NASCAR fines Kurt Busch $50,000 for inappropriate behavior

NASCAR fines Kurt Busch $50,000 for inappropriate behavior

 

Special to the Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

 

(November 25, 2011)

 

NASCAR has fined Kurt Busch, $50,000 for an obscene gesture caught on live television and for cursing at an ESPN reporter during the telecast of the Ford 400 on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

Busch was fined under NASCAR’s actions detrimental to stock car racing rule, NASCAR announced Friday.

 

Busch showed “poor judgment in making an inappropriate hand gesture” and “disrespect towards a media member,” an incident that followed similar inappropriate media confrontations earlier in the season, according to the NASCAR statement.

 

Busch, whose transmission failed just a couple of laps into the race, was driving his car to its garage stall when his in-car camera caught him giving “the bird.” It appears he is flipping off a vehicle that was in the garage area at the time.

 

Typically vehicles other than the racecars and pace cars are not in the garage area, but with the presence of Michelle Obama, there were vehicles in the garage at that time.

 

After getting out of his car, Busch was caught on camera by a fan cursing out ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch as they waited to go on the air for a live interview about what had happened. Busch asked if they could just tape the interview, and Punch said ESPN wanted to do it live.

 

“I’d like to do it live, too, (expletive) 10 minutes ago,” Busch said.

 

Punch then told his producers “never mind” about doing the interview, and Busch walked into his hauler cursing.

 

Busch and Penske Racing apologized earlier this week for the treatment of Punch.

 

“Unfortunately, our result in the season-ending race at Homestead on Sunday was not what we had hoped for as a team,” Busch said in a statement earlier this week. “In my frustration with the loss of my transmission early in the race, I let my emotions get the better of me.

 

“I regret having done this and apologize to the sponsors of Penske Racing, to NASCAR, its fans, to the media and in particular, Dr. Jerry Punch.”

 

Penske Racing indicated there could be internal sanctions.

 

“Penske Racing extends its apologies to Dr. Jerry Punch, our media partners and our sponsors and fans for Kurt Busch’s inappropriate actions in Homestead on Sunday,” the Penske statement said. “These actions do not represent Penske Racing and are inconsistent with the company’s standards for behavior, respect for others and professionalism. This matter is being reviewed internally.”

 

Earlier this year, Busch had confrontations with two media members following the race at Richmond.