Busch, Spencer clash in garage after race

Spencer vs. Busch: Timeline

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- The feud between Jimmy Spencer and Kurt Busch flared up again in the garage area at Michigan International Speedway after Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400, with Spencer allegedly punching Busch while Busch sat in his race car.

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Busch's car ran out of fuel, crew chief Jimmy Fennig said, as he tried to drive it back to his hauler after the race.

It stopped, interestingly, in front of Spencer's transporter.

Spencer then rammed Busch's rear bumper, causing the bumper to buckle. Spencer got out of his car and approached Busch, reaching through the window and allegedly punching Busch.

By the time Busch crawled out, crewmen from Spencer's team had surrounded the No. 97.

Busch waved and yelled at Spencer, and then walked to the NASCAR hauler. He did not appear to be bloodied. There were no other punches thrown.

	Jimmy Spencer

Almost immediately, however, Fennig went to NASCAR officials.

"I want Spencer here right now," Fennig said angrily. "We're going to have a fight here."

Later, officials brought Spencer and crew chief Tommy Baldwin to the trailer, where all parties remained for a closed-door session that included Busch, Fennig, car owner Jack Roush, NASCAR president Mike Helton and Winston Cup director John Darby.

Busch was the first to leave, but he didn't say much. Asked if Spencer hit him, Busch said: "Ask Jimmy Spencer."

He was then whisked away on a golf cart.

Spencer's wife, Pat, was waiting in a rental car, and Spencer bulled through reporters without saying anything. Spencer, chomping on a large cigar, declined to comment on why he was so upset with Busch, or if he had been advised not to speak by NASCAR.

Roush told Speed TV that Spencer broke Busch's nose. Busch went to the track's infield care center after he left NASCAR's office trailer and a Roush Racing spokesperson said Busch would get his nosed looked at when he got home.

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A Roush Racing spokesperson said Busch was not bleeding when he entered the trailer.

Both NASCAR and a deputy from the Lenawee County Sheriff's Department confirmed the ongoing investigation.

"NASCAR spoke with both drivers about the incident that occurred today," said NASCAR spokesman Mike Zizzo, who declined to confirm whether blows had been exchanged or what had prompted the alleged scuffle. "Should we take any actions, we'll announce it at the appropriate time."

But NASCAR isn't the only group investigating the incident.

"There's an ongoing investigation into the alleged assault," Lenawee County Deputy Jeff Paterson said. "It will be investigated thoroughly (and) we'll attempt to get ahold of some witnesses.

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"We've already spoken with both parties and we'll submit it to the prosecutor."

While Spencer declined comment, Roush issued a brief statement outside the NASCAR hauler.

"Jimmy apparently - with witnesses; I did not witness it -- ran into the back of Kurt's car," Roush said. "That was after some contact and some exchange, with apparently Jimmy being the aggressor as they went from the race track to the garage. Kurt says that his car ran out of gas; it stopped running.

"Jimmy then ran into him, and then came up and punched him through the window. There were words exchanged. I don't know what was said.

"We're going to let the authorities handle it, the local sheriff's office. They're taking statements from the drivers, since it was not on the race track, it wasn't during the event.

"Of course, it's primarily in Mike Helton's hands to decide what he needs to do with Jimmy after these repeated assaults that he's had, either on the race track or the rest of them."

Spencer and Busch have had a storied history. Last March at Bristol, Busch bumped Spencer out of the lead and went on to score his first Winston Cup victory. Busch said the bump was a bit of payback from the Phoenix race the previous November.

At Indianapolis in August, Spencer punted Busch and said it was unintentional. Busch later called Spencer a "decrepit old has-been."

Busch was leading the race when he ran low on fuel and had to pit with one lap to go. Fennig said Busch ran out of gas in the garage area as well.

Fennig said he didn't know why Spencer was so angry at Busch.

"They rubbed one time down the straightaway, but everybody rubs," Fennig said. "It wasn't even enough to bend the fender or even take the Goodyear off the tire."