It only took two laps before the real trouble started at the All Star Race in North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night. Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Kyle Busch were involved in a little beating and banging that sent both drivers into the wall but Stenhouse’s car was damaged too much to continue on in the race.
Stenhouse took exception to the incident and stopped his car in Kyle Busch’s pit stall to confront the crew chief. Later he reportedly texted some of his fellow drivers not in the All Star main event to express his intentions toward Busch after the race.
Once the race was concluded, Stenhouse was waiting for Busch outside the number eight hauler; where he, along with his father and a few crew members, confronted Busch which led to Stenhouse throwing a punch in Busch’s face. A melee’ ensued.
On Wednesday, NASCAR responded to the events with expected penalties…
Ricky Stenhouse Jr has been fined $75,000 for punching Busch. This is the largest fine handed down so far for fighting by NASCAR.
During their “aggressive discussion” Stenhouse threatened to wreck Busch this coming weekend during the longest race of the season in the Coca-Cola 600. However, owner of Kyle Busch’s number eight car, Richard Childress has warned Stenhouse that HE will fight Stenhouse is he so much as looks like he wants to touch Busch’s car. No doubt that NASCAR will be keeping a close eye on things both on and off the track at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Two crew members from the 47 car have also been suspended; as well as, Stenhouse Sr for their participation in the fracas.
NASCAR indefinitely suspended Ricky Stenhouse Sr for violating the Member Conduct Code in the NASCAR rule book. Stenhouse Sr may attend races but will not be allowed anywhere outside public access.
JTG Daugherty Racing mechanic Clin Myrick has been suspended eight races for his participation in the fight and tuner Keith Matthews has been suspended for four Cup Series races.
NASCAR Senior Vice President of Competition Elton Sawyer spoke on the suspensions saying, “I think it’s fair to say that when you have crew members and family members that put their hands on our drivers, we’re going to react.”
Sawyer added, “when you wait 198 laps and you make those decisions that were made, again, we’re going to react to that … Once we get to the point where it gets physical, we want the two drivers to be able to have time to express their differences. Once it escalates to a physical altercation, we are going to react.”
He concluded, “granted there was no tunnel, granted there was no crossover bridge (to allow Stenhouse Jr. to leave the track), better decisions could have been made throughout that period of time between the incident on the race track and the incident in the garage post-race.”
NASCAR did not hand down any penalties to Kyle Busch.
NASCAR also issued two penalties in the Craftsman Truck Series.
Whether it is a crackdown by NASCAR or crew members just getting careless, there has been an outbreak of penalties for violating the NASCAR rule book in relation to crew protective clothing and equipment this season.
NASCAR has suspended Spire Motorsport tire changer for the number seven truck Dawson Backus for one race after violating the rule book in relation to his helmet straps not being properly applied.
CR7 Motorsports crew chief Jeff Stankiewicz was fined $2,500 after it was found that a single lug nut was improperly secured on the number nine truck during post race inspection. Grant Enfinger is the driver for the number nine truck.
Rowan Mason, a mechanic for the number five Xfinity Series Our Motorsports team, has been suspended indefinitely for violating the NASCAR rule book’s Substance Abuse Policy.