NASCAR has handed down indefinite suspensions to two crew members involved in a physical attack on two-time Cup Series winner Corey Heim outside a hot dog shack in Martinsville last weekend.
Team owner Chad Bryant and Steve Civatarese were both suspended indefinitely from NASCAR events, banned from the 2027 Martinsville race, and placed on one-year probation. Bryant, identified as the central figure in the confrontation, was fined $2,000 and ordered to complete an anger management program approved by NASCAR. Civatarese was fined $1,000. Five additional individuals connected to the incident received fines and probation.
The attack occurred last Saturday when, according to accounts of the incident, Heim was jumped and beaten as he made his way from his car to his team’s hauler after leaving the track.
Hamlin Calls Out ‘Cowards’
Denny Hamlin, a veteran Cup Series driver often described as an informal voice for the garage, addressed the incident on Monday’s episode of his “Actions Detrimental” podcast, condemning those involved and pressing NASCAR to act decisively.
“Complete classlessness. Yeah. From Chad Bryant, the owner and his team to wait on Corey … Listen to what they did. Those cowards waited on Corey Heim to leave his car and leave his team and then jump him while he was on the way to his hauler,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin went further, saying he believed none of the individuals involved should be allowed in a pit lane “for the next year at least.”
“I don’t know who’s in charge of NASCAR regional, but there’s absolutely no way that though any of those guys should be in a pit lane for the next year at least. I want them to say publicly what they do to them. And if it’s nothing, I will have a major problem. But none of those cowards should be in a pit lane in the foreseeable future.”
Hamlin also said NASCAR needed to “get control” of the situation at Martinsville, warning that circumstances at the track were “spiraling out of control.”
“I got no respect for those guys,” Hamlin added.
With the penalties now issued, it remains to be seen whether the suspensions and fines will be enough to deter similar incidents at the track going forward.
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