ASA announces punishments, fines after Winchester 400 winner Gio Ruggiero hit opposing crew member with car

The ASA has issued punishments and fines following the scary incident that unfolded in Indiana following the Winchester 400. It involved winner Gio Ruggiero hitting Jeff Nasse, father of fellow driver Stephen Nasse, with his car.

ASA has penalized Gio Ruggiero, Stephen Nasse and Anthony Campi Racing for everything that transpired after the Winchester 400.

Ruggiero loses 25 points, fined 3k and probation
Nasse loses 45 points, fined 3k and probation
Four ACR people, including Stephen's parents, suspended https://t.co/X1oUoZhY4D pic.twitter.com/ohiOZyvcDc

— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverRA) October 18, 2023

Ruggiero was about to celebrate the win when Nasse approached him on the track, both drivers still in their cars. Nasse believed he was raced too hard, with Ruggerio sending the driver into the wall late.

In the midst of the on-track feud, members of Nasse’s team came onto the track. As Ruggerio did a burnout to celebrate his victory, he struck Nasse’s father, sending him flying through the air.

Post race incident – I would not say the pass was “dirty”… hitting a crew member with your car after the race is seriously not cool. @racewithstars should look at this. Completely unacceptable. If you can’t not drive into people, you can’t be on the track. https://t.co/Rn6oJM4Pio pic.twitter.com/Yml8DQxBGe

— ThePitPass (@The_Pit_Pass) October 16, 2023

A skirmish broke out but it was quickly broken up. After the race, both Ruggiero and Nasse explained what happened late in the Winchester 400.

“He picked the outside and I was on the bottom,” Ruggiero said, per ShortTrackScene.com. “I drove in there hard and took the lead. Not really sure what happened, maybe he got in the marbles up there and lost turn and got in the fence.

“I’m here to win and took the opportunity and capitalized.”

Nasse said he was frustrated but remained fairly calm, all things considered.

“I knew I needed a good restart to get clear into 1 but I wasn’t able to do it,” Nasse said. “He stayed door to door with me and just didn’t lift until he ran into me and ran me up into the wall.

“I’m pretty pissed off but at the same time, I understand. I’ve been in that situation but I’m not going to forget it. We have a lot of racing to do. I definitely owe him one now. You gain a lot more respect running clean, and who knows, we could have had a great race there. He may have gotten me straight up.

“But just driving up and knocking me into the wall is definitely not the way to do it. It took me a long time to learn that too.”