Ricky Stenhouse Sr., the father of NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr., has officially had his suspension lifted by NASCAR, allowing him to return to the garage and pits during race weekends. The news, shared by FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass, confirms that Stenhouse Sr., who had been sidelined following a major post-race altercation at the All-Star Race in May, is now allowed back into NASCAR events.
Pockrass took to social media to break the news, stating:
“Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s dad, who was suspended from NASCAR following the Kyle Busch fight at the All-Star race in May, has been reinstated (which means he can be in the garage/pits during race weekends).”
The suspension came after a heated confrontation following the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The race ended in chaos as tensions boiled over between Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch. Stenhouse Jr. threw the first punch after the race, with Stenhouse Sr. quickly stepping in and getting involved in the altercation. He not only jumped into the melee but also managed to land a punch on Busch, escalating the situation further.
Reflecting on the incident during an appearance on the *Stacking Pennies* podcast, Stenhouse Jr. shared his thoughts, explaining his father’s actions and the chaotic scene in the pits:
“Dirt racer from back home. I saw him and I was just making sure everybody wasn’t gonna [pummel him] or each other,” he said. “And it looked like all the crew guys were grabbing each other, him included. Just grabbing each other.”
The fallout from the brawl was swift. NASCAR handed down several penalties in response to the incident. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was slapped with a $75,000 fine, and two of his crew members were suspended. Additionally, Stenhouse Sr.’s suspension was put into effect, barring him from NASCAR events.
Elton Sawyer, NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Competition, addressed the situation in an interview with NASCAR.com. He made it clear that NASCAR has a zero-tolerance policy for crew members or family members who physically engage with drivers.
“I think it’s fair to say that when you have crew members and family members that put their hands on our drivers, we’re going to react,” Sawyer explained.
While NASCAR’s leadership acknowledged the right of drivers to express their emotions after high-stakes races, they emphasized that the line is drawn when those emotions turn into physical confrontations, particularly when non-drivers get involved.
“Once we get to the point where it gets physical, we want the two drivers to be able to have time to express their differences,” Sawyer said. “Once it escalates to a physical altercation, we are going to react.”
Sawyer also commented on the buildup to the altercation, suggesting that different decisions could have been made leading up to the post-race fight.
“When you wait 198 laps and you make those decisions that were made, again, we’re going to react to that. … Granted there was no tunnel, granted there was no crossover bridge (to allow Stenhouse Jr. to leave the track), better decisions could have been made throughout that period of time between the incident on the race track and the incident in the garage post-race.”
The suspension of Stenhouse Sr. highlighted NASCAR’s strict enforcement of its rules regarding physical altercations, especially involving those not directly driving in the races. Family members, crew members, and anyone else involved in a physical altercation are subject to penalties, as NASCAR continues to prioritize safety and sportsmanship on and off the track.
While the incident brought significant penalties and sanctions, the decision to reinstate Stenhouse Sr. signals that NASCAR is ready to move forward. Stenhouse Sr. can now once again be present in the garage and pits during race weekends, putting the incident behind him.
As NASCAR continues to enforce its strict policies regarding post-race conduct, this reinstatement is a reminder of the delicate balance the sport must maintain between allowing drivers to air their grievances and keeping altercations under control. With Stenhouse Sr. back in the mix, it’s likely that both father and son will keep a close eye on how they handle future conflicts to avoid another round of penalties.
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Dad Returns After Shocking NASCAR Suspension Over Kyle Busch Fight!
