Spencer believes Richard Childress was wrong

By foxsports
Published

Jimmy Spencer, once suspended for punching Kurt Busch, believes Richard Childress was wrong to attack Kyle Busch.

Childress attacked Busch in the Kansas Speedway garage following Saturday's Trucks Series race. The car owner was fined $150,000 by NASCAR this week, but avoided a suspension. NASCAR absolved Busch of any wrongdoing in the incident.

''Richard Childress stepped over the line ... he let his temper lead him to assault someone,'' Spencer, now an analyst for Speed, said in remarks the network made available Wednesday.

''That's a big black eye on the sport. The fans and others in the sport may think it's funny, but these major (sponsors) cannot be happy having a car owner represent them who assaults another person.''

Spencer was suspended one race in 2003 for punching Busch's older brother following a race at Michigan. The two had been feuding the entire season, and Spencer punched Kurt Busch as he sat inside his car inside the garage.

Spencer now says he was wrong.

''I went over the line with Kurt Busch,'' Spencer said. ''I made a better person out of Kurt by punching him, but I also know I shouldn't have touched him. I've been in many brawls and nobody benefits from it.

''Kurt learned his lesson, but so did I and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have hit him.''

Spencer expects sponsors of Richard Childress Racing will have a problem with the owners' actions, and that NASCAR let him off too lightly.

''I don't think NASCAR did enough,'' Spencer said. ''The $150,000 fine was fine but a three-week suspension would have been more appropriate. He took responsibility for what he did, but never apologized for it because he's really not sorry.''

Meanwhile, the RCR organization posted on its Twitter page Wednesday that fans wishing to contribute to Childress' NASCAR fine should instead consider making a donation to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

''I'm responsible for my actions and for personally paying the fine,'' Childress said on Twitter. ''I'm passionate about our fans whose pledges of financial support have been overwhelming. However, I would like to encourage anyone who still wants to make a donation to please direct their hard-earned gifts to the Childress Institute.''