Kurt Busch escapes suspension, gets fine and points penalty from NASCAR
Quote selected text Published June 8th, 2007 in NASCAR News
NASCAR announced today that Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge in the Nextel Cup Series, has been penalized 100 championship driver points, fined $100,000 and placed on NASCAR probation until Dec. 31, 2007 for violating Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing – reckless driving; endangering a crew member on pit road) of the 2007 NASCAR rule book.
Car owner Roger Penske has also been penalized with the loss of 100 championship owner points due to his driver’s infraction. The violation occurred on pit road during the race at Dover International Speedway on June 4.
[NASCAR]
- Kurt Busch responds to penalty by NASCAR
- NASCAR’s Pemberton says Busch penalty was appropriate
- NASCAR hands down points penalty and suspension to the #2
- JR Motorsports to appeal suspension of crew chief
- NASCAR penalizes Truex, team heavily
I’m just. I’m trying to. I can’t. Alright. I’m stuck between infuriated
while realizing Nascar really does have 0 credibility, and not really being
surprised cuz I figured Penske would throw some money around and make
it all go away. Every day they remind me why I watch Nascar less and
less anymore. It’s just unbearable to watch, no matter how much I love
racing. Which is very very much, trust me.
NASCAR dropped the ball completely, Kurt Busch got off easy, the penalty should have been suspended for one race at least, $100,000 fine and 150 driver/owner points after reckless driver on pitroad and endangering a crew member.
I mean he got the same d__n penalty Dale Jr did for having rear
end clip mistakes. Great job Nascar, great job. Pat yourselves on the
back, give that same “Nailed it!” smirk Bush does when he’s just royally
f__ked something up, and watch as your fan base dwindles.
Any chance we can penalize NASCAR for “Actions Detrimental to Stock Car Racing” by not sitting Kurt for Pocono?
I don’t see how having the wrong wing brackets on a car (Eury JR) and using your car as a weapon (Kurt) are anywhere near deserving the same penalty… NASCAR didn’t have a problem handing out the same fine to DEI and sitting Eury Jr for 6 races because they had an incorrect part on the car, so why won’t they sit a driver down when he exhibits such atrocious behavior?
I understand that they parked Kurt at the end of the race and he probably could have gotten back on the track to run a few laps and pick up points, but that’s not going to cut it. Best case he might have moved up a couple of spots and picked up another 5-10 points, right?
Looks like Penske got him off again, pretty light penalties if you ask me. What he did wasn’t very smart, I know all of the KuB fans will say that Tony pushed his buttons. You probably have a valid point, but to do what KB did on pit road was a little reckless.
We’ll go on record here and say Kurt got away with one. If there was ever a case that a driver should have been suspended this was it.
And we’ll stand by our original story that he was. But remember, his owner is Roger Penske.
Here’s something to think about, if it had been a NASCAR Official at the nose of Tony’s car do you think the penalty would have been the same? I think not!!
Jeff, I believe you are right. We should penalize NASCAR for bonehead penalties…………
BOOOO!!! nascar sucks ass. they boot jimmy out for punchin somone but not kurt for almost killin somone??
Jarrod, you’re right… If it was an Official that happened to be standing there overseeing the crew making repairs this would be completely different!
Being a Falcons fan in Atlanta and following this Mike Vick garbage on a daily basis, I know what an owner with deeeeep pockets can do to keep his stars out of trouble… It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out that Roger had something to do with this!
-Jeff
There just are no words to describe how stupid this ruling is. Eury Jr. gets six races for a rules infraction. Buschie gets a slap on the wrist for using his vehicle as a weapon.
If NASCAR wants to distance themselves from the “professional wrestling” image, then a suspension was more than necessary. But putting Busch back on the track makes for a good, apologetic appearance on the pre-race show, and sets up a show-down with Stewart.
Thank you Mike Helton, the King of Double Standards.
penske’s always right, isn’t he?
i don’t think anyone can really disagree that this is a fair penalty. oh roger, roger, roger. i wish i had his pocket book! i’d get away with EVERYTHING. ; )
I’m glad we are all n the same page here for once..
Wanna bet there’s some kind of grudge NASCAR has on Tony? I’m getting sick of NASCAR and their “ways” of handling things. Complete and total BS. I’m so sickened by this.
Well this is complete B.S. I agree that had it been a NASCAR official things would have been different and Penske wouldn’t have been able to buy his way out of this so easy. That shouldn’t make a difference though that was still a person that is doing his job supporting a family and had KB hit him that would have been over. I wish I knew how to send a message directly to the powers at NASCAR so I could tell them just how stupid they are. Somebody going to the race at Pocono sneek into KB’s pit and slash all his tires so he still won’t be able to race.
ok, maybe the same POINTS and MONEY fines, but
he’s on suspension, where as not made
to sit out 6 @$#%@#@ races!
this sucks ass~!
