Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s father gets cleared to attend NASCAR races again after the Kyle Busch brawl at North Wilkesboro

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s father has been reinstated following his suspension for his role in the brawl during the All-Star race, an altercation that involved his son, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Kyle Busch. After that incident, Stenhouse Jr. was fined a record $75,000 by NASCAR, the largest penalty for fighting in the sport's history. However, his father, having joined the skirmish, was indefinitely banned from NASCAR events until now.

The confrontation ignited when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. threw a punch at Kyle Busch on pit road, exacerbating tensions just as they seemed to be diminishing. NASCAR also handed suspensions to Stenhouse's mechanic, Clint Myrick, for eight races, and engine tuner Keith Matthews for four races, due to their involvement in the fracas.

The latest development in the story was shared by Jonathan Fjeld, Co-Owner of The Racing Experts:

"Ricky Stenhouse Jr's dad has been reinstated after NASCAR suspended him for getting involved in the fight with Kyle Busch after the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro. #NASCAR"

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was irate with Kyle Busch due to a first-lap incident during the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. Initially, Stenhouse nudged Busch’s #8 car, which led to a harsher retaliation that severely damaged Stenhouse’s #47 car, rendering it unable to continue past the second lap.

Frustrated by Busch's move on the track, Stenhouse conspicuously parked his wrecked vehicle in Busch's pit area, confronted Busch’s crew with heated words, and then departed in anger. The tension escalated after the race when Stenhouse, having waited for Busch on pit road, initiated a physical altercation by striking Busch on the left side of his face.

The incident sparked a fight involving both crews, with Stenhouse’s father also taking part. NASCAR officials highlighted that the severity of the penalties, including suspensions and a substantial fine, were influenced by Stenhouse’s decision to engage in the confrontation, despite having the duration of the race—a full 198 laps—to reconsider his actions and opt for a more measured response.

---

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s NASCAR Cup season so far

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., under a multi-year agreement with JTG Daugherty Racing, won last year’s Daytona 500 and advanced to the playoffs, only to be ousted following the Round of 16. However, this season commenced less auspiciously for Ricky Stenhouse Jr., as he recorded a DNF at Daytona, concluding the race in 31st place.

Throughout this season's 29 Cup races, Stenhouse has only managed two top-5 finishes, three in the top-10, and six in the top-20. Although he failed to break into the top 16, he currently occupies the 27th position in the standings with 464 points. At the playoff season’s first elimination race, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Stenhouse Jr. crossed the finish line in 27th place after starting from 31st.