NASCAR imposed a $75,000 fine on Cup Series driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and suspended his father and two JTG Daugherty Racing crew members following a post-race altercation that occurred after the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Stenhouse was upset over an incident during the race that caused him to exit early. He confronted Kyle Busch and threw a punch at him after they exchanged words. Despite this, Busch did not face any fines or penalties.
Ricky Stenhouse Sr., Stenhouse’s father, received an indefinite suspension for his involvement in the altercation, in line with NASCAR’s stance against family members partaking in confrontations.
Additionally, two crew members from JTG Daugherty Racing, Stenhouse’s team, were also suspended. Clint Myrick was suspended for eight races, while Keith Matthews received a four-week ban.
The incident between Stenhouse and Busch during the All-Star Race led to the post-race fight in the garage, resulting in the Wednesday penalties.
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Stenhouse punches Busch after NASCAR All-Star Race
The altercation began with Busch retaliating against what he perceived as an aggressive move by Stenhouse, resulting in Stenhouse’s car crashing into the wall. Stenhouse parked his car in Busch’s pit stall and then confronted Busch’s team, vowing revenge in a subsequent interview.
After the race, Stenhouse waited for Busch in the garage and punches were thrown, sparking a brief scuffle between the two drivers and their teams.
Stenhouse expressed his frustration with Busch’s behavior, leading to the altercation, while NASCAR officials refrained from penalizing Busch for the crash as they did not view it as entirely intentional.
The penalties were issued based on NASCAR’s policies against physical altercations involving crew members and family members. Stenhouse Jr. was fined for getting physical with Busch after the on-track incident.
NASCAR dealt with this incident similarly to a previous situation last fall, imposing fines and suspensions on those involved in altercations.
Why NASCAR issued these penalties
The penalties for crew members and Stenhouse Sr. were based on NASCAR’s stance against third-party involvement in altercations. Crew members are prohibited from physical altercations to maintain order in the sport.
Stenhouse Sr.’s suspension and the crew members’ penalties were meant to deter future involvement in physical altercations and send a message to maintain professionalism in NASCAR.
(Photo: Peter Casey / USA Today)