Several drivers blew their cool at Loudon, New Hampshire yesterday, in incidents involving both Busch Brothers (defending champion Kurt and rookie Kyle), Scott Riggs, Kasey Kahne, Micheal Waltrip and Robby Gordon.
The most pronounced of these were an incident between Kahne and Kyle Busch on lap 165. Busch blatantly wrecked Kahne into the wall. After Kahne refired his car, he waited on the apron until Busch was coming up on him, and proceeded to cut him off on the track, damaging his car slightly. Busch would still finish, but Kahne's car was parked by NASCAR and Kahne given the rest of the race off. (Nevermind that his car was in such bad shape his day was over anyway).
Another was between the 15 NAPA Chevy of Michael Waltrip and the #7 Jim Beam Chevy of Robby Gordon. They had been beating and banging for 3rd and 4th on the track when a caution came out behind them on lap 191. Apparently Gordon slowed quicker than Waltrip, and Gordon got spun. Like above, Gordon waited for Waltrip the next lap, but didn't find him, instead causing havoc including forcing Tony Stewart, the points leader, to stop on the track to keep from hitting him. So Gordon got out of his car, waited a lap, and then threw his helmet at Waltrip's car, this time being almost hit by Stewart again as they played dodgeball with Robby Gordon... Gordon later cursed on a TV interview, and will most assuredly get docked money and points for that offense, based on recent and past history over the last 18 months. (Busch series points leader Truex faced a 25 point hit for a similar offense last week, as did then-Cup series leader Dale Earnhardt, Jr., last fall after winning at Talledega, albeit the latter was in jubilation and not anger)
In what might have been the most civil disagreement of the day, was one where defending Cup champion Kurt Busch was wrecked by the #10 of Scott Riggs on lap 3. Busch did have a temper, and proceeded to confront the crew chief of the #10 on top of the #10's pit box. At least from the video, it appeared to be a discussion only, with no fists or anything, but NASCAR is likely not happy with Busch putting himself in a position to get into an altercation. Busch finished 35th, and fell to last of the top 10, 142 points behind leader Tony Stewart.
A story on NASCAR.com forwarns of fines, points hits, probations and even possible suspensions, threatened from as short as 1 race to as many as 9 (rest of 2005 season).
On a side note, both the 24 of Jeff Gordon and the 8 of Dale Earnhardt Jr had competitive weekends after making crew changes, starting 2nd and 3rd, respectively, before finishing 14th and 5th, respectively, with both leading laps. It was Earnhardt's best qualifying effort of the season.
PENALTIES UPDATE (11:00 pm, 9-19):
Brian Vickers (#25 GMAC Chevy), Crew chief fined $10,000 & placed on probation until end of year; team hit 25 driver & 25 owner points
Kasey Kahne (#9 Dodge Dealers Dodge), fined $25,000 & hit 25 driver & 25 owner points & probation through end of year
Michael Waltrip (#15 NAPA Chevy) fined $10,000 & hit 25 driver & 25 owner points for inappropriate gesture on a TV broadcast
Robby Gordon (#7 Jim Beam Chevy) hit twice -- 25 driver and 25 owner for each of the following: inappropriate language on a TV broadcast and attempting to hit another competitors car during a caution period. First was $10,000 fine, 2nd was $25,000 fine.
details on NASCAR.com
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