CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000 by NASCAR on Wednesday for fighting with Kyle Busch after the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Stenhouse’s father, who joined the fight, was suspended indefinitely.
The $75,000 fine was the largest ever imposed by NASCAR for fighting.
Busch was not penalized for his action during Sunday night’s race.
The two tangled in the first round, then Busch appeared to deliberately destroy Stenhouse in the second round. Stenhouse parked his damaged Chevrolet in Busch’s pit and aggressively climbed the observer’s ladder and exchanged words with members of Busch’s crew.
Stenhouse then rushed back to his transport vehicle, leaving his car to be towed to the pits.
He also predicted he would be back after the race to face Busch. The two men exchanged brief words before Stenhouse, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, landed a right hook on Busch and a melee broke out involving members of both teams. Stenhouse’s father, who has no affiliation with the team, then attacked Busch, throwing punches.
NASCAR also suspended Stenhouse mechanic Clint Myrick for eight races and engine tuner Keith Matthews for four races on Wednesday.
Stenhouse, in the fight, vowed to destroy Busch this Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“Bring it,” Busch replied. “I’m as bad as you”, implying that both drivers are not having good seasons.
Neither driver has won a race this season. Busch is 13th in the points standings and Stenhouse, a single-seater team, is 26th.
The owner of Busch’s car, however, does not take this threat from Stenhouse lightly. Richard Childress vowed to fight Stenhouse himself if he approaches Busch’s car at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest Cup Series race on the schedule, so Busch and Stenhouse will have plenty of time to meet up on the 1.5-mile track. NASCAR, no doubt, will keep an eye on conflicting drivers.
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