NASCAR has suspended Kurt Busch through June 13, which includes this week's Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway, after video of the driver's tirade toward a reporter went viral.
By Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images
Kurt Busch has been suspended by NASCAR for one race.
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In a two-paragraph release announcing the decision, the sanctioning body also said Busch would be placed on probation through the end of the year.
The suspension stemmed from Busch's comments toward Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass following Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway. Busch had been asked about racing hard against Justin Allgaier and whether being on probation caused him to exercise on-track restraint.
Busch responded, "It refrains me from not 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."
In a statement released through his Phoenix Racingteam, Busch said, "I accept NASCAR's decision. I put them in a box. They had to take action, and it's my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass."
Busch was already on probation for his actions May 12 at Darlington Raceway, where he did a burnout throughRyan Newman's pit box and got into a confrontation with crewmembers after the race.
NASCAR officials met Monday afternoon and came to the decision.
"It was something that we considered very carefully before coming to a decision like this," spokesman Kerry Tharp told USA TODAY Sports. "After we reviewed the latest incident, and based upon the fact that he was on probation from a violation that occurred at Darlington last month, we were in consensus that the suspension was warranted."
Busch, the 2004 Cup champion, will miss a race for the first time in NASCAR's premier series since Roush Fenway Racing ended its relationship with him with two races to go in 2005 after Busch was charged with reckless driving. (The team famously said it was "officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists.")
Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway and a respected voice in motor sports, said he understands the suspension ("You can't threaten other people," he said) but Busch's actions continue to surprise.
"Every experience I've ever had with Kurt Busch has been the utmost professional, first-class. I truly mean that," Gossage said. "I just … I don't know where all this comes from. It's just sad. One of the most exciting drivers to come along in this generation, and I hope he's not blowing it."
Larry McReynolds, who will join TNT as it takes over Cup broadcasts for the next six weeks, joined the chorus of those wanting Busch to control his emotions.
"He has a championship and 24 Sprint Cup Series wins," McReynolds said on Speed's NASCAR Race Hub. "He alone is holding his career in the palm of his hands, and he's absolutely throwing it away. It makes me want to shake him and say, 'Kurt, please take a look at what you're doing.'"
Busch is ranked 26th in the Cup standings while driving the No. 51 Chevrolet for team owner James Finch's single-car team, which welcomed Busch after his fall from grace atPenske Racing in the offseason. One of the final straws at Penske was Busch's verbal tirade toward ESPN reporter Jerry Punch at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Of the Punch incident factoring into the decision, Tharp said, "There are many factors that we consider when coming to a decision like this."
Busch's younger brother, Kyle, had been the most recent driver to be parked for a Cup race by NASCAR after he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday Jr. under caution during aCamping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in November.
Other one-race parkings by NASCAR: Robby Gordon at Pocono in 2007 (for ignoring black flag in Nationwide race in Montreal the day before); Jimmy Spencer at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2003 (one race, for hitting Kurt Busch through his window at Michigan International Speedway); and Kevin Harvick at Martinsville Speedway in 2002 (for aggressive driving in the trucks race one day before).
Spencer, a Speed analyst, had strong words for his formal rival.
"Kurt Busch's suspension is long overdue, and that is coming from someone who learned his lesson after sitting out a race for punching him a few years ago," Spencer said. "Kurt has been given plenty of chances to right his wrongs and put himself back on the right path, but he has failed to take advantage of any of those opportunities.
"Speaking from experience, I can say that my suspension was extremely upsetting to me, but it made me a better person off the track. That's what Kurt needs now, and I hope this helps him. It seems to have straightened his little brother, Kyle, out, and I hope the same is true for Kurt."
Contributing: Nate Ryan
NASCAR's full statement
"NASCAR has suspended driver Kurt Busch until June 13 of this year and extended his NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for his actions following the NASCAR Nationwide Seriesrace June 2 at Dover International Speedway.
"Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; violation of probation; verbal abuse to a media member) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Kurt Busch had previously been placed on NASCAR probation May 15 for his actions during the May 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway. That probation was originally scheduled to end July 25 but has now been extended through the end of this year."
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