It was a weird racing weekend over Labor Day. IndyCar did its impression of a demolition
derby where over a quarter of the race was conducted under a full course
yellow. But the big thing (for me) that
happened over the weekend is what happened to Max Papis in the NASCAR Truck
Series held at the Canadian
Tire Motorsports Park. It was
somewhat of a fraught race with several drivers wiping each other out on the
last lap. Included in those crashes was
Max Papis, he and Mike
Skeen were fighting for third and managed to end up in the wall on the last
corner. As he was climbing from the car in the pits, someone went for him and in
the paddock, a woman slapped him. No report
on who the woman was—whether she was connected to Skeen’s team or just a
fan. Regardless, that was totally
unacceptable. I know drivers, teams and
fans are passionate about their racing, but the second you raise your hand to
someone, you’re done as far as I’m concerned.
The
lady was quite lucky in more ways than one.
She wasn’t charged for the assault and Papis laughed the slap off. Not sure I would have in his position. And he
might not have been so forgiving if she’d caught him minutes earlier or another
driver. The race ended with several
drivers steamed at each other over the race’s outcome. With so many emotions running high, she was
lucky Papis didn’t hit her back, which would have created an entirely different
set of problems.
I know
it’s easy to sit here and say this when I wasn’t involved, but it doesn’t matter. People have a responsibility to keep their
cool in these situations. If Papis was
guilty of any wrongdoing, there are mechanisms to reprimand him which will him
more harm than any spectator’s opinion. Teams
have a responsibility to keep their crews under control. They’re supposed to be professionals. Spectators are there to watch, cheer and boo—and
their job ends there. They pay good
money to see a race, but it doesn’t give them the right to take matters into
their hands. So everyone, get a grip!
Here
endeth the lesson. Now, let’s get back
to the racing.
I did hear that he was considering filing a police report, but perhaps he didn't, in the end. It turns out, the woman is Skeen's girlfriend.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you: totally unacceptable.
Acceptable? NO absolutely not. It is not acceptable in any part of "civilized" society to walk up to a person and slap them unless you are physically defending yourself- which clearly Keen's girlfriend wasn't since Papis was no where near her at the time (he had just done an after the incident interview on camera).
ReplyDeleteEntertaining? Definitely.
She is lucky that Max had enough wits about him to not strike back. He seems to have handled the whole incident with humor which gives him tons of brownie points in my opinion. I am slowly becoming a Max fan I think.
I did see a comment from Max saying something about wives and girlfriends, so I guess that's why no charges were brought.
ReplyDeleteAgreed: it could have gotten ugly if he'd struck back.
I think drivers in the US are very media savvy and will laugh it off onscreen but not so much in the team trailer.
Oh I don't doubt that it's all good for the camera and not so much - in themselves.
ReplyDeleteAlso an update on this from MRN (MotorRacingNetwork reporter Dustin Long just posted this update to his facebook:
Kelly Heaphy, the woman who slapped Max Papis after last weekend's truck race, has been fined $2,500 by NASCAR and denied access to ALL NASCAR events indefinitely.
So it sounds like she didn't go unpunished for her shenanigans.
Good. She deserved that.
DeleteI have to say that was a good race though.
Kelly Heaphy, girlfriend of driver Mike Skeen, was fined $2,500 and denied access to all NASCAR events indefinitely following her role in the altercation with driver Max Papis. Additionally, the No. 6 team’s crew chief, Bryan Berry, has been fined $2,500 for violating Sections 12-1 and 9-4A (Crew chief assumes responsibility for the actions of his team members).
ReplyDelete