Childress upset with NASCAR's lack of action toward Busch; Busch claims tap was 'congratulatory'

Richard Childress addresses media outside the No. 31 hauler at Pocono Raceway
on Friday morning. Credit: Karel Zubris for Skirts and Scuffs

Nearly a week after Richard Childress repeatedly struck Kyle Busch in the garage following the Kansas truck race, the team owner said Friday at Pocono Raceway that he was upset NASCAR didn't penalize Busch's actions on the race's cool-down lap.

But Busch claimed the move was a "congratulatory bump" and that Childress never warned him about damaging any Richard Childress Racing equipment either prior to or after the pit road incident that occurred at Darlington.

Childress gave a short statement to the media Friday at Pocono outside the No. 31 hauler of Jeff Burton, but refused to take questions afterward.

"I agree that NASCAR should have done something to me," said Childress, who was penalized with a $150,000 fine and probation until the end of the year for his actions toward Busch. "I don't agree that they didn't handle the situation that happened on the cool-down lap."

During Saturday's truck race at Kansas, Busch and Childress' driver Joey Coulter raced each other hard in the closing laps. On the cool-down lap, Busch ran into the right side of Coulter's truck. Afterward in the garage area, Childress struck Busch with his fist, then put Busch in a headlock and struck Busch again before the two were separated.

On Sunday, NASCAR said the attack was unprovoked, clearing Busch, and that Busch's actions on the cool-down lap did not violate his probation following a Darlington incident involving Kevin Harvick on pit road.

Childress also said Friday, "Hopefully Kyle and myself will both end up learning something from this."

Kyle Busch addresses media at Pocono Raceway
on Friday. Credit: Karel Zubris for Skirts and Scuffs

During his media center appearance Friday, Busch was asked if he had a better understanding of what led to Childress' actions a week after the fact.

"Me giving Joey Coulter a congratulatory bump is what tipped him over the edge," Busch said. He added that "the kid did what he was supposed to do" by racing Busch for position at the end of the race.

Busch said as one owner to another, he would have paid for the damage to the truck had Childress talked to him about it.

"If he came up to me and was so upset about it, I would have offered him money to fix it," Busch said."

Busch said he didn't realize the extent of damage to Childress' truck. Upon learning that Childress had to fly out two body hangers to prepare the same truck for Texas this week, Bush said it was his fault for instigating the contact, and he was sorry to hear of the ensuing damage.

Busch also said contrary to media reports, Childress never warned him about damaging RCR equipment, either after Darlington or at any other moment in time.

"I don't recall any kind of face-to-face conversation where Richard did tell me 'if you touch another one of my cars I'm going to come find you,'" Busch said.

"There was no malicious intent to be involved in damaging or hurting an RCR vehicle. Did RC ever tell me anything? No. We were in the NASCAR hauler at Darlington after the race - he never said a word in there."


Full statement from Richard Childress:

"Here is the deal. I am going to make one statement on this deal. I appreciate everyone's patience during the last week when I couldn't talk to everyone. I guess the main thing is I take all responsibility for my actions last week. I am very passionate about this sport. I'm very passionate about my race teams, our fans and I let my emotions get, come in front of the way of my passion. But that is behind us. I guess the next thing is the fine was levied against me, I'm going to pay it personal. I agree that NASCAR should have done something with me. I don't agree that they didn't handle the situation that happened on the cool-down lap. With that said, we had a lot of fans send in donations last week toward our fine, I will pay it personally. All that money that's been sent in and still coming in, we're going to take it and donate it to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. At least in every bad situation, something good will come out of it. Hopefully Kyle and myself will both end up learning something from this. Thank you all very much. Talk to you later. That's it."