The Dale Jr. Download - REACTION: Dale Jr. On Ricky Stenhouse Jr's Record-Breaking Fine

Episode Date: May 23, 2024

When news breaks, we react. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recorded an emergency bonus episode of The Download to react to Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s record-breaking $75k fine for fighting Kyle Busch after the All-Star race at North Wilkesboro. Dale discusses whether or not the penalties levied on Stenhouse are fair, if Ricky should appeal the fine, and what this means going forward.Plus, Dale compares this fight to other historic fights over the years and reacts to NASCAR's reasoning behind the biggest fine for a fight in the sport's history.  Check out Dirty Mo Media on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DirtyMoMedia  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey, everybody, it's Dale Jr. And coming to you, breaking news, here's some extra download for you this week. We had to come back into the studio with Andrew because, you know, there's the penalties coming down from the fight. And, yeah, we were talking about it a little bit, and we wanted to react some. And I think we should get to that right away. I got a lot of things to tell you that I went through today that were great. Okay. But I know people will say, damn, and I wish they'd get to the opinions about the penalties.

Right? Jump right into it. Yeah, so let's do that. I will say this. And I was texting Ricky a little bit. When the penalty came out, I was like, dagum, man, that's so severe. Way too harsh. And I haven't listened to Elton John or anybody.

Elton John. Elton Sawyer. I haven't listened to Elton Sawyer. Sorry, Elton John and Elton Sawyer. I haven't listened to Elton Sawyer. I must have been listening to Elton John earlier today. Stuck in the head. I didn't listen.

I want to say, you know, hey, look, yes, I did not listen to his comments. I have his comments. I wanted to say there may there's some good reason why it's 75 grand, right? Listen. You know, and I've been reading everybody's opinion on social media. Some people are like, hey, you know, no fighting. Don't fight. Even me, you know, hey, Dale, you don't want fighting in the cars tour, but you like it here, what the hell, right?

And I agree with that. I don't want fighting in the cars tour. I don't want nobody. fighting in the car store, right? None of it because I feel like when it's on, when people see it on flow, we're the little track, the little racers at the short track, right? And when we,

I feel like it makes us look bad when we're striving to be better and bigger and maybe one day, you know, continue to grow this series. Yeah, of course I don't want us fighting, but this is the elite top level, right? And we see things happen in hockey and other

forms of sport. Yes, there's repercussions. Yes, he should have been penalized. but I just thought it was 75 was a lot. I thought, you know, maybe 25. So I want to say, I know you want to interrupt me, but I want to say that I think Ricky should have been penalized. Certainly, me and my friends, we went around and around talking about this for a couple hours right after it happened.

And we all made an assumption on what we thought, right? I thought, that 25 grand for Ricky a couple races suspension for his dad, and I didn't think about the crew guys that really care one way or another. buddies of mine were like, oh, no, his dad gets a year, rest of the year. And I'm like, damn, that's like a, you know, that's like getting busted for drugs or something, right? That's like, that's pretty severe. And so I was like, you know, you know, I don't know if I would, I would have done that. But that's what NASCAR ended up doing.

And the monetary fine is way up there. Now, if you, you know, I know some people think, you know, let go over the. past and don't don't know don't talk about Daytona 500 1979 but that's our most popular fight right it turned the sport into a megastar in front of millions of fans 16 million people tuned in to watch that race and watch that fight happen and um and yes i'm we still talk about today and we should we should they got fine six thousand dollars they got most of it back for good behavior over the next five weeks and that was that right and they they they police itself It took care of itself, right?

And so I think some people on social media did the inflation. It's like $25,000 to $35,000 today would have been the fine. And so, yeah, I think 25 roughly would have been a good penalty for Stenhouse. On the other side, you got Kyle Bush that we know he wrecked him on purpose. Right. We know it. That's what I was going to ask you about. And he gets nothing.

