanctioning body remains willing to take action to protect its brand.

In November in an interview with the Observer and its racing site, NASCAR Chairman Brian France was asked what he would like to see more of from drivers:

"I would like to see a lot of them step out a little more and bring out their own personalities," France said. "They all have enormous commitments with their sponsorships and other things that can – not always, but can – slow them down on being who they are."

However, in preseason meetings this year with drivers and owners, NASCAR made a point to show how disparaging comments could turn off fans.

Newman said he was aware of the issue but not necessarily the ramifications.

"We were warned, but I didn't expect the (result) to be like that," he said. "It comes as a bit of surprise."

NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said all drivers have a clear understanding of what is acceptable and what is not.

"We met with the drivers to explain to them the importance of expressing themselves and showing their personalities, but not to damage the sport," he said.

"We have an open door and will discuss any topic with the drivers."

The biggest question facing drivers Friday was whether the action taken against Newman and Hamlin would prevent them or others from speaking their minds in the future.

"It's tough sometimes when you get a microphone stuck in your face and the first thing that comes in your mind, you want to say," Newman said. "We want to speak our minds and sometimes it comes out in the wrong way.

"For NASCAR to give a penalty for that, that's their call. They are the ones policing the sport."

Newman's offending comments were made in public following the April race at Talladega, Ala. Hamlin's came in recent weeks on the social networking tool Twitter.

Asked if he would be less outspoken, Hamlin said, "It's tough to say. I don't want to lose any more money, but I just want to be myself."

Hamlin also thought the penalties should have been made public.

"If nobody knows, nobody is going to learn from the mistakes of others," he said. "I think people were going to find out one way or another."

Some drivers deferred comment on the matter altogether.

"I don't know much about it. I missed it," Matt Kenseth said.

And then there was Carl Edwards, struggling to come up with an answer.

"I don't know how that will snowball and what that will turn into, but I think that's the intent," he said. "I don't know. I'm nervous to say anything."

Kyle Busch even raised the possibility NASCAR could at some point crack down on what the drivers say over their team radios during the race.

"That might be another area where we have to watch it," he said. "If it comes to our personal radios, that's just another level that we’re being watched."

Four-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson discounted any perceived fallout.

"Living it like I do, everything that NASCAR does, from a competition side, is above board and out there and open in front of everyone to look at and to pay attention to and to form opinions on and report on," he said.

Newman, in a sense, got to the heart of the matter.

Asked if he thought it was a good idea to keep the fines secret, he replied, "Do you think that's the only secret?"

On Friday, it was difficult to tell.