NASCAR statement on Kurt Busch (2nd Update)
"The days in court, and now that we're going close to Day 100 as far as all of the proceedings go, normal situations that happen around these type of situations take 30 minutes, so sometimes preferential treatment can go the wrong way," Busch said last week. "… So we all have to be patient, we all have to understand that there's a process that we have to respect."
"… And with the team and their support — they've been fantastic, (team co-owner) Gene Haas especially — it's amazing to have the comfort level that I have, as well as to have told them the truth and understanding of everything."
Team co-owner Tony Stewart — like Busch, a former Sprint Cup Series champion — said last week that his Stewart-Haas Racing team has prepared a backup plan in case the legal proceedings involving Kurt Busch have an unfavorable outcome. Neither NASCAR nor the team have made movement toward removing Busch from his role as full-time driver of the Stewart-Haas No. 41 Chevrolet, opting to let the legal process play out before taking any action.
Stewart said that while the team has a contingency plan, he hopes it doesn't come to that.
"We do, but we're kind of waiting to see, and I'm very hopeful that we won't have to worry about it," Stewart said. "I feel bad that he's in that situation right now — that they're both in that situation — so we have to be smart and we have to have a plan in place if it doesn't work out for whatever reason."
Busch first spoke publicly about the case late last month at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom. nascar.com
02/16/15 Kurt Busch has been ordered to stay away from his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll, according to court documents.
The order, which is good until Feb. 16, 2016, states that Busch must stay 100 yards away from Driscoll's home and workplace, must maintain a "practicable" distance and not attempt to contact Driscoll at NASCAR events. Busch will also be evaluated for mental health problems in regard to anger control and impulse control, and it may be unlawful for Busch to purchase or possess firearms or ammunition.
Driscoll sought a no-contact order in court related to her claim of an alleged physical confrontation at Dover International Speedway last September. The Delaware state attorney general's office has yet to rule on the alleged altercation and whether any charges will be handed down. The two parties spent several days in a Delaware court in December and January.
NASCAR released a statement on the matter that read: NASCAR has been closely following the civil proceedings in Kent County (Del.) Family Court regarding driver Kurt Busch and therefore is aware of the court order issued today. We now await the full findings of the Commissioner and any actions by the Attorney General of Delaware related to the allegations against Busch.
"As we stated earlier, NASCAR fully recognizes the serious nature of this specific situation and the broader issue of domestic violence. We will continue to gather information and monitor this situation very closely, and we expect our members to conduct themselves properly."
Stewart-Haas Racing Executive Vice President Joe Custer said the following in a team release: "These are serious allegations and we do not take them lightly. We are relying on the authorities in Delaware and their collective experience to identify all the facts. They are the experts in these matters and their decision, specifically the one that will be made by the Attorney General, will determine our course of action."
Busch spoke at length about the legal proceedings last Thursday at the annual NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, expressing at the time some mild frustration that the case entered its third month. Allegations of domestic assault brought by Busch's ex-girlfriend, Driscoll, first surfaced over 90 days ago.
"The days in court, and now that we're going close to Day 100 as far as all of the proceedings go, normal situations that happen around these type of situations take 30 minutes, so sometimes preferential treatment can go the wrong way," Busch said last week. "… So we all have to be patient, we all have to understand that there's a process that we have to respect."
"… And with the team and their support — they've been fantastic, (team co-owner) Gene Haas especially — it's amazing to have the comfort level that I have, as well as to have told them the truth and understanding of everything."
Team co-owner Tony Stewart — like Busch, a former Sprint Cup Series champion — said last week that his Stewart-Haas Racing team has prepared a backup plan in case the legal proceedings involving Kurt Busch have an unfavorable outcome. Neither NASCAR nor the team have made movement toward removing Busch from his role as full-time driver of the Stewart-Haas No. 41 Chevrolet, opting to let the legal process play out before taking any action.
Stewart said that while the team has a contingency plan, he hopes it doesn't come to that.
"We do, but we're kind of waiting to see, and I'm very hopeful that we won't have to worry about it," Stewart said. "I feel bad that he's in that situation right now — that they're both in that situation — so we have to be smart and we have to have a plan in place if it doesn't work out for whatever reason."
Busch first spoke publicly about the case late last month at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Media Tour presented by Technocom. nascar.com
02/16/15 "NASCAR has been closely following the civil proceedings in Kent County Family Court regarding driver Kurt Busch and therefore is aware of the court order [restraining order to have no contact with Driscoll] issued today. We now await the full findings of the Commissioner and any actions by the Attorney General of Delaware related to the allegations against Busch.
As we stated earlier, NASCAR fully recognizes the serious nature of this specific situation and the broader issue of domestic violence. We will continue to gather information and monitor this situation very closely, and we expect our members to conduct themselves properly." NASCAR