Posted on 08/18/2003 5:16:33 AM PDT by Salo
Spencer could face charges BY MIKE HARRIS Associated Press
BROOKLYN, MICH.--NASCAR driver Jimmy Spencer could face assault charges after allegedly attacking fellow competitor Kurt Busch following Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400.
As the drivers came onto pit lane at Michigan International Speedway following the checkered flag, Spencer drove into the rear of Busch's car and spun it around.
Witnesses said Spencer then got out of his car, raced up to Busch's car and punched Busch several times in the face. Sheriff's deputies pulled Spencer away and took him to the NASCAR hauler.
The witnesses said Busch, who finished 18th after running out of gas while running second one lap from the end, was holding a bloody towel to his face when he entered the track medical facility.
Jeff Patterson, spokesman for the Lenawee County Sheriff's Dept., confirmed to The Associated Press that his department was investigating an assault charge against Spencer, who finished 26th.
Both drivers left the track without comment. Busch, the left side of his face looking puffy, drove away in his own car. Spencer, smoking a fat cigar and looking straight ahead, was driven away by his wife, Pat.
This is the latest episode in a feud that was sparked when Busch bumped past Spencer in March 2002 at Bristol Motor Speedway to get his first Winston Cup victory.
There have been several on-course incidents since.
One came last August in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. After Spencer hit Busch from behind, knocking him into the wall, Busch gestured at Spencer as he drove by and later called Spencer a "decrepit old has-been."
Spencer replied: "I think Kurt has a lot to learn, and some of that is to control his mouth."
Despite the on-track incidents and harsh words, though, there have been no previous physical confrontations.
On Sunday, their cars appeared to bump several times when Busch passed Spencer late in the race.
"They were right in front of me and they rubbed a little bit. They haven't been friends for quite a while," race winner Ryan Newman said.
"NASCAR spoke with both drivers about the incident that occurred today. If we should take any actions, we'll announce it at an appropriate time," NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo said. "They spoke with NASCAR inside (the hauler) and (NASCAR officials) are going over the incident right now."
Jack Roush, who owns Busch's car, said, "Kurt says that his car ran out of gas and stopped running ... Jimmy then ran into him and came up and punched him through the window. There were words exchanged. I don't know what was said. We're going to let the authorities handle it.
Roush said the local sheriff's department was taking statements from the drivers since the incident occurred after the race.
"Of course, it's primarily in (NASCAR president) Mike Helton's hands to decide what he needs to do with Jimmy after these repeated assaults that he's had, either on the racetrack or the rest of it," Roush said. "Jimmy has had a history of being overly aggressive."
Jeff Miles, the transport driver for Spencer, said, "I know he tried to put Jimmy in the fence on the straightaway." Robby Gordon, another Winston Cup driver, offered to pay Spencer's fine and said Busch "had it coming for a while."
"Gentlemen, and Jimmy Spencer, start your engines!"
Sums it up nicely.
"Gentlemen, and Jimmy Spencer, start your engines!"
That was John-Boy Isley of the John-Boy & Billy morning radio program.
John-Boy on the left
My opinion? Glad you asked. It's about time Spencer busted that punk right in the nose. Mike Helton is turning a blind eye to the crazy driving of all the "young guns" and this is what happens.
As far as Busch is concerned? He should have left his helmet on until he made it to the garage.
NASCAR officials get their training from the WWE.
Actually, Busch said Spencer was A NEVER-WAS, which is entirely correct.
Hogwash. The thing I like about the young guns like Newman, Harvick, Junior, and Busch is their drive to win, even if it means some bump and run and other risky moves. Too many of the older drivers in NASCAR are content to finish well and work the points battle, give me a win at all costs guy any time. Crap, watching the guys in the 60s and 70s and there was plenty of feudin' and love taps to go around. Hell, the new guys have injected some great feuds and rivalries, something that sadly slipped away with the untimely death fo Earnhardt.
As well, Jimmy Spencer criticizing anyones driving strikes me as hypocritical. He didn't get the "Mr. Excitement" tag for nothin'.
But all seriousness aside, I always try to tune them in when I'm down south. I especially enjoy the commentary by the old fart, Raiford?
And since you asked, it's always nice to see a little passion from the drivers, other than Rusty-esque sniveling to an interviewer after a race. However, I have to say that it is beyond time that Spencer be banished to the Truck Series. He's wrecked more people in one weekend that most drivers had in their careers.
Anyway, he's a Yankee!
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