Tapes show Busch tried to damage Spencer's car

The Mercury News ^ | Jim Utter

[Hal1950]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Winston Cup driver Kurt Busch disparaged Jimmy Spencer and acknowledged he tried to "flatten the fender" of Spencer's car during Sunday's race at Michigan, according to a transcript of Busch's radio conversations with his team.

The transcript, obtained by That's Racin.com, and the radio version obtained by Speed Channel cover an exchange Busch made with his team during a caution on Lap 135 of the 200-lap race.

Busch: "See, I'm not very good at being bad. I was trying to flatten the 7 car fender and I got mine. I needed to be further forward on his car."

Response from pit: "(static) They just showed that on TV. You just missed by about an inch or two. (static) Ah, not far enough forward."

Busch: "Inches only count unless you're playing horseshoes and hand grenades. Ah, I don't want to play either with that clown."

Response from pit: "I hear ya, man."

After the race, Busch stopped his No. 97 Ford in front of Spencer's team hauler. Spencer pulled his No. 7 Dodge in behind Busch and got out of his car. After the two traded obscenities, Spencer punched Busch while Busch was still sitting in his car.

On Monday, NASCAR suspended Spencer through Aug. 26, fined him $25,000 and placed him on probation through the end of the year. Busch was also placed on probation. Police in Michigan are investigating the incident.

Both teams appealed the punishments. Spencer's appeal will be heard at 8:30 a.m. today in Bristol, Tenn., site of Saturday night's Sharpie 500. Roush's appeal had not been set as of Tuesday night.

Busch was fined by NASCAR last year after saying he had bumped Robby Gordon because he needed to bring out a caution in The Winston.

After being informed of Busch's radio conversations Tuesday night, Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president for corporate communications, issued a statement: "I am sure the commission will be very thorough and I am sure they will have all the pertinent information."

Tommy Baldwin, Spencer's crew chief, said he and two members of his Ultra Motorsports team heard Busch's comments, which could be picked up on Busch's team's scanner frequency, during the race, and Spencer was told of them when the race ended.

"Kurt Busch has turned into Jimmy on more than one occasion without anything happening. What he said on the radio, those things he says about everybody with that smarta_mouth, and it's about time something happened," Baldwin said. "(Busch) said it, and it proves he was trying to get into Jimmy."

[Moose4]

Aw hell, they wuz just racin'.

Heck, anybody who's followed NASCAR for any length of time knows this stuff happens. Remember the '77 Daytona 500?

I guess Busch won't be dumb enough to admit it over the radio next time. That's a stupid move when half the fans in the stands have scanners and your radio audio is available for listening on the Internet.

}:-)4

[freedomcrusader]

Give them both the rest of the season to cool off.

[winodog]

I agree. I would also like to see more people get their lights punched out while they are sitting in the car.
At the end of every race right before the winner is awarded the trophy they can cut away to the pits where the real action is going down.
Kurt cannot do anything about it either. He cannot whup mongo and now NASCAR will be watching him real close to make sure he doesnt run mongo into a wall.

[Lynn]

all's fair in love and racin'....till someone gets killed...

[nowings]

NASCAR a.k.a. NAPCAR / NASCRAP / WWF fake fake fake

[Arrowhead1952]

Tapes show Busch tried to damage Spencer's car

The left will try to spin this as "Tapes show Bush tried to damage Spencer's car

[Darksheare]

Is that the guy that bumped two others, who then teamed up to shove him around a bit?

[mbynack]

If Busch actually did do that it was pretty stupid to try and stupid to talk about it on the radio. It reminds me of Harvick last year when he announced over the radio that he was going to spin the car ahead of him on the restart.

[Rodney King]

Huh?

[Just another Joe]

WWF fake fake fake

That's WWE fake fake fake.
They're still athletes.

[arichtaxpayer]

I have not liked Busch since he called Spencer a "has been, but I guess he never was". The youngsters in the sport are there today because of what the older drivers have done through the years. I like Jimmy because he is a "what you see is what you get" kinda guy, and he should have kept his cool. But on the other hand, Busch tried to damage Spencer's car at 190 mph, that should have a harsh penalty too. Oh well, can't wait till Bristol!

[giznort]

Remember a couple of years ago, Dave Marcis had someone come over and put their fist through his window to punch him. 'Ole Dave grabbed him and pulled him in the car and proceeded to clean house. NASCAR ought to let these two boobs straighten it out outta sight of the public.

[tubebender]

Day old ping...