By Chad Leistikow, USA TODAY
Updated 12h 53m ago
DOVER, Del. -- Kurt Busch wouldn't speak with USA TODAY Sports at Dover International Speedway on Sunday, the morning after a video of him berating a news reporter went viral.
"Why would I want to speak with anyone today?" Busch said as he and gi
By Gary A. Vasquez, US Presswire
Shortly thereafter, he spent about five minutes meeting with NASCAR PresidentMike Helton and vice president of competitionRobin Pemberton in the Sprint Cup hauler. NASCAR confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the meeting was called to speak with Busch about his Saturday tirade.
Upon exiting, Busch continued to decline comment, and NASCAR wouldn't offer further details about the meeting but was considering discipline. NASCAR typically doles out punishment on Tuesdays after a race.
"We are in the process of collecting all the facts and details surrounding the incident to assist us in making a correct and fair decision," NASCAR spokeswoman Kristi King said. "Nothing will happen today. The focus today is on the race."
At issue was Busch's tirade that was caught on Speed TV cameras with Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass. Busch had been asked about his in-race actions with Justin Allgaier(the two bumped early in the race but there was no retaliation) because of Busch's recent placement on probation. Busch responded, "It (the probation) refrains me from beating the (expletive) out of you right now, because you ask me stupid questions. But since I'm on probation, I suppose that that's improper to say as well."
Busch was placed on probation and fined $50,000 following the May 12 Cup race at Darlington Raceway after he did a burnout in rival Ryan Newman's pit box and then had a confrontation with Newman crewmembers after the race.
Tirades with the news media aren't new for Busch, though his profane words with ESPN's Jerry Punch at last season's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway were his last with Penske Racing. He since has landed with single-car Phoenix Racing and was driving Sunday's race without a primary sponsor.
Also last season, he tore notes of the Associated Press' Jenna Fryer and got in a pair of verbal spats with NASCAR.com'sJoe Menzer following the September race at Richmond International Raceway. He later apologized for those actions.
Busch did not meet with reporters following a 24th-place finish in the FedEx 400. His race was marred by a blown engine, ultimately, but he also was caught speeding on pit road twice during the race.
See photos of: Nascar, Kurt Busch
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