Kurt Busch suspended by NASCAR (Video)

Remember when Kurt Busch said he wanted to try and connect with a new group of fans when he raced at Iowa Speedway in Newton?

Well, if you forgot, you can read it here.

He was asked question about making an impression on Midwestern fans, who may not have first-hand exposure to the former NASCAR Sprint Cup champion.

“You can look at it that way,” said Busch, before earning a top-five finish in the NASCAR Nationwide Series Pioneer Hi-Bred 250 in May. “That's really why I wanted to race both Iowa races this year. I haven't raced in that region all that much. For the fans to come up and be part of the autograph session or the meet-and-greets, that's where you really get to learn a driver, the personality and how they're impacting the sport."

Fans may like his tact on the track, but NASCAR has voiced its displeasure for his off-the-track behavior after the NASCAR Nationwide Series 5 hour Energy 200 at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.

NASCAR announced Monday that the organization has suspended Busch until June 13, and extended his probation to Dec. 31, citing actions detrimental to stock car racing, violation of probation and verbal abuse to a media member.

Busch had a minor incident with Nationwide driver Justin Allgaier. When asked after the race about how his probation, which was originally set to end July 25 after a run-in with Ryan Newman and his team at a Sprint Cup race at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, affected how he handled the situation by a reporter, he responded.

"It refrains me from not beating the s--- out of you right now because you ask me stupid questions," Busch said in a video posted by Speed Channel. "But since I'm on probation, I suppose that's improper to say as well."

Visit NASCAR.com's story on the suspension.

Watch Busch respond to the media member

Busch, who probably said what millions of athletes have wanted to say at one time or another, will miss this weekend's race weekend at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway.

Here is the official news release from NASCAR Communications:

NASCAR Suspends Driver Kurt Busch Until June 13; Extends His Probation

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2012) – NASCAR has suspended driver Kurt Busch until June 13 of this year and extended his NASCAR probation until Dec. 31 for his actions following the NASCAR Nationwide Series race June 2 at Dover International Speedway.

Kurt Busch violated Section 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; violation of probation; verbal abuse to a media member) of the 2012 NASCAR Rule Book. Kurt Busch had previously been placed on NASCAR probation May 15 for his actions during the May 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Darlington Raceway. That probation was originally scheduled to end July 25 but has now been extended through the end of this year.