Daytona Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – NASCAR placed Sprint Cup Series driver
Kurt Busch on indefinite suspension Friday after a Delaware family court
commissioner concluded that Busch “committed an act of domestic violence”
against his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll.
Busch, the driver of the No. 41 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing and 2004
champion in NASCAR’s premier series, was scheduled to start 24th in Sunday’s
Daytona 500.
According to a decision released by Kent County (Del.) Family Court
Commissioner David Jones, the court found by a “preponderance of the evidence”
that Busch committed an act of domestic violence against Driscoll by “manually
strangling her by placing his left hand on her throat, while placing his right
hand on her chin and face and smashing her head into the wall of his motor
home” on Sept. 26, 2014 at Dover International Speedway. Sprint Cup was
competing at Dover at the time.
NASCAR immediately suspended Busch when it learned of the court’s opinion. The
sanctioning body released a statement regarding Busch.
“Given the serious nature of the findings and conclusions made by the
Commissioner of the Family Court of the State of Delaware, NASCAR has
indefinitely suspended driver Kurt Busch, effective immediately,” NASCAR said
in its statement. “He will not be allowed to race nor participate in any
NASCAR activities until further notice.
“Kurt Busch and his Stewart-Haas Racing team are fully aware of our position
and why this decision was made. We will continue to respect the process and
timetable of the authorities involved.”
Regan Smith has reportedly been tabbed as the replacement driver for Busch in
the Daytona 500.
On Monday, the court ordered Busch to maintain a distance from Driscoll and
not have any contact with her. In November, Driscoll filed a domestic abuse
claim against Busch. She also sought a protection order from him in court.
Four days of hearings were held from December to January.
Busch is appealing the no-contact order.
