NASCAR slams the crew that assaulted two‑time Cup winner Corey Heim at Martinsville, handing down the sport’s most severe late‑model penalties.
Denny Hamlin warns NASCAR over recent fights
NASCAR issued indefinite suspensions to crew chief Chad Bryant and mechanic Steve Civatarese, barring them from all events through the 2027 Martinsville race, and placed both on a one‑year probation.
Bryant faces a $2,000 fine and mandatory anger‑management classes approved by NASCAR, while Civatarese receives a $1,000 penalty. Five additional crew members were fined $500 each and placed on probation.
“Complete Classlessness,” Hamlin said on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, condemning Bryant and his team for waiting until Heim left his car before attacking him.
Hamlin warned that regional NASCAR officials must publicly announce the punishments, adding that none of the involved crew members should appear in a pit lane for at least a year.
The penalties represent one of the largest sanctions ever levied on a late‑model race, a category the sanctioning body rarely intervenes in.
Although the fines are modest — $2,000 for Bryant, $1,000 for Civatarese, and $500 for each of the five others — NASCAR’s swift action signals a shift toward stricter enforcement driven by driver and fan pressure.
“I have no respect for those guys,” Hamlin added, urging NASCAR to “get control” of the situation at Martinsville, which he described as spiraling out of control.
While the sanctions may not fully curb future incidents, they send a clear message that violent conduct will not be tolerated on NASCAR’s stages.
Zach Dean, writer for OutKick, reported on the developments.
