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NASCAR Puts Kurt Busch,Tony Stewart on 6-Race Probation

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 February 2008, 18:00 CST

By Jim Utter, The Charlotte Observer, N.C.

Feb. 12--DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR levied some delayed punishment on Tuesday to Sprint Cup Series drivers Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart for an incident which occurred during a practice session at Daytona International Speedway last Friday.

Both Stewart and Busch have been placed on probation for the next six races, according to NASCAR officials.

And although NASCAR would not elaborate what it meant, the sanctioning body is stiffening its definition of what probation actually means.

"We're going to redefine what probation means, and they clearly understand that," said NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter. "A similar situation like this involving either of these drivers -- they understand what might happen, without getting into nailing down for you guys (in the media) what we will do if that happens."

During a practice session last Friday for the Budweiser Shootout, Stewart hit Busch from behind, sending Busch's No. 2 Dodge into the wall. Stewart darted down the track from the incident as well and knocked into his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.

As Stewart turned onto pit road, Busch followed and twice struck the side of Stewart's car before the drivers cut each other off as they attempted to turn into the entrance to the garage.

Both drivers were called into the NASCAR hauler where a heated exchange between the two ended in Stewart striking Busch, multiple sources told The Observer. The two met again with NASCAR officials on Saturday.

Tuesday's penalties are only for both drivers' actions following their on-track incident, NASCAR officials said.

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Source: The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)

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