A congressional lawmaker is calling on NASCAR to suspend driver Kurt Busch from Sunday’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway until the recent domestic accusation against him is fully resolved, SI.com has learned. In a letter addressed to NASCAR president Mike Helton and Stewart-Haas owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), called the charges made by Patricia Driscoll, Busch’s former domestic partner, ‘horrifying.’
‘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.’ Speier has also asked to be looped into the internal investigations of NASCAR and SHR, and for ‘a history of sanctions levied by NASCAR and racing teams for domestic violence incidents brought to your attention over the last five years.’(in part from Sports Illustrated)
UPDATE: NASCAR chairman Brian France said Friday that no action will be taken against the Sprint Cup driver. France confirmed Friday that Rep. Jackie Speier sent a letter to NASCAR president Mike Helton and to Stewart-Haas Racing saying she was ‘disappointed’ that Busch hadn’t been suspended until the matter is resolved. Busch has not yet been arrested or charged with any crime. ‘We are watching that case carefully,’ France said Friday. ‘It’s under review by law enforcement and others. They haven’t made a decision on that regarding Kurt. Until they make judgments on that investigation, it wouldn’t be right to intervene before it’s completed.’ NASCAR has rules covering inappropriate or criminal behavior away from arenas, but it does not have a policy addressing domestic violence on its own. The rule book has a section covering violations and disciplinary action, including penalties that can be determined ‘by the gravity of the violation and its effect on ‘¦ the interests of stock car racing and NASCAR.’ France said Friday that NASCAR is sensitive to the issue of domestic violence. ‘You can expect our policies to reflect the understandable awareness that that’s not going to be tolerated,’ France said. ‘How any league handled some of this is one thing. It’s pretty clear when you see what’s happening around the country that our policy will reflect the significance and importance that it should.’(ESPN)(11-14-2014)