You know, I'm fine with him getting nothing if Ricky's side was a little more reasonable. for Rikyside to be this big, you know, mountain of a penalty, and Kyle's, to be nothing, was a little surprising, right? And so, I mean, because we've seen other guys intentionally wreck and be in trouble. Now, there's different reasons and variables, and, you know, it was, Kyle's intentional wreck was, you know, a corner or two later under green flag conditions. You know, he didn't go wipe him out under caution or, but, you know, we have seen some people sit out races for right-hooking people.

right? Charlotte with Chase Elliott and so forth. I mean, there's a lot of examples. So, anyways, I was just a little surprised. I didn't really think Kyle should be suspended. I didn't think anything about what Kyle did until you see the big fine that Ricky gets. And you're like, oh, wow, that much for Ricky

and nothing for Kyle, okay? Just a little surprising. But go ahead with the remarks. Maybe that explains it a little bit. Yeah, first, just to state what the actual penalties are, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. fine, $75,000. for violating NASCAR member code of conduct. And then additionally, four and eight race suspensions are issued two crew members of the 47 team and indefinitely suspending Richard Stenhouse, Ricky's father.

Elton Sawyer said in regards to the fine with Ricky Stenhouse Jr., when you wait 198 laps and you make those decisions that were made, we're going to react to that. I don't know, whatever that means. I mean, that means nothing to me. so the fact that he had time to cool down I think is what he's getting at there but yeah how do you react to that this is what I think all right I think that because I think listen it's a weird cycle of events that got us to where this is how I feel and I'm okay being wrong it's my opinion and I'm I'm usually I can usually be you know some common sense come into the room and and changed my mind a little bit, but I feel like how we got to this big $75,000 penalty

for Stenhouse is because that happened on such a large stage. That happened in front of so many cameras, cell phones. All of the media was involved. It was this, you know, people spilling about in this massive brawl. and it was and NASCAR was part of the promotion of that big moment right

and I think you know really if you strip away all of that all of it being glamorized if you strip all that away a $25,000 fine for Ricky makes sense but because it was sensationalized and glamorized

it made it bigger than it really was in terms of just the act of Ricky going up there and arguing with the guy and then swinging on him, because it was glamorized and satialized, because it blew up into this big social media thing, and everybody was watching every time, like Joey said, he turned on your phone, that's all you saw. Sure, yeah. That is why, I think that is how we got to this steep penalty,

which I think is unfair. I really do. I think that it's a bit of an overreaction. on NASCAR's part because, and they overreacted unknowingly off of the attention that it had gotten, right? And so they had to say, you know, I get kind of where they're coming from.

They're like, dude, yes, I mean, the attention that that's getting, we're not going to say it out. We're not going to say it out in the public, but it's good. Right. But we do need to make sure we send a message that this can't be the norm. And I agree with that. I don't think we need fighting every week

and drivers just going nuts on each other over nothing. And so, yeah, penalizing. I think he should have been penalized. I just thought it was a little overreacting and overblown because of how sensationalized it had gotten. So, yeah, I mean,

otherwise, I don't know how to make, you know, I don't know how to make sense of the amount of money that he got fine. But, hey, I'm sure there's some examples. where, you know, it falls in line with some other penalties in the past. I'm not sure. But that's kind of my take on it. And, you know, I was like, whoa, the, I will say, you know,

I think that the suspension for his dad, you know, I could go with that. You know, I thought it'd be a couple races, but it was more. Fine, indefinite, whatever that is, right? That could be four weeks. That could be rest of the season. The crewman sitting out four and eight, I agree with that. I think that's okay. They, they, if it's the two dudes that had their, you know, their arms around Kyle's neck,

they ought to get something, right? Fair enough, right? I'm good with that. So, you know, and people may go, what's the big difference, but, you know, what's the big deal for Stenhouse, 25, 75? It's nothing, you know, right? What, is that a, you know, what's a huge difference? I'm just saying, you know, sets a precedent.

And so now going forward, the 75 is the new norm of what's, what you're going to get when you swing on somebody. What was the penalty for anybody in the past we've had punches thrown in the most couple of last couple of years? What was their repercussions? There was nothing for chastain or none of that, right? Ty Gibbs, Punch and Sam? No, nothing happened. We would remember.

In regards to the crew members, Elton Sawyer said, I think it's fair to say that when you have crew members and family members that put their hands on drivers were going to react. So that was the reasoning behind the crew members. reasoning. That's not reasoning. That is a, that is a, all he said, all I hear right there is, yeah, if you, if you do that, we're going to react. Okay. What do you, do you hear anything more than that? I feel like that would be the reasoning, like, all right, anytime you touch your, touch a driver, like there's going to be repercussions from that, especially in an altercation. I think we all understand that. I think that was understood before this happened. Yeah. he's not telling me nothing new.

