Driver attacked at race files negligence lawsuit

A former stock-car driver who was beaten severely after a race in 2005 has sued NASCAR, Winston-Salem Speedway, the company that promotes races at Bowman Gray Stadium, and officials at the track, alleging that they were negligent in the incident. Also named as defendants in the lawsuit are Kris Bradley, Robert Bradley and James “Rupert" Sink, the three men accused of beating up Maynard Peters, the former driver.

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday in Forsyth Superior Court, alleges that Peters suffered physically and emotionally as a result of the attack.

The lawsuit does not say how much in damages that Peters is asking for. Sink and Robert Bradley have both been convicted of beating Peters. Kris Bradley’s trial is scheduled to start next week.

Dale Pinilis and Gray Garrison, two promoters at the track named in the lawsuit, both said yesterday that they learned about the lawsuit when reached by a reporter. They declined further comment.

The lawsuit argues that the track and NASCAR allowed Robert Bradley into the pit area at the track even though he was not a driver licensed by NASCAR and that the track tolerated violence by the drivers and turned a blind eye to drinking in the pit area.

It also argues that track officials and NASCAR should have known that Sink had a reputation for violence and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent him from jumping Peters after a race on Aug. 13, 2005.

Sink had been convicted in 2004 of assaulting another driver. On the night that Peters was beaten, he had collided with Kris Bradley during a 15-lap race. Both Kris Bradley and Peters were upset after the wreck, witnesses testified in Sink’s trial, and later that night Peters was jumped as he met with track officials. Peters said on the witness stand that Kris Bradley hit him, Sink pummeled him and Robert Bradley kicked his face “like he was kicking a football through a field goal." Winston Salem Journal