NASCAR Fines Danica Patrick & Kyle Busch
NASCAR issued a $20,000 fine to Patrick after officials ruled she violated safety rules when she walked towards the race track to gesture at Kasey Kahne, who made contact with Patrick and caused her to crash on the front stretch. Patrick has also been placed on probation for the next four events.
Kahne’s Chevrolet made contact with Patrick on lap 120 of Sunday’s Auto Club 400, turning Patrick’s car into the outside wall. Patrick emerged from the car and walked towards the race track to gesture at Kahne before making her way to the ambulance for the required ride to the infield car center.
The fine is the same amount that NASCAR issued to Trevor Bayne last June after an incident at Dover Int’l Speedway. After a crash at Dover, Bayne exited his car and did not wait for safety officials to tend to him as rules dictate.
Busch has been fined $10,000 for failing to fulfill his post-race media obligations after finishing second in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series event. He has also been placed on probation for the next four events.
Busch was the race leader at the white flag in Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Auto Club Speedway, but entering turn one he blew a tire. He was able to limp his damaged Toyota home second despite NASCAR not calling for a caution flag. He exited his car post-race and returned to his RV, ignoring his post-race media obligations for finishing second.