Yeah. And now, you know, I guess the new thing that I heard in the, you know, I mean, he's going to go on the shows on XM and he's got to be very basic, right, in his explanation. I understand that. I mean, he can't get super opinionated about it and go into his own feelings about it. but yeah, if somebody puts their hands on a driver, we're going to react. Okay. I mean, that's not news. That's not an update.

That's basically how it's always been. What I am surprised by is so if I weighed a whole race or I go up and deck the guy the next weekend, the penalty gets more severe because the longer time that I've had to, you know, come to my senses. Right. You're saying, Rookiee had 198 laps, like the longer. Other boys we mentioned just walked up at the end of the race and did it. Right. There's a difference.

Yeah, that they had their fire suit on or didn't? I don't know. What's the difference? I see what you mean. I mean, if you're saying, I'm going to fine you because you had a chance to calm down and figure this out. Is that really a finable offense? Because, man, in four hours you didn't come to your senses, so that's, that's finable. Or, you know, that's why this is happening.

Is that, I'm asking you, man. I don't necessarily. Andrew, have an opinion, you've got one. You're scared to tell me. I'm getting ready to answer you. You're scared to tell the people. I'm not scared to tell the people. What's your opinion?

Are you okay with it? Is it too severe? I think it's too severe. Wow, okay. Come on, tell me what you think. Don't leave me on an island over here. Me's pouring my guts out. I feel like Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

out of the entire what happened with his move versus Kyle's move, taking him out of the race, is the victim in the situation. Like he lost more than Kyle lost. I know it wasn't a points race, but still, Kyle, I think escalated the move

by wrecking him intentionally and Ricky then, you know, still upset, furious. I mean, the fact that he's got to sit there in the bus waiting for the race to finish,

he wishes he was home. I don't think that's necessarily a whole lot of time for you to be able to calm down. Yeah. I don't know. I think Kenny Wallace came on and said on his show that NASCAR should be paying

Stenhouse $75,000. I want to ask you that because Daniel Suarez, Elliot Sadler have tweeted today like Daniel Suarez said, if it's so wrong then why is it all over NASCAR social channels we should be allowed to show our emotions? I don't get it. Yeah, that's tough for me to

I don't really know how I feel about NASCAR using it to promote because I kind of get it. I mean, I kind of get it. Like if there's something that happens that can draw attention to the sport, great. I don't have a problem. It does not bother me at all that NASCAR takes this and promotes their sport with it. They should. They should. I want them to because I want people tuning in.

And I believe it does make people tune in. You know, I believe it does draw attention to us. Of course. Now, it can make us look foolish to some, but I think it does, you know, when you got a, you know, Pat McAfee. I always get that wrong. When you get a guy like that, another outlet's covering us that usually don't. Hey, nothing wrong with that. And it's not just, Pat didn't just put us on once and go.

hey, that's what happened in NASCAR, wow, okay. He's still talking about it. Because there's this, you know, he's tweeting about, you know, they got this great shot of Kyle connecting with Stenhouse Senior, right? And Pat's on Twitter talking about it. And so I'm not mad at NASCAR for using it or even, I mean, you know, Marcus Smith and those guys are going to use it. Of course, right? Promote every single All-Star race for as long as it's still at North Wilkesboro.

Right, exactly. me all they talk about. Yeah. And so I have no problem with that because I understand how the sport needs to sell itself. I'm also on that side of it as a broadcaster. So I see the perspective. I hated it as a driver. Like, damn it, I don't, you know, I got into this altercation and I said something stupid or I did something wrong.

And now it's all I'm going to see y'all. And it's all I'm going to be asked about it. You know, I hate it. But now as a broadcaster, I'm like, all right, I get it. NASCAR, yes. I don't think they should wipe it from their social media by all means. But I just feel like you have to take that into account when you decide to levy the penalty, right? How can you not take into account like how you've utilized that footage and that altercation for your benefit?

