Spencer

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Jimmy Spencer was back at the racetrack Friday, apologetic about the altercation with Kurt Busch that led to a one-week suspension and determined to put it behind him.

"It's over. It's over," Spencer said as he stood near his team hauler at Darlington Raceway before the opening practice for Sunday's Southern 500.

"I'm sorry for what happened and it's behind me, and I hope everybody learned from it; I know I learned from it," he said. "I respect everyone in this garage area. I'm sorry for what happened at Michigan."

But Spencer's return did not go particularly well. He crashed during his qualifying run and will have to start from the back of the field in his backup car.

Two weeks ago, it was Spencer who approached Busch's car in the garage area following the race two weeks ago at Michigan and punched Busch in the face as he sat in his car.

Tapes of radio chatter between Busch and his crew later revealed that he intentionally tried to flatten Spencer's bumper during the race. And, an in-car camera showed that Busch egged Spencer on in the garage area, possibly provoking the punch that gave Busch a bloody nose and a chipped tooth.

NASCAR barred Spencer from driving in any NASCAR-sanctioned event for a week and fined him $25,000. Busch was also fined $10,000.

In the aftermath, though, it is Busch who has become the villain in the eyes of many fans. He was heartily booed after winning last Saturday night in Bristol, and his sponsor, Rubbermaid Newell, lectured the young driver and plans to set up a mentoring program to help guide his behavior.

Meanwhile, the journeyman Spencer, with two victories in 15 seasons, has gained some added celebrity from the fight.

His Ultra Motorsports team said Spencer's trackside souvenir sales increased 40 percent over the three-day Bristol weekend, the 160,000 fans at the race cheered his No. 7 Dodge when it was rolled onto pit road, even though it was Ted Musgrave driving. Spencer said he has received "hundreds of e-mails and letters from fans."

Spencer, who said he watched the Bristol race at home on TV, said he was shocked by the outpouring of support.

"I've had more phone calls from drivers and crew members than I've ever had in my life," he said.

Asked Friday if he has spoken with Busch to clear the air, Spencer said, "I have no reason to talk to Kurt. There's a lot of stuff coming out about what happened at Michigan that NASCAR's looked into. ... That was two weeks ago. I missed Bristol and you can't turn back the time. Now we're at Darlington."

The fight in Michigan was the latest episode in a long-running conflict between Spencer and Busch, two of the more aggressive drivers in the Winston Cup series.

But Spencer insists there is nothing personal in the situation.

"There was never a feud to start with," he said. "I don't have a feud with anybody. I don't call it nothing but racing."