Just like everyone else, I am in complete disbelief of this situation. It’s complete BS and it shows that NASCAR does not give a flip about the pit crew members. I wonder how the Tony’s pit crew guy that almost got run over feels right now. NASCAR is such a joke these days. Do you think that if Kurt Busch had done the same thing to say Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson, things would have been different? You know they just have something against Tony since he spoke the truth. Anyways, just my two cents.
NASCAR only penalizes drivers one lap for spinning other cars out on pit road.
At least Kurt was somewhat in control. Do you think when Carl Edwards spun Tony
Stewart on pit road last year, that Tony had control of his car? I don’t. I don’t agree with
this penalty at all. Any other athlete in any other sport would have been suspended for something
this severe. NASCAR wants to look at the past penalties before they make a ruling. It is time
to step up and stop this stuff. These drivers are such babies anymore. Tony didn’t do anything.
It was Kurts fault he wasn’t clear of Tony.
I am surprised that Penske has not suspended him, he expects drivers to behave responsibly.
Nascar blew it
I can’t believe that!! They are insane!! But I guess they figure that this will all blow over soon just like other things in the past. Does anyone have an email addy to write about our hate and dislike for this ruling??? Not like it matters. They are still going to do what they want to do. They have proved that time and time again. Why do I still watch NASCAR!! I should really stop!!
OK, so let me see if I understand NASCARS thinking. IF a driver swerves toward another drivers car and almost hits a member of the opposing drivers crew you get the same fine and penalties that a driver gets for haveing the wrong braket on the rear wing of the COT. Hmmmm, so someones life is worth the same amount as a braket. I GOT IT NASCAR. I wonder how much it really cost BABY BUSH? How much did Hilton got under the table.
to whoever asked about email.. the closest thing i can think to do about that would to email marty smith or somone at nascar.com because they are always around the drivers an officials. I AM NOT TAKIN ANYTHING AWAY FROM THIS SITE. i like this site better than nascar.com but i dont kno nothin about email adresses up here like they got on nascar.com.
i totally agree with everyone, this is totally wrong. he should have to sit out a race or two.. this is crazy. if it were jr and jr is not my first choice of one of my favs.. but if it were him he would have been put out for the rest of the year..
fanfeedback@nascar.com
Okay these penalties cover his car failing post race inspection, but what about the pit road incident? My point is he had two major infractions that day (car failing post race inspection and the pit road incident) and it seems like he only got penalized for one. I thought Nascar was going to be really hard on COT infractions. Where’s the consistency Nascar?
fanfeedback@nascar.com
This is kinda scarry couse now Kyle busch will think he can do anything he wants and Rick (Hendriks) will just buy him out of it and he is much wilder than Kurt LOL
Thank you for posting the email address. I have written them, and I encourage others to do the same. Strength in numbers.
I am saddened to know that Kurt got away with it. There is no excuse, and I’m not sure that any penalty other than suspension would have made anyone happy. Funny thing what a little bit of money will do.
Dale/Eury Jr : Minor Wing Infraction [Did not race with infraction]
Penalty :
Eury Jr - $100,000
Dale Jr - 100 championship points
DEI - 100 Owner points
Suspension - Eury Jr
Suspension Length - SIX (6) Races
Kurt Busch : Endangering the safety/life of a crew man and wreckless driving
Penalty:
Busch - $100,000
Busch - 100 Championship Points
Penske Racing - 100 Owner Points
Suspension - NONE.
See anything wrong? I never knew the wing of a car was
more severe to NASCAR than nearly running a crewman over.
I am just sooo very ashamed of Nascar and I am too stunned to even comment more on this complete disaster.
Kurt’s penalty should be having Jimmy Spencer locked in a room with him while they watch tape of every comment and incident related to their past encounters.
Once again, NASCAR has let the teams down and the fans down. What is it going to take? Are we going to have to wait until one of the Busch brothers kills or seriously injuries someone? I am sooo glad I am a Mark Martin fan…….he would never do anything like this and I can hold my head high as his fan.
absoulutly,positively,wrong ,corrupt,unjust..what in the hell is nascar thinking ,im sure someone was paid,this sport is getting ridiculus folks ..i say we all start supporting the indy racing league with our money and boycott nascar.then maybe they will listen……
ever wonder what nascars court room looks like,a empty room with a payment slot,
HAAAAAAA
Get over it, people!!!
It is going to be great seeing KB in victory lane at Pocono!!!
RJ-I’m pretty much figuring he’s gonna be nose-first into the inside
wall. Do I want that to happen intentionally off someone’s bumper?
Of course not;; wishing for anything that could cause injury to a
driver is just stupid. But in all reality, that’s probably going to be
the outcome.
Ouch Breanna.
Andy-
You pretty much said it all with the way you put it all out there for everyone to read. I am so…not sure, but I know what took place here is not right, not at all. I can only imagine how Tony, his pit crew, the crew member that was almost hit, and their families feel right now about this whole thing. Sicking, that what this is, just sicking.
Also, as an after thought here, has anyone else noticed that it has been quiet from the Gibbs Racing camp. Makes you really wonder what they think of this whole thing and what will be said after the race with interviews, because you know the press is going to ask what they thought of the penalty.