[Quality88]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart hit Kurt Busch with more than his car on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
The two-time Sprint Cup champion also hit Busch with his fist inside a NASCAR hauler, sources close to the situation confirmed on Saturday.
The second incident occurred while the drivers discussed the first incident with series director John Darby and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton.
Officials from NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing would neither confirm nor deny the punch occurred, saying what happens in the hauler stays in the hauler.
Darby, however, said a Saturday morning meeting, which was called to give all parties time to cool off, was less "hostile."
"Partially, I wanted to make sure that in the heat of everything last night our message was delivered very clearly to both competitors," he said. "So we let them go back to the buses and sleep on it overnight."
The message? That both drivers should go out of their way to avoid each other during Saturday's two practice sessions for Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout and the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

ESPN - Sources: Stewart punched Kurt Busch while pair were in NASCAR hauler - Nascar

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by Quality88

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Tony Stewart hit Kurt Busch with more than his car on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.
The two-time Sprint Cup champion also hit Busch with his fist inside a NASCAR hauler, sources close to the situation confirmed on Saturday.
The second incident occurred while the drivers discussed the first incident with series director John Darby and vice president of competition Robin Pemberton.
Officials from NASCAR, Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing would neither confirm nor deny the punch occurred, saying what happens in the hauler stays in the hauler.
Darby, however, said a Saturday morning meeting, which was called to give all parties time to cool off, was less "hostile."
"Partially, I wanted to make sure that in the heat of everything last night our message was delivered very clearly to both competitors," he said. "So we let them go back to the buses and sleep on it overnight."
The message? That both drivers should go out of their way to avoid each other during Saturday's two practice sessions for Saturday night's Budweiser Shootout and the Daytona 500 on Feb. 17.

ESPN - Sources: Stewart punched Kurt Busch while pair were in NASCAR hauler - Nascar

From Marketing 101: There is no such thing as "bad" publicity. If you're selling something, any publicity you get for your product which doesn't reflect damage to the customer will inevitably make you money.

Bottom line: NA__AR loves confrontations such as the one Bush and Stewie were in. In fact I wouldn't be a bit surprised if this "punches thrown" story was "leaked" to the media by NA__AR itself.

[jks812]

I was kinda hoping that this was leading up to a rivalry that would have been fun to watch. But after all the sucking up and the mushy comments they made about each other today, I guess Nascar put a stop to it.

[ScottRide]

I agree that it would have been a fun rivalry to watch. Things like this are what get the border-line fans to watch the sport.

[Quality88]

I saw the wreck... didn't look like Stewart intentionally got Busch... obviously Busch intentionally got into Stewart. So much for NA$CAR sayin they are gonna let drivers be drivers. If they fine'em they will already contradict themselves before the season officially kicks off.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Quality88

I saw the wreck... didn't look like Stewart intentionally got Busch... obviously Busch intentionally got into Stewart. So much for NA$CAR sayin they are gonna let drivers be drivers. If they fine'em they will already contradict themselves before the season officially kicks off.

My understanding is, and correct me if I'm wrong, that Busch is now on probation.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

"What happens in the Hauler stays in the Hauler"...now there is a New NASCAR slogan for you...

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

My understanding is, and correct me if I'm wrong, that Busch is now on probation.

There's a shocker. Wow, probation. Repeat offender.

[Jeffrey4396]

Originally Posted by Quality88

If they fine'em they will already contradict themselves before the season officially kicks off.

I will understand if Nascar fines Busch. It is one thing to let the drivers duke it out in person or on track it is another to do it in and area that may potentially put others in danger (pit road). I think if the incident only involves the two drivers then yes it is boys will be boys. If it dangerously draws others in then yes fine them.

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

My understanding is, and correct me if I'm wrong, that Busch is now on probation.

I don't think he is on probation yet but was last year after the previous pit problem with Stewart.

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey4396

It is one thing to let the drivers duke it out in person or on track it is another to do it in and area that may potentially put others in danger (pit road).

It's OK to intentially bang each other up on the track???

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by tbalt

It's OK to intentially bang each other up on the track???

What happens on the track happens on the track. If they start beatin and bangin like days of old, it will be good. Now things may escalate, but after a few times of it happenin, the rest of the drivers will step down on those that start gettin out of control. It will go back to fender bendin door bangin action.

[tbalt]

Originally Posted by Quality88

What happens on the track happens on the track. If they start beatin and bangin like days of old, it will be good. Now things may escalate, but after a few times of it happenin, the rest of the drivers will step down on those that start gettin out of control. It will go back to fender bendin door bangin action.

Where were these views in the past when Tony and Matt were banging each other on the track.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by tbalt

Where were these views in the past when Tony and Matt were banging each other on the track.

I wanted to see it progress between the two, but NA$CAR wouldn't let it happen. If NA$CAR would have let it progress, the rest of the drivers would have stepped on them.

The biggest thing about Tony and Matt was, Tony runnin his mouth in the shootout about someone gonna get killed with the way they pushed and shoved everyone, then goes out in the 500 and tries to kill Matt.

[tbalt]

Thats what I knew your reply would be, yeah that was another Stewart open mouth insert foot thing.