NASCAR suspends Busch after tirade
NASCAR suspended Kurt Busch through June 13 after video of his tirade toward a news reporter went viral. It also extended Busch’s probation period through the end of the year. He was already on probation through July 25 after a confrontation with Ryan Newman’s team May 12 at Darlington Raceway. After Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway, Busch was asked by the Sporting News’ Bob Pockrass Probation also whether being on extended to end of year. probation caused him to exercise on-track restraint. Busch responded, “It refrains me from beating the (expletive) out of you right now, because you ask me stupid questions.” — Chad Leistikow -Johnson’s
Kurt Busch had a history of outbursts and bad decisions leading up to Monday’s decision by NASCAR to park him for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway after the temperamental driver’s threatening remarks to a news reporter Saturday.
The 2004 Cup champion was ousted by Roush Fenway Racing in late 2005 after being charged with reckless driving. And his departure from Penske Racing in December followed Busch’s verbal tirade with ESPN’s Jerry Punch at the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Of the Punch incident factoring into NASCAR’s decision to park a Cup driver for one race for the fifth time since 2002, spokesman Kerry Tharp told USA TODAY Sports, “There are many factors that we consider when coming to a decision like this.”
Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway and a respected voice in motor sports, expressed disappointment. “Every experience I’ve ever had with Kurt Busch has been the utmost professional, first-class. I truly mean that. I don’t know where all this comes from. It’s just sad.”