NASCAR Suspends Kurt Busch For Threatening Reporter

NASCAR has apparently had enough of Kurt Busch’s act.

In a rare Monday penalty announcement, the sanctioning body suspended Busch for his comments to SportingNews.com reporter Bob Pockrass after Saturday’s Nationwide Series race at Dover.

Pockrass had asked Busch if he felt hamstrung by his probation status, following up on a comment Busch had made to ESPN moments earlier. But Busch took exception to the question and said he would beat up Pockrass if not for the probation.

NASCAR said in a statement Busch was suspended for all racing activities this weekend – which includes the Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway – due to violation of probation and verbal abuse of a media member. It also extended his previous probation from July 25 to the end of the season.

“I accept NASCAR’s decision,” Busch said in a statement. “I put them in a box, they had to take action and it’s my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass.”

This isn’t the first time Busch has clashed with reporters.

After the Richmond race last September, Busch had to be restrained from going after NASCAR.com writer Joe Menzer and then ripped Associated Press writer Jenna Fryer’s transcript in half.

In the season’s final race, Busch was caught on a YouTube video berating the respected ESPN pit reporter Jerry Punch. NASCAR decided to fine the driver $50,000 for his actions.

In the offseason, Busch separated from Penske Racing and joined with Phoenix Racing, where he planned to rebuild his image.

The project seemed to be going well until Darlington, when Busch drew the ire of Ryan Newman’s pit crew by doing an angry burnout through the team’s pit box after a crash. Busch and several crew members then had an altercation following the race.

Newman told SI.com that Busch’s actions showed he had a “chemical imbalance.”

Busch was fined $50,000 again and placed on NASCAR probation, which is what sparked the controversy on Saturday.