A frustrated Danica Patrick walked away from a hard crash Sunday after her No. 10 Chevrolet collided with Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 Chevy in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Fontana. She also received a four-race probation.
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Although Patrick remained on the apron of the track while she held her hands up in the air toward Kahne, the rule specifically states “at no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron'”. In his case, Busch failed to make a mandatory post-race appearance before media members after Saturday’s Xfinity Series race. He also has been placed on a four-event probation. According to a rule that was instituted after the fatal accident involving Kevin Ward Jr. and Tony Stewart at a dirt track in NY, drivers are not allowed to go near the apron or racing service following an accident.
In the Xfinity race, won by Austin Dillon, Busch did not attend the post-race press conference.
Patrick, driving the No. 10 TaxAct Chevrolet, had gone low to pass Kahne on the front straightaway and was completing the pass when Kahne pushed into Patrick’s rear driver’s quarter panel, turning her up into the wall.
Last but not least, NASCAR did not penalize Furniture Row Racing crew chief Cole Pearn for ripping Joey Logano on Twitter after the race.
“I saw him chase me down the track, and the next thing I know I was getting spun up the track”, said Patrick, who finished 38th overall.
Busch was angry after the Xfinity race, which he dominated until blowing a tire midway through the final lap at the southern California track. “It’s their decision. I’m sure I’ll hear about it. Unfortunately, that’s their cross to bear”.
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Busch is the reigning Sprint Cup champion, but he is also a regular on NASCAR’s second-level series.
