UPDATE (July 23rd @ 6:00PM / EST): Reaume Brothers Racing has released the following statement in reaction to Ruch’s statement.
In response to this past weekend’s Rules Violation at Texas Motor Speedway, we would like to make it clear our organization had no knowledge of part of the breaching of NASCAR’s COVID-19 protocol. We fully support NASCAR’s decisions and our team will continue to uphold the highest standard of COVID protocol.
On Thursday Afternoon, Mike Ruch took to Twitter to offer some clarification on the events that transpired last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway – which resulted in a $10,000 fine from NASCAR, for violating its COVID-19 protocols.
In a Tweet with a statement attached Ruch said: “Lots of false information being spread, facts are facts… Here is my statement”
“However, I was on an official roster known by NASCAR, passed the medical exam that day to be in the infield, and I was also invited by NASCAR per an email from NASCAR into a suite. I watched the race from the suite, then came back down into the infield to get my wife to leave,” explained Ruch. NASCAR is stating that is the reason I was fined. Those are the facts construe them as you wish.”
Additionally, Texas Motor Speedway has released the following statement regarding the events of July 18:
Texas Motor Speedway is fully aware of the situation that occurred July 18 at our facility involving the No. 00 Reaume Brothers Racing team. Two men gained access to the speedway infield, which was a restricted area due to the COVID-19 protocols. They were not on NASCAR’s restricted credential list, did not go through the mandatory COVID-19 screening process and were asked to leave the premises.
Texas Motor Speedway fully supports all law enforcement and first responders.