Former stock car season champion Kurt Busch won't be racing this weekend in Pocono, Pennsylvania, after NASCAR suspended him for verbally abusing a reporter following Saturday's race in Dover, Delaware.
Busch was already on NASCAR probation following a confrontation with an opponent's crew in Darlington, South Carolina, in May.
When Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass asked Busch on Saturday whether being on probation affected his performance on the track, Busch berated Pockrass.
"It refrains me from not beating the (expletive) out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions," Busch replied. "But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well."
Busch's probation was to have ended July 25. NASCAR has extended that for the rest of the year as well as suspending Busch for any races this weekend in Pocono, according to a NASCAR press release.
"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," the press release said.
In a statement, Busch accepted his punishment, according to a report on NASCAR.com.
"I put them in a box," he said of NASCAR officials. "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 has 24 career victories and was the 2004 series champion.
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Last time I checked, there was this thing called...wait...here it comes....FIRST AMENDMENT...so if a guy gets asked the same question a million times and gets irritated and lashes out (and we all know the reporters are deliberately looking to antagonize people to get this kind of reaction, don't play stupid people), or a coach says referees are making crappy calls...why do they get penalized?
Mike – Since you asked, I thought I would respond. The first amendment does not protect your employer from disciplining you at work after making a stupid comment. The first amendment states that the government cannot stop a person from speaking. I hope this clears up what the first amendment actually does.
Mike, the first amend concerns the govt interfering with your rights. NASCAR has every right to expect and contractually demand certain behavior from their MEMBERS who freely chose to abide by them. The same applies to this forum for example. You have no right to post here and your posts can be deleted for any reason.
Interesting that in NASCAR you get suspended for yelling at a report but in the NFL or NBA you can torture and kill animals, get DUIs, beat your wives, and get arrested for drugs and still be a "star".
kake79 – Michael Vick was suspended by the NFL for his actions and he spent years in jail, let it go.
i believe reporters have gone over board with thier self justification of "i can ask anything cause i want to" first, who cares if being on probation affects someones proformance and how is any one suppose to predict the future. of course nascar had to punish the driver cause they need the reports to product copy to help generate interest in the race...
questions like that are about as reasonable as, i understand your baby son had green poop and you had to change the diaper, is this going to affect your choice of your meal to night???
dumb
me-0
pat
True racing car fans know that Formula 1 is the best of all, with Louis Hamilton being the best driver ever. They stopped racing F1 at Indy when Hamilton won there. Is it because he's Black?
man, I wish this insect would threaten me
Ohhhh no, he said a bad word. Potty mouth. Waaaaaaa, let's all write on a blog about it. This country is full of a bunch of pansies.
Why are they trying to make Nascar and other Auto Sport drivers into politicians? Nascar started from MOONSHINE drivers not from ballet dancers.
NASCAR HAS NO CLUE WHAT RACING IS ANYMORE PERIOD... THEY HAVE RUINED A GOOD THING ALL TOGETHER
He is the only thing exciting happening in Cup this year. Did they wash his mouth at with soap also. This whole sport is getting softer and softer. Pretty soon we will be having to listen to garbage about the next up and coming LBGT race driver that needs media attention. NASCAR needs to go back and take a history lesson from its roots and let men be men and sissies get beat up.
Well said Kurt. The feminization of America is alive and well!
Agreed. Unfortunately, it's the nature of the beast. In order to become mainstream, they have to act prim and proper, which in turn makes NASCAR less appealing to the real fans.
Suspended for being rude? WOW. I never watched Nascar in my life, and don't intend to, but I know it's not chess. It's a lot of high octane people competing intensely in a very popular and dangerous sport. Give these guys a break!
Yahoo that drives around in a circle for a living. IOW – who cares?
That is how men deal with stupid questions. Only other choice he had was to make "no comment", which is the pansy way out. Reporter put him in a bad situation. When will we realize that Reporters are not sacrosanct and we shouldn't have to tolerate their inane questioning.
Looks good on him. He drives Toyota and ever since they let a foreign car company compete, I've lost all interest. NASCAR no longer has a unique American. They should have kept it just Dodge, Ford and Chevy.
You mean Fiat, Ford and Washington ....
He drives a Chevy
Can you guess why there are so many empty seats at all venues?.................. NASCAR
Send this hillbilly back to running moonshine........just sayin'
Reminds me of the NCAA coaches who were fined for criticizing officials (even though the officials were obviously wrong). Let them speak their minds and let the fans decide. We will all be wearing chinese made dresses soon.