If you though hair pulling is a girls sport only, then you probably missed out on the events that took place at last Saturday’s NAPA 200 race in Montreal, Canada.
It all started when Nationwide Series driver Steve Wallace came in contact with Canadian driver Patrick Carpentie on a very tight corner sending him spinning out of the race.
Carpentie, who was running for Pastrana Waltrip Racing, had previously announced plans to end his 27-year motorsport career after the Montreal race. Understandably, this wasn’t the way Carpentie or his crew wanted him to retire so tempers were at the flashpoint.
Then it happened: As soon as the race came to an end, Jerry Baxter, the crew chief for Pastrana Waltrip Racing, reached into Wallace’s car and did the unspeakable: he pulled Wallace’s hair!
Both crew chief Jerry Baxter and owner Michael Waltrip later issued an apology to Wallace on the team’s official website:
JERRY BAXTER – “I’m sorry for what happened after the race on Saturday and I take responsibility for my own actions. I called Steve (Wallace) today and apologized. I was just very frustrated and let my emotions get to me. That was Patrick’s (Carpentier) last race and we wanted to make it special. We really thought he had a shot for te win and everything boiled over when that chance went away in the wreck. Everyone was just racing hard and there was no intent to wreck anyone. There’s no excuse for what I did after the race and I apologize to everyone.”
MICHAEL WALTRIP – “Pastrana Waltrip Racing prides itself on racing hard, but we always want to be good sports. Jerry Baxter is very passionate about our race team, but what Jerry did after Saturday’s race was wrong and he knows it. I talked to him about it that night and again today. Believe me, I understand how emotional you can get behind the wheel or up on the pit box, I’ve been there. But, you have to draw a line and Jerry crossed that line. It’s not what we are all about. I apologize to Steve Wallace and all his fans as well as all NASCAR fans.”
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