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Kurt Busch Suspended From Race Following Threatening Comments Made to Reporter

Remember the old phrase, "think before you speak?" We all learned it when we were young and it kept us out of trouble by reminding us to choose our words carefully. Obviously, Kurt Busch never learned that one.

Following the close of Saturday's Nationwide Series event at Dover International Speedway, NASCAR bad boy Kurt Busch didn't mince words with a reporter who asked about his existing probation for a run-in with the crew of fellow driver Ryan Newman this past May. When the reporter asked him how the probation has affected his driving, Busch stated:

"It refrains me from not beating the s— out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions. But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well."

Bingo. And just like that, Busch went from probation to suspension.

Busch's existing probationary period for his run-in with Newman's crew was scheduled to be lifted on July 25, but will instead now run through the end of the season. Likewise, NASCAR suspended him from this weekend's activities at Pocono Raceway.

NASCAR rarely hands down suspensions, but did so in this case because Busch violated section 12-1 of the sport's rule book by verbally abusing a member of the media, an action considered detrimental to the image of stock car racing.

Not surprisingly, this isn't Busch's first NASCAR slip-up. In 2005, Busch was suspended following an incident that involved suspicions of a DUI near Phoenix, Ariz. Again in 2011, Busch got himself into hot water when he made an obscene hand gesture pulling into the garage post-race, then proceeding to verbally berate Dr. Jerry Punch of ESPN.

So far, there has been no word as to whether his team will be implementing a replacement driver for the No. 51 car for this weekend’s race at Pocono.