No. 6 driver climbs out of wrecked car before safety crew arrives
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MORE: NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell discusses safety issue | Bayne wrecks, called to hauler
NASCAR handed down penalties Wednesday to Sprint Cup Series driver Trevor Bayne for exiting his car without the supervision of safety officials during last Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway.
Bayne, in his first full Sprint Cup season for Roush Fenway Racing‘s No. 6 Ford team, was fined $20,000 and placed on NASCAR probation through Dec. 31.
A three-car crash in the 174th lap of Sunday’s FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks tangled up Bayne and HScott Motorsports teammates Michael Annett and Justin Allgaier. After Bayne’s car skidded to a stop with severe front-end damage, he dismounted during the caution period and walked down the banked track surface in Turn 1 to the awaiting ambulance for the mandatory ride to the infield care center.
NASCAR formalized the rule, which is presented as a reminder during each pre-race drivers’ meeting, last August after a fatal accident involving three-time premier series champion Tony Stewart. Stewart was driving a sprint car at Canandaigua (N.Y.) Motorsports Park’s half-mile dirt track when driver Kevin Ward Jr. exited his car after a crash and was struck and killed.
The rule allows a driver to leave his or her vehicle before the arrival of safety personnel in the event of extenuating circumstances, such as fire.
Bayne’s infraction came two days after a similar incident involving driver Jennifer Jo Cobb, who walked onto the track surface to express displeasure with eventual NASCAR Camping World Truck Series winner Tyler Reddick as vehicles circled during the yellow flag.
WATCH: Cobb unhappy with Reddick after spin
Race officials summoned Bayne to the NASCAR hauler Sunday for consultation. Monday morning, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell told NASCAR.com in its weekly debrief that punishment was likely pending.
“Both drivers were called to the hauler and we’ll look at both of those incidents, like we always do Tuesday but for us it’s a safety issue,” O’Donnell said. “We want to keep the race track as safe as possible for the competitors.”
Bayne finished last in the 43-car field.