Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Busch may need surgery

Kurt Busch said he might need reconstructive surgery as a result of being punched in the face by fellow driver Jimmy Spencer following Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.

Busch, a Las Vegas native, said he suffered tissue damage that has affected his breathing, although he said he would compete in Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Busch underwent surgery last December to correct a deviated septum, according to his mother, Gaye Busch.

"I have swelling on the left side of my face that is not expected to heal for three months," Kurt Busch said in a statement released by Roush Racing. "My breathing has been affected and although it will not affect my ability to race, it will make breathing with a helmet on more uncomfortable.

"I have been told that there is some tissue damage and that there is a 15 percent chance that I will require reconstructive surgery to repair the damage. That assessment will not be made until the swelling dissipates."

Busch said he also suffered a chipped tooth in the incident.

According to an eyewitness, Busch's car ran out of gas in the vicinity of Spencer's hauler in the garage area following Sunday's race. When Spencer got to his hauler, he ran into the back of Busch's car and then got out of his car and struck Busch in the face while Busch still was seated in his car.

Busch said that he and Spencer exchanged words before Spencer punched him.

"I ran out of gas when I got into the garage area and Jimmy Spencer ran into the back of my car," Busch said. "I was still in the car when he approached me with obvious anger.

"Words were exchanged, but I was still strapped in my seat with my helmet off when he struck me in the face. He broke my tooth and bloodied my nose."

Spencer then ran into his hauler, where he was apprehended by two Lenawee (Mich.) Country Sheriff's deputies who witnessed the attack. The deputies then escorted Spencer to the NASCAR trailer. A spokesman for the sheriff's office, which is investigating assault charges against Spencer, told the Associated Press that it would wait until at least today to turn over its report to prosecutors.

NASCAR on Monday announced that Spencer would be fined $25,000, suspended for this weekend's NASCAR races at Bristol and placed on probation until Dec. 31.

"This was a very unfortunate situation," NASCAR president Mike Helton said in announcing the penalties. "Emotions are a part of every sport, NASCAR Winston Cup racing included. However, there is a fine line. In this instance, that fine line was crossed."

Busch said he was pleased with the penalties NASCAR levied against Spencer.

"I appreciate that NASCAR has recognized that Jimmy's assault went beyond the level of a 'racing incident,' " Busch said. "I have been concerned by media comments characterizing Jimmy's involvement with me as a 'rivalry,' 'duel' or 'fight' -- all which carry a connotation that I actively participate in this type of behavior.

"Our racing Sunday was hard and clean. NASCAR's fine and suspension demonstrate and acknowledge for me their agreement that this was a unilateral assault which required serious punishment and for that I thank NASCAR."

However, Busch also was placed on probation until Dec. 31 for his part in the altercation -- a move that angered Busch's team owner, Jack Roush.

"It is incomprehensible to me that NASCAR used this incident to place Kurt Busch on probation," Roush said. "His only involvement in the 'altercation' was to be the recipient of a blow struck by an individual that is twice his size.

"Drivers, as do others in the garage, often exchange heated words and in my memory, no one has even been penalized for words spoken in private to one another. We intend to promptly file an appropriate appeal against this penalty..."

Spencer said in a two-sentence statement that he intends to appeal his fine and suspension.

"I will always protect myself and my race team," Spencer said. "We are going to appeal the penalty and we are going to do so in accordance to the NASCAR rule book."

Spencer apparently was angry with Busch over two bumping incidents as Busch passed Spencer during Sunday's race.

Jason Allen, a local racer and friend of Busch's, was at the track Sunday and said Spencer ran into Busch's car both on pit road and in the garage before the punching incident.

"They came off the racetrack and (Spencer) hit (Busch) on pit lane and then Kurt pulled into the garage and (Spencer) spun him in the garage," Allen said. "Kurt tried to fire up his car and he was out of gas. Jimmy basically came over and was jumping up and down like a boxer and coldcocked him while Kurt was still sitting in the car.

"Jimmy was saying, 'Come out of the car, let's see what you've got, let's see what kind of man you are,' and then he hit him and turned around and ran into his trailer. It was a pretty bizarre deal."

The bad blood between Busch and Spencer goes back to October 2001, when they were involved in an incident at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch was running in 14th place late in the race when he attempted to pass Spencer, who was a lap down. After Busch completed the pass, Spencer tapped the rear of Busch's car and turned him sideways. Ryan Newman, who had nowhere to go, ran into the driver's-side door of Busch's car.

Busch had to pit several times to repair the damage to his car and wound up with a 22nd-place finish. "(Spencer has) got one coming," Busch said over his radio to his crew. "It might not be today, it might not be this year, but he's got one coming."

Busch said he had that incident in the back of his mind the following spring when he bumped Spencer out of the lead at Bristol en route to Busch's first career Winston Cup victory. Four months later, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Spencer tapped Busch from behind and sent him spinning into the outside wall during the Brickyard 400.

Busch called Spencer an "old, decrepit has-been" after the incident and both drivers were summoned to the NASCAR trailer at Indianapolis. There had been no major on-track incidents involving the two drivers until Sunday.

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