UPDATED: Kurt Busch Suspended Indefinitely From NASCAR – Has Lost First Appeal


UPDATED: Kurt Busch Suspended Indefinitely From NASCAR – Has Lost First Appeal

It’s official: NASCAR has decided to suspend driver Kurt Busch after the Kent County, Delaware family court granted his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, a restraining order. The news comes after court commissioner David Jones released his written opinion on the matter, which is nothing short of damning. As reported by sbnation.com, Jones determined that evidence showed that Busch grabbed Driscoll by the throat, ” ‘manually strangling her’ while placing his other hand on her hand and face and smashing her head against the wall”.

Busch is appealing the protective order, and there is no word as to what Stewart-Haas Racing will do for the Daytona 500, which Busch was slated to drive in. Smith will drive Busch’s #41 in the race on Sunday.

At press time there hasn’t been an official statement made by Stewart-Haas Racing or Busch himself.

UPDATE 1: NASCAR has released their statement: “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. 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.”

UPDATE 2: We now have an official statement from Stewart-Haas Racing: “We understand NASCAR’s position regarding Kurt Busch and accept their decision. We are in the midst of finalizing our plans for the Daytona 500 and we will announce those details as soon as we’re ready.”

Additionally, Chevrolet just yanked their sponsorship. “Chevrolet has suspended its relationship with Kurt Busch indefinitely,”  Jim Campbell, Chevrolet vice president of Motorsports and Performance Vehicles, wrote in a statement published on ESPN. “We will continue to monitor the events surrounding Mr. Busch and are prepared to take additional action if necessary.”

UPDATE 3, 2/21/2015: It appears that Busch lost his first appeal with NASCAR to lift the suspension. A three-member panel composed of former NASCAR executive Paul Brooks, former driver Lyn St. James and Kevin Whitaker, the owner of Greenville Pickens Speedway voted to uphold Busch’s suspension. Rarely, if ever, does the review panel overturn a suspension, and it usually boils down to NASCAR’s behavior rule statement: “NASCAR membership is a privilege. With that privilege comes certain benefits, responsibilities and obligations. Correct and proper conduct, both on and off the race track, is part of a Member’s responsibilities.”

Busch has one more opportunity to appeal, which will happen later this evening as he meets with NASCAR’s Final Appeals Officer, Bryan Moss. If that doesn’t go according to plan, the only thing left will be for Brian France, Jr. to step in and save his hide, and even that won’t guarantee his shot at driving the Daytona 500 since Stewart-Haas Racing has officially announced that Regan Smith will drive the #41 Chevrolet. Chevrolet themselves have cut ties with Busch, and NASCAR has been systematically removing Busch’s likeness and associations from such locations as the NASCAR online store. We’d venture to say that at this point, Busch is paddling up one very infamous creek with a  very flimsy paddle. Meanwhile, graffiti around the Stewart-Haas garage shows what a lot of people are starting to think:

ray rice

 

Update 4, 2/22/2015: Busch’s second appeal was denied.

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Stay tuned for more updates…

(Hat tip to Casey Woodside for the tip!)


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10 thoughts on “UPDATED: Kurt Busch Suspended Indefinitely From NASCAR – Has Lost First Appeal

  1. Scott Liggett

    This is not surprising considering the back lash the NFL took over the last year as their players in domestic abuse cases were all but ignored by the NFL. You can assured that other major sports sanctioning bodies will react fast and harsh even though Kurt has yet to be charged with anything. Family court is not the district attorney seeking charges.

  2. Piston Pete

    “Busch is appealing the protective order, and there is no word as to what Stewart-Haas Racing will do for the Daytona 500, which Busch was slated to drive in. Regan Smith will drive Busch’s #41 in the race on Sunday.”
    This statement seems at odds with itself. Is Regan Smith driving #41 Sunday? That’s what it says, but it also says there is no word. So . . what’s the word?
    I’ve noticed that both Busches have been unusually soft spoken (even on the radio) and well behaved during Speedweeks so far. I don’t give a shit about Kurt Busch, but I am concerned about how this affects Tony Stewart and his team.

  3. Blue'67CamaroRS

    Yes, Regan Smith is slated to drive on Sunday @ the Daytona 500 and possibly for other races.This plan was put into effect as a backup ‘just in case.’ Travis Kravpil was arrested for assault of his girlfriend, a while back, and nascar did nothing. There is no actual proof of what happened, just a ‘he said, she said’ scenario. Kurt is a piece of work, who like everyone deserves a chance and his day in court. He has faced no ‘legal’ repercussions yet, only civil, which is why I’m surpeised that everyone is so quick to ‘hang’ him. Witnesses who saw the girl after she left his motor home said they saw no sign of distress from her.

    1. Bill

      this is bull!! Nascar is not handling this right ,people are comparing this with the NFL thing that was on camera ! no denying it this is based on the word of an ex girl friend ??? ever heard of a women scorned !!!!! come on people things happen in relationships does this mean we have to ruin the life of someone what have we become

  4. Truckin Ted

    It should be remembered that this is not the first incident where Mr. Bushs’ temper has gotten the best of him. Heck, he cussed out Dr. Jerry Punch during an interview for heaven’s sake. Now has he been convicted? Indeed he has not. It must be considered that the commissioner based his decision on the information presented …..whether or not anyone else would agree with it. Indeed, it is NOT a criminal court or conviction.

    Finally it must be recognized that this is NASCAR’s decision based upon a legal action of the commissioner. It is not based upon a some GALLUP opinion pole that they paid for. The general public may or may not like what NASCAR has done. But, at the end of the day………..it’s NASCAR’s sandbox that these driver’s play in. Sorry, but that’s just the way it is.

  5. Jim

    Nothing more dangerous than a vengeful, scorned woman and in this case with some connections. This is the result she was looking for.

  6. Barry_R

    While the actions being claimed against him are indeed reprehensible if true…

    The entire “innocent until proven guilty” thing kinda sticks out here…

    Odds are that they are correct and he is a jerk. But if he’s proven innocent the NASCAR folks are gonna be writing some truly impressive hush money checks.

  7. Truckin Ted

    Just read that Mr. Busch has lost his 2nd appeal hearing with NASCAR on Saturday night, and the indefinite suspension decision will stand.

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