Kurt Busch (NASCAR/Getty Images)NASCAR on Monday suspended driver Kurt Busch until June 13 for his verbal tirade after Saturday's Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway.
Busch had been asked a question by Sporting News reporter Bob Pockrass related to Busch's on- and off-track confrontation with driver Justin Allgaier. Busch replied by threatening to beat Pockrass while Speed TV's cameras were taping him.
The suspension means that Busch will not be allowed to compete in this weekend's race at Pocono Raceway for his Phoenix Racing team. NASCAR cited his verbal abuse of a member of the media and the fact that he was already on probation until July 25 for an incident at Darlington in which his crew mixed it up with Ryan Newman's crew after the race.
NASCAR also extended Busch's probation until the end of the year.
UPDATE:
Kurt Busch has released a statement on his suspension. It says, "I accept NASCAR's decision. I put them in a box, they had to take action and it's my fault for putting them in this position. I apologize for the comments I made to Bob Pockrass."
Here is video of the incident: