NASCAR: Penalties Expected For Danica Patrick and Kyle Busch
Fontana provided some great racing and finishes for NASCAR this weekend but it also provided some questionable decisions. For Danica Patrick and Kyle Busch those decisions will most likely result in penalties from NASCAR.
Aside from the great racing action and finishes this weekend in both the Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, fans are also talking about the actions of Kyle Busch and Danica Patrick. Both drivers made decisions this weekend that will most likely result in penalties from NASCAR, which are expected to be announced Tuesday or Wednesday.
On Saturday Kyle Busch dominated the NASCAR Xfinity Series race in Fontana only to finish second after blowing a tire on the last lap. Despite the tire issue, Busch was able to complete the lap and almost pull off the win. Following the race Busch was not happy about NASCAR’s decision not to throw a caution when his tire went down. Had NASCAR thrown the caution flag the field would have froze and Busch would have been in the lead and he would have won his fourth consecutive NASCAR Xfinity Series race.
Following the race Busch refused to fulfill his media obligations. Busch declined to talk to reporters on pit road and he did not go to the media center after that. Fulfilling media obligation is a requirement that all NASCAR drivers have to adhere to. Regardless of how Busch felt, he didn’t have the right to blow off those responsibilities. If Busch truly was in a bad place, he should have taken a few minutes in his hauler to collect himself and then he should have went to the media center. Being upset and not wanting to talk to people isn’t how it works in NASCAR and Busch can expect some sort of a fine as a result. NASCAR might even take it a step further and place him on probation.
Then there is Danica Patrick.
On Sunday Patrick had an on-track incident with the lapped car of Kasey Kahne. Patrick was vocal in her post-race actions about how she felt that the lapped No. 5 machine was in the wrong. The Fox broadcasters also seemed to side with Patrick as they agreed that Kahne got into her which caused the hard wreck.
While fault might be up for debate, Patrick’s inappropriate actions after the wreck are not. Patrick was given permission to exit her car after she said she smelled fuel, so she is okay there. However, Patrick choosing to walk up the banking of the live track to display her displeasure for Kahne is not okay. Following the Tony Stewart and Kevin Ward Jr. tragedy NASCAR made it a rule that drivers cannot leave their cars unless there is imminent danger. If a driver does leave their cars for safety reasons, they are not allowed to approach the racing surface. On Sunday Patrick clearly broke that rule and she should be punished as a result.
In Patrick’s case I also believe she will receive a fine. NASCAR might be more likely to place Patrick on probation though given the serious nature of her offense. When a driver does what Patrick did, they are putting themselves and others at risk and there truly is not any place for that in the sport.
More racing: NASCAR: Winners And Losers From Fontana
The bottom line in both of these situations is that both drivers broke NASCAR rules. The rules in both situations are pretty black and white and it’s hard to argue that both drivers are not in the wrong. The only question left is how hard NASCAR wants to come down on them and whether or not they will make an example of both to avoid future drivers from making the same choices.