NASCAR suspends Kurt Busch one week for verbally abusing reporter
(CBS/AP) CHARLOTTE, N.C. - NASCAR has suspended Kurt Busch for one week for verbally abusing a media member.
NASCAR says that Busch's behavior after Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover was in violation of his probation. Busch was fined $50,000 by NASCAR last month and placed on probation through July 25 for reckless driving on pit road at Darlington and a post-race altercation with Ryan Newman's crew members.
That probation has now been extended through the end of the year.
Busch was asked by a reporter from The Sporting News on Saturday if being on probation changed the way he raced. Busch's responded by saying being on probation stopped him from beating up the reporter for asking stupid questions. (Watch incident below).
NACSAR's Kurt Busch threatens reporter for asking "stupid questions"
Busch will not be allowed to enter a NASCAR-sanctioned race until June 13.
CBSSports.com's Brian De Los Santos notes that 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 Jerry Punch while awaiting the ESPN crew to cut to them for an interview.