Max Papis told ESPN.com that he suffered a dislocated jaw following Sundays Camping World Truck Series race in Bowmanville, Ontario, when another drivers girlfriend slapped him on the left side of the face in a post-race rage. Papis did not know the name of the female who struck him, but said she was driver Mike Skeens girlfriend.”This crazy lady comes shouting at me, and I had no idea, didnt even understand her, she just started shouting’ Papis told ESPN.com some four hours after the altercation at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. ‘And all the sudden, she took a full hand and she slapped me so hard. Im not kidding. My jaw got dislocated and my left ear is still ringing, big time.” Papis did not retaliate. While battling for second-place in the final corner of the race, Papis said Skeen made an ill-advised aggressive move, which ultimately wrecked both trucks. The drivers exchanged hand gestures during the cool-down lap. And that was just the beginning. As Papis unbuckled his seatbelt, he said one of Skeens crew members grabbed him inside his truck. Skeen, though, said Papis entered his team hauler after the incident and tried to pull his girlfriend down the stairs as he tried to get past her while looking for the driver. Papis said he approached Truck Series director Chad Little with the request that NASCAR take some action against Skeens girlfriend.( ESPN.com )(9-1-2013) UPDATE: Mike Skeen Comment Regarding Incident at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park: ‘First and foremost, I want to say that I am proud of the Sharp-Gallaher Racing team and my performance in Sundays race. The last-turn incident can be interpreted different ways as most altercations in racing can. Max escalated the situation beginning on the cool down lap and as soon as we got behind the wall. We spoke face to face and then I left to return to the garage. I was unaware of the incident with Kelly (Heaphy) until later. Max further escalated the situation by coming in our trailer and grabbing Kelly aggressively. I hope we can put this unfortunate incident past us and get back to racing. Id like to thank SGR for the opportunity to make my first NASCAR Camping World Series start, and both NASCAR and Ron Fellows for hosting a first class event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.”(Sharp-Gallaher Racing PR)(9-2-2013) UPDATE 2 – penalties issued: Bryan Berry, crew chief of the #6 team, has been fined $2,500 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members) following Sundays race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Kelly Heaphy, who was with the #6 team at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, has been fined $2,500 and denied access to all NASCAR events indefinitely for her involvement in an altercation with a competitor following Sundays race.(NASCAR Integrated Marketing)(9-4-2013) UPDATE 3: Sharp-Gallaher Racing would like to issue the following statement in response to the penalty assessed by NASCAR to crew chief Brian Berry for the actions of team members, which is inclusive of guests, following the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The team will not be appealing the penalty. ‘Id like to apologize to our sponsors, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and especially the fans on behalf of everyone at Sharp-Gallaher Racing for the incident that occurred following Sundays race’ said team co-owner Eddie Sharp Jr. ‘Although Kelly Heaphy is not an employee of SGR, we absolutely do not condone actions such as these from anyone associated with our organization. It is a shame that this overshadowed the first class event that NASCAR delivered in Canada. We have nothing but respect for NASCAR, and will not appeal the penalty assessed to crew chief Bryan Berry.”(Sharp-Gallaher Racing PR)
