Elliott Sadler believes that NASCAR’s decision to fine Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was completely incorrect. On Wednesday, NASCAR released the penalty reports for the North Wilkesboro All-Star race week, and the racing community was taken aback by the announced penalties. The governing body has chosen to impose a hefty $75,000 fine on Stenhouse Jr. for punching another individual in the face. Additionally, his father and a crew member from JTGD Racing have been suspended.
This decision did not sit well with Sadler, a former racer who has achieved victories in all three national racing series. He pointed out the double standard employed by NASCAR, as they used footage of the fight to promote the sport but penalized the drivers involved. Sadler also highlighted the fact that Stenhouse Jr. played a crucial role in saving the All-Star race, which had limited action at the front.
Sadler’s comments were echoed by Trackhouse Racing’s star driver, who shared similar arguments on X. He emphasized the inconsistency of using footage for public relations purposes while simultaneously penalizing the drivers.
Elton Sawyer, the Senior VP of NASCAR, provided a clear explanation for the decision to fine Stenhouse Jr. He believes that the incident could have been easily avoided, as the Chevy driver had ample time to consider the potential consequences of seeking revenge.
While NASCAR does have a valid point regarding the driver’s opportunity to think things through, they should not exploit the fight for their own benefit while simultaneously penalizing the drivers involved.