CONCORD, N.C. — Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott criticized NASCAR for fining driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. $75,000 for punching Kyle Busch in the wake of last Sunday night’s All-Star Race after the stock car racing organization also used video of the fight to highlight the dustup on social media.
It was the largest fine ever handed down for fighting in NASCAR history.
Elliott, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, said he knew Stenhouse had been fined but appeared stunned when informed the amount by a member of the media.
“That seems like a lot for that situation,” said Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion. “You are going to fine him, but you are going to promote with it? Like, what are we doing? That’s a little strange to me. … That’s a lot of money to fine a guy. It’s like, ‘It’s not OK, but we are going to blast it all over everything to get more clicks.'”
Elliott was referring to NASCAR posting video of the fight at North Wilkesboro Speedway on the social platform X along with the words: “We’ll call this a … difference of opinion.”