Chase Elliott chastised NASCAR for fining driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. $75,000 for hitting Kyle Busch after the All-Star Race on Sunday night, citing video of the brawl on social media.
It was the biggest fine ever imposed for fighting in NASCAR history.
Elliott, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, said he knew Stenhouse had been penalized but was taken aback when he learned the amount from a member of the media.
“That seems like a lot for that situation,” Elliott remarked. “You’re going to fine him, but you’re going to promote from it? So, what are we doing? That seems weird to me. That’s a lot of money to fine anybody. It’s like, ‘It’s not okay, but we’re going to blast it everywhere to get more clicks.'”
Elliott was alluding to NASCAR publishing a video of the fight at North Wilkesboro Speedway on the social media site X with the caption: “We’ll call this a… difference of opinion.”
Busch was not penalized.
Stenhouse’s father, Ricky Sr., who has no involvement with his son’s team, was punished indefinitely by NASCAR on Wednesday for his role in the brawl when he confronted Busch. Clint Myrick, a Stenhouse mechanic, was suspended for eight races and Keith Matthews, an engine tuner, for four races for their involvement in the incident.
Stenhouse and Busch collided on the first lap, and Busch appeared to intentionally wreck Stenhouse on the subsequent lap. Stenhouse rolled his damaged Chevrolet down pit lane and into Busch’s pit stall. He then mounted the spotter’s ladder and spoke with members of Busch’s crew before returning to his container.
Stenhouse stewed in the infield for approximately two hours, waiting for Busch to finish the race before confronting him and throwing a punch, sparking a confrontation between the teams.
“I think, really, what we all want is consistency and knowing what the rules are and what’s okay and what’s not OK,” All-Star Race winner Joey Logano said. “That is all you ask for. Whether it’s the car, restarts, or apparent altercations, all I want to know is what the regulations are. What will be the cost of making this decision, and is it worthwhile? That’s really how it has to be; I’m just striving for consistency so that it’s always the same, which I know is difficult to achieve. That’s a lot to ask, because each case is unique. It is a matter of judgment. “There is no black and white.”
Stenhouse and Busch plan to race on Sunday.
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