NASCAR penalizes Busch, Stewart

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR on Tuesday put Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart on probation for six races, starting with Sunday’s Daytona 500, for their fracas last week both on the track and during a heated exchange in a meeting with NASCAR officials afterward.

NASCAR intimated that the two former champions would have been more harshly penalized in past years, but the sanctioning body is trying to let drivers vent their emotions more often -- without severe sanctions -- when possible.

Last year “it probably would have been different, let’s put it that way,” Robin Pemberton, NASCAR’s vice president of competition, told a news conference.

“If we were to get repeat offenders,” he said, “we have the authority and will escalate the penalties.”

The situation unfolded Friday night in practice here for the Budweiser Shootout, an exhibition event that kicks off a week of NASCAR Sprint Cup racing ahead of the season-opening Daytona 500.

Busch and Stewart crashed into each other, then Busch slammed into Stewart again as they limped down pit road toward the garage. Stewart, in turn, briefly parked his No. 20 Toyota to block Busch’s No. 2 Dodge from entering the garage.

They were promptly called to NASCAR’s hauler to meet with officials, and it has been widely reported that Stewart took a swing at Busch during that meeting, although that hasn’t been confirmed.

Pemberton and NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter again declined comment on the meeting, although Hunter said “it was a highly charged situation from an emotional standpoint.”

Stewart drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, which said “we respect NASCAR’s decision and accept its ruling.” Busch’s team, Penske Racing, said it was now focused on winning the Daytona 500.

Stewart, a two-time Cup champion, and Busch, who won the title in 2004, have clashed before.

Busch was docked 100 championship points and fined $100,000 last year when he nearly sideswiped Stewart’s car while Stewart was parked in his pit at Dover (Del.) International Speedway, forcing a Stewart crewman to leap out of the way.

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james.peltz@latimes.com