Exactly. Right. And then, you know, you have to weigh that against the penalty that you do want to give this guy. That's all. That's why I think the penalty maybe should have been. a little less money-wise, but it's tic-a-tack at this point. Ricky Sinhaugh-Hus Jr. went on Sirius XM. This is according to Daniel Trotta on Twitter.

Ricky Sennhouse is telling us he still hasn't decided if he's going to appeal his 75K fine for the fight. Do you think Ricky should appeal? Does he have enough grounds to appeal? I think he should appeal. Yes, I do. And I think there's enough history to say, you know, look, I would go in there and I would even walk in there with him if he wanted me to.

And I'd say, listen, you know, here's some other examples of this sort of same activity. Here's the repercussions from those, right? Measure that against, you know, how much publicity this sport has gotten from this moment. And think about, like, you know, dropping it down a notch or two, you know, and saying, hey, you know, if it gets down to 50 or 25, I think that's fair, you know, and I think that's what he should go do. I think the crew guys Sorry boys sit at home Ride this out Ricky's dad

Sorry senior Go hang out at the house Everything's gonna be fine Lick your wounds But I think Ricky should certainly Try to appeal it And say wow You know it's pretty heavy

Compared to what else is going on in the sport Over you know However many decades you want to go back And so You know That's what I would do if I were him What else you got to lose? Yeah

I mean why not? Why not appeal it? Just even if to learn how the appeals process works and what that experience might be like, I'd be curious to do it. Yeah. To know if you have a chance in the future? Yeah, I guess so. Yeah.

But if you win, you kind of put a target on your back. How so? Well, if you go and NASCAR hand you a penalty and you go to the appeals penalty and you win the appeal, you know, NASCAR's not real happy about that because they're the government body. They feel like the decision they ultimately made initially was the right one, right? And so they, you know, they don't, I don't know that they would love. I wouldn't love it if somebody, if I penalized somebody. And they told you, oh, no, that was wrong decision to make.

It's kind of like, you know, you're a parent and your daughter comes to you and she gets in trouble. And then she runs to mommy and says, ah, daddy's mad. You know, I won't, I won't this. And daddy says no, you know. Right. It's like that ain't how it works. Yeah. Yeah.

Any other closing thoughts on this? Well, I got, I went, no, not really. I you know everybody's going to have their opinion we've got ours whatever happens going down the road happens um is it over it'll be i'll be curious to see how they race each other rickie says in his mind it is yeah he says that um we'll see well that everything changes when you drive off in the term one at charlotte somewhere in the middle of that race side by side and the guy don't do exactly what you think he's supposed to do right um i don't think that there's anything going to happen between them but if one doesn't feel like the others on the same page about that, it could escalate into, you know, some problems.

Ricky says it's over. Does Kyle think it's over? Do you think? I think with these penalties, Kyle has to feel pretty good about it. You know, hey, I didn't get penalized, and he got a, he got that $75 grand. So I'm, and if I'm Kyle, I'm feeling like everything's right in the world. We'll have to wait and see. Obviously, this weekend, Coca-Cola 600, a lot to do in town. this week in Charlotte, if you're listening on our audio platforms this morning. Later today, J.R.M. Fanday, presented by Lionel. It's going to be so much fun. There's plenty to do. We've got a Dirty Moe game show in the morning. That's with me and Jordan Bianchi. If you like free stuff, make sure to come by for that, because we want to give so much stuff away.

Later in the day, Door Bumper Clear will be previewing the Charlotte Race Plus talking about what me and Dale just talked about there, which is the penalties that were laid down on Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. And then, of course, at 1.45 in the afternoon, DJD Reloaded, which drops on this feed. So make sure you stay tuned for that. But if you want to see it live, come to Junior Motorsports. That'll be with Carla, Mike Davis, and, of course, T.J. Majors going over the early days of the download. So whether you're listening on the feed or stopping by, it's going to be a great, great

day. Yeah, there's a lot going on. Right behind me in this refrigerator, I have milk and chicken that has to get to the house because I stopped in here on my way home from the grocery store. Thank you for doing that. I didn't want those to spoil. That's how eager we were to sit down and have this conversation. When news breaks, you don't know where you're going to be, but you've got to talk about it. Mid grocery run. Mid grocery run. We're knocking it out. Yes. We'll see y'all later. Check out Dirty Mo Media on Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Thank you.