NASCAR fines Ricky Stenhouse Jr., suspends his father, after brawl with Kyle Busch

NASCAR fined driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and suspended his father and two crew members for a brawl Sunday night following the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Stenhouse, whose car was damaged beyond repair when Kyle Busch retaliated against him two laps into the 200-lap event, punched Busch following the race, setting off the melee.

"He hit the fence and kind of came off the wall and ran into me, and when I was talking to him, he kept saying that I wrecked him," Stenhouse said after the fight.

"[It was] just definitely built-up frustration with how he runs his mouth all the time about myself. But I know he's frustrated because he doesn't run near as good as he used to, and I understand that."

NASCAR typically does not fine drivers for a punch in the heat of the moment. But the fact that Stenhouse had 80-90 minutes between the time his car was knocked out of the race and when he saw Busch, it fined him $75,000. That is consistent with a $25,000 fine given to truck series driver Matt Crafton for punching Nick Sanchez in the garage after a truck race last year, as Cup purse money is much larger than that for the trucks.

While NASCAR gives drivers leeway, it discourages crew members and others from getting involved.

After reviewing video, NASCAR determined that Stenhouse's father (suspended indefinitely), his mechanic Clint Myrick (suspended eight races) and his engine tuner Keith Matthews (suspended four races) all went beyond any peace-making roles in the brawl.

Busch was not penalized and none of his Richard Childress Racing team members were penalized.

The fines and suspensions can be appealed. NASCAR, at its discretion, can defer suspensions pending appeal. There was no immediate word whether any of the crew