In May, NASCAR drivers Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Kyle Busch were involved in a physical altercation following the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Stenhouse Jr. was fined $75,000 by NASCAR but was allowed to continue racing. He completed the remainder of the 2024 season, though he did not qualify for the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
Stenhouse’s father, Ricky Stenhouse Sr., faced a more severe penalty, as he was suspended indefinitely for his involvement in the incident. However, that suspension has now been lifted, according to a report by Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports.
“Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s dad, who was suspended from NASCAR following the Kyle Busch fight at the all-star race in May, has been reinstated (which means he can be in the garage/pits during race weekends),” Pockrass tweeted on Tuesday.
The altercation began after Stenhouse Jr. wrecked on the second lap of the All-Star Race, blaming Busch for the incident. He waited several hours to confront Busch and eventually threw a punch at the veteran driver.
Stenhouse Sr. also got involved, throwing a punch, which led to his suspension. Following the incident, Stenhouse Jr. remarked that his father “likes to fight.”
“He’s a dirt racer from back home. I saw him, and I just wanted to make sure everybody wasn’t going to [pummel him] or each other,” Stenhouse Jr. said. “It looked like all the crew guys were grabbing each other, including him. They were just grabbing each other.”
Along with the penalties given to the Stenhouses, two members of JTG Daugherty Racing’s crew—mechanic Clint Myrick and tuner Keith Matthews—were suspended for eight and four Cup Series races, respectively.
NASCAR has now made its decision regarding Ricky Stenhouse Sr. after his suspension.
