NASCAR should suspend driver accused of domestic abuse, says Dem

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) is calling on NASCAR to suspend Kurt Busch over domestic abuse allegations.

The star stock-car driver is under investigation by Delaware police after his ex-girlfriend accused him of smashing her head into the wall of a motor home in September.

{mosads}Speier said that NASCAR, by allowing Busch to compete while the investigation evolves, is sending the wrong message in the fight to stem violence against women.

“Until his legal proceedings end, NASCAR should put Mr. Busch’s car in park,” she said in a statement. “The charges are horrifying, and NASCAR’s inaction sends a clear signal to drivers that owners do not take these violent actions seriously.”

Last week, The Associated Press unearthed court documents detailing allegations by Busch’s ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, surrounding an incident at the Dover International Speedway in September. According to Driscoll, Busch became violent after a poor qualifying race, threatened to kill himself and slammed her head into the motorhome wall three times, the AP reported. 

Through an attorney, Busch has denied the charges, and a hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2.

No stranger to confrontation and controversy, Busch was fined $50,000 for berating a reporter in 2011. A year later, he was suspended for the same offense.

Speier is wondering why NASCAR would apply penalties in cases of verbal abuse against reporters, but not allegations of domestic abuse against an ex-girlfriend.

“How is it that NASCAR can take action when a reporter is threatened, and not when a woman is physically assaulted?” she asked. “It calls into question the enforcement policies exercised by NASCAR and whether their code of conduct has a double standard. 

“Do they only punish misconduct caught on camera?”