| | | | | | FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHT | What happened? | |
| | By Marty Smith / ESPN.com Somebody has to give it to the fans straight. Why is everyone skipping over Stewart punching Busch? What happened?
First of all, NASCAR sent more than one clear message to the industry Tuesday with the decision to place Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch on six weeks' probation, and nothing more, for the Friday Night Fight: 1. Brian France wasn't just whistlin' Dixie last month when he said NASCAR would open up its tolerance for drivers to show raw emotion; and 2. The Phone Booth is vacuum-sealed.
Now, the punch. In a week bursting with meaty story lines -- Junior's storybook triumph in the Budweiser Shootout, Michael Waltrip's ongoing resurrection and the initial step for Jimmie Johnson in a potential march into history -- most of the questions centered on that swing.
Multiple sources close to both drivers confirmed it happened in a closed-door meeting with NASCAR officials Friday night. Verbal quickly escalated to physical, and physical, according to sources, lasted for all of one punch. That's all we have.
The drivers aren't talking, both quick to deflect and dismiss it as they look anxiously forward to the Daytona 500. And NASCAR isn't talking, again making certain to note that what happens inside the mobile command post stays inside the mobile command post.
(So, then, shall we call the NASCAR 18-wheeler "Vegas" henceforth? For four years, people have searched for a suitable replacement moniker for what, when Winston was the lead sponsor of the Cup Series, was termed "The Big Red Truck." The Phone Booth was the initial thought. But now I like Vegas -- the whole what happens here, stays here mantra.)
Competitors now know unequivocally that they have full confidentiality in voicing whatever displeasure they may have. That was NASCAR's biggest concern in this instance -- that the competitors would never question the privacy of matters broached inside the trailer, no matter how inflammatory the respective situation may be.
And it also redefines the term "probation" in NASCAR.
NASCAR officials are still mulling what the term means, but plan for more specific parameters for drivers placed on probation. Vice president of competition Robin Pemberton said if a driver is placed on probation, he'll know what that means and for how long, and repeat offenses will be treated more severely with more specific punishments.
For example, if Stewart and Busch tangle again during the six-week probation, NASCAR will react harshly.
"Expect us to drop the hammer," vice president of communications Jim Hunter said.
Pemberton said they could go as far as suspension.
NASCAR's decision is a good thing. We need emotion in this sport. | | Posted February 15, 2008 , 11:16 pm EST
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