NASCAR bans girlfriend of driver Mike Skeen for slapping rival Max Papis after race
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. NASCAR has indefinitely banned a driver's girlfriend from all events for slapping a rival racer after the Truck Series race Sunday in Bowmanville, Ontario.
NASCAR said Wednesday that Kelly Heaphy, driver Mike Skeen's girlfriend, also was fined $2,500 for slapping Max Papis in the face. The slap occurs just after the 1:15 mark in the video below:
Papis and Skeen had been battling for third in the closing laps of the race until contact between the two on the last lap ruined Papis' finish. The two hit again during the cool-down lap, and Papis voiced his displeasure about Skeen during his post-race interview. Heaphy then approached Papis and slapped him.
Papis told ESPN.com that he suffered a dislocated jaw.
"This crazy lady comes shouting at me, and I had no idea, didn't even understand her, she just started shouting," Papis told ESPN.com. "And all the sudden, she took a full hand -- and she slapped me so hard. I'm not kidding. My jaw got dislocated and my left ear is still ringing, big time."
Papis finished sixth in the road race, and Skeen was 13th.