Former NASCAR racer Tyler Walker enters plea

The lawyer for former NASCAR racer Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker said his client will be entering a plea-by-mail in relation to a high speed chase that ended on the interstate near St. George in January this year. Meanwhile a one-day trial has been scheduled for Walker’s co-defendant, Raelle McDonald.

Walker, 34, and McDonald, 31, both of Hermosa Beach, Calif., were involved in a high-speed pursuit on Jan. 11 that crossed from Nevada through Arizona and into Utah. They were ultimately stopped by on Interstate 15 at mile post 6 by the Utah and Arizona highway patrols.

Walker and McDonald face a series of class-B and class C-misdemeanors related to drug possession and alcohol. They also face two drug-related third-degree felonies each. In addition to these charges, Walker also faces a class-B misdemeanor for driving under the influence, and a third-degree felony for fleeing from police.

Walker and McDonald both pleaded “not guilty" to the charges on July. 16.

Douglas Terry, the attorney for Walker and McDonald, told Judge Eric Ludlow that Walker would be entering a plea-by-mail. Ludlow scheduled a hearing for the plea on Jan. 7, 2014.

McDonald, however, was scheduled for a one-day jury trial set for Feb. 28, 2014.

Recap

Charges against Walker and McDonald stem from the Jan. 11, 2013, incident in which they are accused of fleeing from the police and drug possession.

The Nevada Highway Patrol was alerted to be to on the lookout for a reckless driver on northbound I-15. Once located, a pursuit began. One Nevada trooper clocked the car, a BMW, traveling at 140 mph.

The NHP initiated pursuit of the BMW which passed into Arizona and then into Utah where the tires were spiked at Utah mile post 2 and all four tires blown. The car then pulled over at mile post 6. Once stopped, Walker attempted to flee on foot but was quickly subdued by an Arizona Highway Patrol trooper. McDonald was taken into custody without incident.

According to a UHP statement, a subsequent search of the BMW produced alleged methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and alcohol.

Timothy Tyler Andrew Walker

Walker is a professional race car driver, having previously raced stock cars and trucks in various NASCAR races. He was suspended from racing in 2007 for violating the association’s drug policy.