In-car tape reveals more

MountaineerTom · August 24, 2003

From Thatsracin.com

In-car tape reveals more of Busch-Spencer exchange

Camera catches tirade before punch thrown

By JIM UTTER

ThatsRacin.com Writer

BRISTOL, Tenn. - Kurt Busch engaged in an obscenity-laced tirade with Jimmy Spencer following last Sunday's Winston Cup race at Michigan, at one point yelling at Spencer, "You'll (expletive) die" before Spencer hit him, the in-car camera tape in Busch's No. 97 Ford shows.

NASCAR officials allowed motorsports writers from ThatsRacin.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to view the tape before Saturday night's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Officials with TNT, which broadcast last week's race, did not show the tape during their broadcast Saturday night, but discussed it in the prerace show.

TNT initially denied a request by ThatsRacin.com and the AJC to view the tape, since the network was not using it, but said since NASCAR held proprietary rights to the broadcast, the sanctioning body was free to allow others to view it.

Spencer was suspended until Aug. 26, fined $25,000 and placed on probation through the end of the season for the episode. Busch was also placed on probation.

NASCAR officials viewed the tape Saturday. President Mike Helton declined to comment, saying he considered the matter resolved. Busch's verbal provocation led to NASCAR's probation, sources said.

The view from the in-car camera was out over the hood of Busch's car and showed the car moving through the garage area until coming to a stop next to Spencer's team's hauler. It appears from the tape that Busch shut off the engine of his car.

The entire episode with Spencer, which is caught in audio form only, lasted 48 seconds from the time Busch's car came to a stop to the time Busch exits his car and is seen walking through the garage area.

It begins with Spencer heard yelling, "Get out of that car" repeatedly and is followed by more words from Spencer that are not audible.

Busch then begins to speak.

"You better ... you better ... you better. What ya got? You have the run of your life and you think you got something. One day out of the year, that's 365," Busch said. "Do something. Just (expletive) do something. You'll (expletive) die."

Some inaudible words follow before a sound is heard, apparently coming from Spencer's punch. Seconds later, Busch is seen out the front window of his car walking through the garage.

TNT spokesman Greg Hughes said the network decided not to air the tape because of its mature content. Hughes also said the only relevant portions are audible only and "don't make for a good TV broadcast."

In the days following the incident, Roush Racing officials, and the Busch, had said Busch's car ran out of gas in the garage.

During a news conference Friday at Bristol, Busch said, "I have never intentionally tried to hurt Jimmy Spencer, or any other competitor for that matter. ... I have never purposely or intentionally hurt Jimmy Spencer."

A transcript of Busch's radio communications with his team during the race, included Busch making disparaging remarks toward Spencer and a claim he intentionally tried to "flatten ... the fender" of Spencer's car.

Officials with Roush Racing and Ultra Motorsports, which owns Spencer's No. 7 Dodge, declined to comment Saturday.

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He got what he deserved, in my opinion. To bad he wasn't suspended.

Elwood · August 24, 2003

Did anyone hear Harvick's post race interview when he was cutting on Busch?

Pretty funny.

Truckman031 · August 24, 2003

Kurt Busch is a little punk. I hope he gets more where that came from.

tmf6902 · August 24, 2003

I could care less....I just wish I could get NASCAR through something like NHL Center Ice, or the NFL package on Directv....You miss so much, becaue they have to be so d**n PC, and show all their stupid commercials.....

JonesNTN · August 24, 2003

Sounds like Kurt Busch really don't care what anybody thinks. I was hoping Musgrave would give him a little tap last night.

rervf23 · August 24, 2003

For a guy who is on probation, I wonder how he got away with spinning out Marlin last night. After all, I think that Marlin is Spencer's teammate, isn't he? And nothing was done. He was told before the race if he did anything wrong, he would be called in for a penalty.

rervf23 · August 25, 2003

Ooops - upon further review, Spencer in NOT Marlin's teammate. Spencer is now driving for Ultra Motorsports. Anyway, Busch is still a bonehead punk with a big mouth.

Shadowfax · August 25, 2003

I was real disappointed with the Cup broadcast on sat night. They kept sucking up to him like he was some kinda guy that had overcome some sort of great disease or something.

In other words they kept playing him off like some sorta aids victim or something.

Hecktorx · August 25, 2003

I was real disappointed with the Cup broadcast on sat night. They kept sucking up to him like he was some kinda guy that had overcome some sort of great disease or something.

In other words they kept playing him off like some sorta aids victim or something.

I agree. They made this big story about the guy, making it look like he did something great. All he did was drive someone elses car.

According to this new information, Jimmy just gave him something that he asked for, literally.

antig24 · August 25, 2003

The one thing that made me mad was that they played the thing on rubberhead instead of the victory lap program with past champions.

General Lee 01 · August 25, 2003

The one thing that made me mad was that they played the thing on rubberhead instead of the victory lap program with past champions.

I'm glad I missed the race then, cause I would've been ticked off.

Kevin Harvick said it best. "He is a cockylittle punk, but he can drive."

MountaineerTom · August 25, 2003

Did anyone hear Harvick's post race interview when he was cutting on Busch?

Pretty funny.

The best was what Sterling Marlin had to say after the race. This is not his exact quote, but it was something to the effect of "...it was a bonehead move. I guess Jimmy didn't get him good enough." Then he was laughing as he walked away.

Truckman031 · August 25, 2003

Did anyone hear Harvick's post race interview when he was cutting on Busch?

Pretty funny.

The best was what Sterling Marlin had to say after the race. This is not his exact quote, but it was something to the effect of "...it was a bonehead move. I guess Jimmy didn't get him good enough." Then he was laughing as he walked away.