NASCAR was threatening very heavy penalties Sunday after tempers ran hot during the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire International Speedway. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said after the race that penalties against several drivers involved in incidents Sunday would be announced by Tuesday, at the latest. “We’re going to do whatever we need to do, whether it’s to park a guy for a week or park a guy for nine weeks,” Hunter said. “We’re going to do whatever we need to do to prevent retaliation on the racetrack, particularly under the caution [flag], because under the caution they’re endangering other people. There are safety vehicles riding around and they don’t have rollcages and all the things these drivers have around them, so we’ll do whatever we need to do.” The race was marred by 10 caution flags, many of them brought out by collisions that sent one or more cars into the wall.
On lap 165 of the 300-lap race, rookie Kyle Busch bumped Kasey Kahne, last year’s top rookie, sending him hard into the wall. Kahne restarted his battered car and drove it slowly along the bottom of the track until Busch came by in turn one. Kahne then shot up the track, hitting Busch in the left front. “There are times when things happen and you end up crashing and hitting other cars, but we just got taken out,” Kahne said. “If people are going to run over you for no reason and think they’re going to get away with it, you just go out there and ruin their day, too. That’s the way I feel.” NASCAR parked Kahne for the rest of the day and summoned the driver and team owner Ray Evernham to its hauler following the race.
Joe Nemechek and Mike Bliss collided on lap 191, sending Bliss into the wall on turn one. Seconds later, after the yellow flag was displayed, Michael Waltrip hit Robby Gordon, sending Gordon into the wall and spinning out Sterling Marlin. Gordon, his car smashed on both ends, waited until Waltrip came past again and tried to back into him, missing Waltrip and nearly hitting points leader Tony Stewart, who had to stop to avoid Gordon. Gordon then got out of his car, waited for Waltrip, feigned as if he was going to walk in front of the No. 15 and threw his helmet at the car, hitting it just below the driver’s window. In a TV interview, Gordon said, “You know, everybody thinks Michael is a good guy. He’s not a good guy. The caution was out and he wrecked me.” Gordon then called Waltrip a name [something at starts with a S and ends with a T], which will likely cost Gordon a fine and points. Waltrip said he was just defending his position. “I just stood my ground and he just kept coming and turned himself into the wall,” he said. Told about Gordon’s comments, Waltrip said, “Probably just heat of the moment stuff. I’ve never had a problem with Robby. I don’t have any idea what he said or why he said it, but I know I didn’t do anything wrong.” Gordon and Waltrip were also brought to the NASCAR hauler following the race.(ESPN.com/AP)(9-19-2005)
