NASCAR suspended racer Kurt Busch on Monday for verbally assaulting a reporter. The occurrence took place following last weekend's Nationwide race at Dover.
The suspension, which lasts until June 13, prohibits Busch from competing in any NASCAR racing event in the coming weeks. Busch can count himself out of the Pocono Sprint Cup race this coming Sunday.
Prior to his most recent suspension, Busch was on probation for inappropriate behavior after last month's Southern 500.
The racer's initial goal was to learn to control his anger, in attempts at being a more high-profile driver in the coming season. His future in doing so may be bleak with this new suspension, not even half way through the season.
Earlier in the year, Busch was asked by Sports Illustrated about his last encounter with trouble. He responded, "To me, I've been up and down. A guy that I always looked up to, Mark Martin, he said, 'Draw a line and try to stay in the middle.' It's funny how times where I get excited and drag myself back into a hole. I've got to work my way out of this but it's going to be fun because I don't shy from challenges."
Busch will have quite the challenge, as he continues to upset fans and remains a spectacle in the media. Although Busch provided an apology for his behavior towards the reporter, it was much too late to take back the order of his suspension.
Speed analyst Larry McReynolds told Sports Illustrated, "He alone is holding his career in the palm of his hands and he's absolutely throwing it away. It makes me want to shake him and say, 'Kurt, please take a look at what you're doing."
