The NFL isn’t the only sports organization whose domestic violence policy is being scrutinized by members of Congress; one representative is now looking at NASCAR, too. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) has reportedly called on the auto racing organization to suspend Kurt Busch, who is currently under investigation for an alleged domestic assault involving ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll, Sports Illustrated reports. Any suspension would prevent the 2004 Sprint Cup champion from participating in the season finale race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday. Per Sports Illustrated’s report:
In a letter addressed to NASCAR president Mike Helton and Stewart-Haas owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, [Speier] called the charges made by Patricia Driscoll, Busch’s former domestic partner, “horrifying.” In court documents filed last Wednesday, Driscoll alleged that in September the Stewart-Haas Racing driver grabbed her face and repeatedly smashed her head against a wall next to a bed inside his motor home at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. In the wake of the incident Driscoll said in her complaint that she suffered severe pain, difficulty breathing and bruising on her neck. “But despite the severity of the criminal allegations against Mr. Busch,” Speier writes, “I am disappointed to see that NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing have not taken any action. Your response to these serious allegations has been totally inadequate.”
When news of the investigation first broke last week, NASCAR released a statement to reporters, noting it recognizes “the seriousness of this matter” and adding that it would be gathering more information before acting further on the matter.
Judging from NASCAR’s latest comments on the ongoing investigation made on Friday by CEO Brian France during the annual end-of-season news conference, little has changed. Per FOX Sports, France said:
“We are watching that case carefully, and they are — it’s under review by law enforcement and others, and they have not made a decision on that regarding Kurt,” said France. “So until they make some judgments on that investigation, it wouldn’t be right of us to just intervene before they’ve even gotten the investigation completed. So that’s our position. We’ll respect their process. It’s in their hands.”
The week-old investigation being conducted by the Dover, Del., police has yet to result in formal charges on Busch. Police have also not yet spoken to the racer, they say, because of the time lapse between when the alleged incident is said to have happened and when the formal complaint was filed. Six weeks had passed, which police tell Sports Illustrated has made the investigation more “time consuming” than usual.
“We would like to speak with [Busch], obviously,” Cpl. Mark Hoffman, Dover PD’s public information officer, told Sports Illustrated. “We’re working with Mr. Busch and his legal team to schedule an appointment that we can sit down and talk with him. Whether that’s in person or by videophone, we’re not completely sure yet. It’s just going to depend on their availability at this point.”
With little likely to change between now and the race, which is just two days away, NASCAR has made it clear that without a formal charge, they won’t come down with a suspension on Busch.
“Two things,” France pointed out at the news conference on Friday. “One is there are charges that are levied against, in this case, a driver, and then there is a judicial hearing of some sort that would come after that. We’re not even at the first stop yet. That’s going to happen when and if charges are filed, and if charges are filed, that will change our equation, and we will look at that.”
(Washington Post)
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