Kurt Busch suspended through June 13 after lashing out at reporter
NASCAR suspended Kurt Busch until June 13 and extended his probation through Dec. 31 for his actions following the Nationwide Series race June 2 at Dover International Speedway.
When posed a question by Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass after the race about having to race differently while under probation, Busch responded:
"It [probation] refrains me from not beating the s--- out of you right now, because you ask me stupid questions. But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well. If you could talk about racing things, we could talk about racing things, Bob."
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NASCAR said 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. Busch had been placed on probation May 15 for his actions during the May 12 Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway. That probation was scheduled to end July 25.
"I accept NASCAR's decision," Busch said in a statement released by Phoenix Racing. "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."
"If he's going to kill himself I'm not going to be in the airplane with him," Finch told ESPN.com by phone. "If that's what he's planning on doing, I am going to get out."
Busch has had a few run-ins with reporters within the past year. He had to be restrained during a confrontation with NASCAR.com reporter Joe Menzer last September at Richmond. When Associated Press writer Jenna Fryer tried to show him a transcript of something he claimed he hadn't said, he ripped it up in front of her.
After he wrecked during the season finale at Homestead, he began cursing at ESPN reporter Dr. Jerry Punch while awaiting the ESPN crew to cut to them for an interview. While ESPN cameras didn't capture the exchange, a nearby race fan with a camera phone did and it went viral.
Soon after, he parted way with Penske Racing by "mutual agreement."
He landed at Phoenix Racing this season, but recently found himself in trouble again as an incident with Ryan Newman and his crew at Darlington led to a $50,000 fine and the aforementioned probation which Busch was serving.
The Sprint Cup Series is at Pocono this weekend, while the Truck Series is racing at Texas. The Nationwide Series is off. He will be eligible to return in time for the following week's events at Michigan, where the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series will be running.
Busch is currently 26th in the Sprint Cup standings, with no top fives and one top 10 through 13 races.
