Busch says NASCAR's All-Star fight penalties are 'not my problem'

Kyle Busch had no clear stance on the penalties handed down this week to JTG Daugherty Racing after the altercation between the two sides at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

“NASCAR levies penalties,” Busch said Saturday after the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “That’s not my problem.”

Busch was confronted in the garage last weekend by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. after the two made contact on lap two in the NASCAR All-Star Race. The initial discussion, in which Stenhouse argued that he never touched Busch, turned physical when Stenhouse punched the Richard Childress Racing driver. In doing so, it resulted in individuals from both teams and Stenhouse’s father getting involved in a brawl.

NASCAR fined Stenhouse $75,000 and indefinitely suspended Ricky Stenhouse Sr. JTG Daugherty Racing had two of its crew members from Stenhouse’s No. 47 team suspended. Keith Matthews, the engine tuner, was suspended for four races and Clint Myrick, a mechanic, was suspended for eight races.

“It doesn’t matter whether I agree or not, NASCAR makes the penalties,” Busch said.

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The incident started on the first lap when Stenhouse made it three-wide in Turns 1 and 2, with Busch on the far outside. Busch bounced off the wall and, a lap later, ran into Stenhouse until the No. 47 spun and hit the outside wall.

Stenhouse could not leave the racetrack because North Wilkesboro has no tunnel, and he promised in his media interviews that he would confront Busch. After seeing the replays, Busch said “maybe” he could have done something different.

“I walked into the situation,” he said, “It was calm to start and escalated from there.”

However, Busch said he does not feel differently about the situation after watching the replays of what happened on the racetrack.

“Nope,” Busch said. “I gave extra room, and when I was dragging the fence, he smashed [into] my door.”

Busch has not talked to Stenhouse since last weekend. He does not anticipate any further contact from Stenhouse in the Coca-Cola 600.

“I don’t need a fight with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.,” Busch said when asked if he’s moved on and it’s over. “I need a fight with the top three guys so I can start winning some races.”