CUP: Harvick, Kyle Busch Fined, Placed On Probation

Sprint Cup

CUP: Harvick, Kyle Busch Fined, Placed On Probation

NASCAR says Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch violated Section 12-1 of the NASCAR rulebook – actions detrimental to stock car racing...

Mike Hembree | Posted May 10, 2011 Charlotte, NC

Kevin Harvick (Left) and Kyle Busch (Right) tangled last season at Darlington Raceway. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch have been fined $25,000 each by NASCAR and placed on probation through June 15 for post-race actions Saturday night at Darlington Raceway.

The probation includes all NASCAR events through June 15.

The two drivers will be on track together next in Friday night’s Camping World Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway in Delaware.

Although the intricacies of probation have not been spelled out by NASCAR, the sanction typically means that drivers who commit an infraction during a probationary period can face harsher penalties.

NASCAR said both drivers violated Section 12-1 of the NASCAR rulebook – actions detrimental to stock car racing.

“These penalties are a result of what occurred on pit road after the race was over,” said NASCAR official Kerry Tharp. “They are about maintaining a safe environment on pit road.”

Busch and Harvick crashed late in the Southern 500 while racing for the win. They bumped twice before Busch ran into the rear of Harvick’s car and sent Harvick’s Chevrolet sliding across the track.

After the race, they drove onto pit road. Harvick climbed out of his car and walked over to Busch’s car, where he reached into the cockpit and appeared to try to punch Busch. Busch drove away, hitting Harvick’s car in the process and causing it to roll into the pit wall.

NASCAR stressed in its news release Tuesday morning that the penalties relate to the post-race environment, not the drivers’ actions on the track during the event.

Additionally, NASCAR said its evaluation of recent problems between drivers Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Newman has been completed and that neither will be penalized.

Mike Hembree is NASCAR Editor for SPEED.com and has been covering motorsports for 29 years. He is a six-time winner of the National Motorsports Press Association Writer of the Year Award.

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Mike Hembree

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