Kurt Busch had a long night after wrecking on the opening lap of the Dodge Charger 500. Credit: Autostock

Busch wrecks early, is reprimanded after race

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Kurt Busch had one of the more forgettable nights of his career Saturday at Darlington Raceway, wrecking on the first lap of the Dodge Charger 500 and then getting called to the principal's office afterwards.

	Kurt Busch
	Results Dodge Charger 500 Pos. Driver Make 1. Greg Biffle Ford 2. Jeff Gordon Chevrolet 3. Kasey Kahne Dodge 4. Mark Martin Ford 5. Ryan Newman Dodge Complete results, click here Standings, click here

Busch started 11th, and as the field poured through Turns 3 and 4 on the race's first lap he got loose and spun into the inside wall, sending him into the garage to fix the front suspension.

He returned to the track 60 laps down and drifted along until the caution flew for debris on Lap 318.

According to NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, during that the caution, NASCAR asked Busch to stop on the racetrack to enable the pace car and the leaders to pass by.

Hunter said Busch was warned that if he failed to adhere to NASCAR's request he'd be penalized two laps.

By NASCAR's determination, Busch ignored the request, and thus brought him down the pit lane.

According to Hunter, Busch then revved the motor and "screamed several choice words on the radio," prompting NASCAR to summon him to the transporter after the race.

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"His actions were certainly not befitting a champion of this sport, so we called him to the hauler to talk to him about it," Hunter said.

Busch chose not to discuss the matter, instead talking about the event's stellar finish.

"There was a guy that had old tires out there that was going to win the race and he ended up finishing fifth," Busch joked. "Schrader stayed out. Did he end up 12th or something? A bunch of guys came in for tires and it was an awesome race at the end."

Hunter said he's uncertain whether or not any more penalties would be forthcoming, and said that NASCAR president Mike Helton made it clear that such actions wouldn't be tolerated.