Childress fined for Busch altercation
Leading NASCAR team owner Richard Childress has been fined US $150,000 and placed on probation until the end of the year for his physical altercation with Kyle Busch on Saturday at Kansas Speedway
Childress confronted Busch in the garage following Saturday's Truck Series race, where Busch battled for position with RCR driver Joey Coulter. The NASCAR star, driving for his own team, made contact with Coulter on the cool-down lap, apparently unhappy with the way his rival beat him to fifth place.
On Sunday NASCAR president Mike Helton voiced his disapproval of Childress' actions, while stating that Busch, who is currently serving a probation period, did not provoke the attack.
The sanctioning body stated that the probation Childress is now subject to will include all NASCAR-sanctioned events from now until December 31. Childress' behaviour fell under "actions detrimental to stock car racing" in the NASCAR rulebook.
"The penalty we have announced today for Richard Childress reflects NASCAR's response to the incident at Kansas Speedway on Saturday," said a statement from NASCAR.
"We feel this action is appropriate and are confident all parties involved understand our position on this matter and will move forward appropriately."
Childress accepted the penalties imposed and admitted he had lost his temper while trying to defend his team's interests.
"First of all, I'm responsible for my actions, plain and simple," said Childress in a statement. "As you know, I am a very principled person and have a passion for what we do at Richard Childress Racing. I believe passionately in defending my race teams and my sponsor partners.
"In this instance, I let that passion and my emotions get the best of me. I accept the penalty NASCAR announced today and, as a company, we will now focus on this week's races at Pocono Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway."
Besides Childress' probation, his driver Kevin Harvick is also serving a probation period which expires next week, following a post-race dust-up between him and Busch at Darlington four weeks ago. Both drivers were also fined US $25,000 for that incident.
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