NASCAR has reinstated Kurt Busch after he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing in a domestic assault case involving ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll. The driver will return to the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet SS this weekend when the Sprint Cup Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway for the Camping World 500.
Busch will remain under indefinite probation and must undergo additional steps to address the issues that led up to Driscoll incident, NASCAR says. He missed the first three races of the season after being suspended for ‘actions detrimental to stock car racing’, but will now make a full return and will also be eligible for the Sprint Cup Series championship.
“As we stated last week, the elimination of the possibility of criminal charges removed a significant impediment to Kurt Busch’s return to full status as a NASCAR member,” NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell said in a statement. “We therefore have decided to move him to indefinite probation and waive the Chase requirement. He has fully complied with our reinstatement program during his suspension and the health care expert who conducted his evaluation recommended his immediate return. ”
“We have made it very clear to Kurt Busch our expectations for him moving forward, which includes participation in a treatment program and full compliance with all judicial requirements as a result of his off-track behavior,” O’Donell added.
Busch said it “means the world to” him to be back in the car and once again denied ever committing an act of domestic violence against Driscoll, a stance he has maintained throughout the ordeal.
“But it’s unfortunate that my personal life crossed over and affected my business life, but I can’t wait to get to the track, to see my team, to shake their hands and say thanks for the support, and to go out there and make my first lap this weekend,” the Sprint Cup champ said in a statement to reporters Wednesday.
Comments
I think that’s misleading. Kurt Busch was NOT “cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.” Charges just weren’t filed, as the case basically came down to her word vs. his.
Even a forgetful NASCAR preacher knows the boy’s guilty as sin, if not of assaulting her (which he did), of being the biggest a’hole in the NASCAR garage (which says a lot, let me tell you).
So Kyle you have photo’s?
This is the deal. I am not a Kurt or Kyle fan and despise both but this deal was smelled from the start.
The fact is she did not report this till months after it happened. If any one had really been attacked an in this much fear they would have gone straight for help.
Two she is on record as making threats to take him down to others.
She also is not defenseless as she was highly trained in marshal arts. If she wanted too I believe she could have laid him out if she was as good as her rating.
Finally regardless of what happened or if he even did do it there was not enough evidence to bring charges let alone convict him in court. The last time I looked you were innocent till proven guilty. He did not have enough to even be charged let along guilty.
Being an A Hole is a whole different thing vs. being proven guilty. You can hate someone all you like but you can not convict them just for being an A Hole.
That is the way the system works and that is how it should be addressed.
One court already ruled in this woman’s favor. It’s why NASCAR suspended him in the first place. He was never “cleared” from any wrongdoing as this article implies.
You’ll get no argument from me as to whether or not the DA did the right thing in not charging him. But if you read the judge’s decision in the matter of the order of protection, you would know that she went immediately for help. She even took photos of her injuries. Unfortunately her “help” has financial ties to NASCAR, and surprisingly couldn’t recall quite a few details when being questioned. It’s my understanding that she chose not to involve the authorities initially as she was involved in a custody dispute with her ex. Bad move for her, but how many victims can say they made all the right moves?
If she were as ruthless as Kurt and many on the Internet are letting on, I would expect her to have an air-tight case against him. I would also think she would be asking for more than a restraining order.
I’ve seen crap like this play firsthand and, being familiar with Kurt’s past history, I find her accusations entirely believable, no matter what he or the courts might say. Regardless, the whole affair is a relatively minor issue. Hopefully Kurt gets the help he needs to grow as a person.