Smith defends Spencer, anticipates Bristol

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ultra Motorsports owner Jim Smith said Monday that his driver, Jimmy Spencer, regretted his actions that brought a trio of penalties from NASCAR, but that he had not given up on seeing Spencer race this week at Bristol Motor Speedway.

	Jim Smith

Smith said the appeal of NASCAR penalties would begin Tuesday. Spencer was suspended for one week, faces a $25,000 fine and probation through the end of the calendar year following a post-race incident with Kurt Busch after Sunday's GFS Marketplace 400 at Michigan International Speedway.

Smith said he believes that beginning the appeal would render Spencer eligible to compete at Bristol while the process unfolds.

Smith has entered Spencer in a No. 7 Dodge in both Saturday night's Winston Cup and Wednesday night's Craftsman Truck races. Ultra Motorsports' Winston Cup crew chief Tommy Baldwin has entered his own No. 6 Dodge for Spencer in Friday night's Busch Series race.

"We haven't been totally convinced Jimmy won't be available for Bristol," Smith said of his plans to immediately appeal. "But he will probably get a one-race suspension at some point.

"When he does, Ted Musgrave will be in the 7 car for that race."

Musgrave, a former Winston Cup regular, drives Ultra's No. 1 Dodge in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Smith was not at MIS Sunday and, while he said he did not condone Spencer's action, allegedly striking Busch, Smith said he supported his driver.

"Jimmy felt like Kurt tried to wreck him three different times on the race track," Smith said. "He (Spencer) let his emotions get the best of him when he should have just waited for another time."

	Jimmy Spencer

Smith said his crewmembers told him they monitored radio traffic between Busch and his crew in the pits in which they discussed intentionally hitting Spencer.

"And we were leading the race at that point in time, so I don't blame Jimmy for being upset," Smith said. "But the bottom line is two wrongs don't make a right. Unfortunately, we're going to pay for it.

"I'll tell you this, though. If Jimmy had it to do over again he wouldn't do a thing to Kurt. I know Jimmy would just let it go, but Kurt ... (runs his mouth)."

By the time Busch and Spencer's meeting in the NASCAR office trailer was over Sunday, many transporters had already left the garage and the majority of the Winston Cup personnel were gone.

But Robby Gordon, a personal friend of Smith's, was still in the area.

When asked to comment, Gordon said he would "gladly pay Spencer's fine (because Busch) had it coming."