NASCAR chairman Brian France said Friday that no action will be taken against Sprint Cup driver Kurt Busch while police in Delaware investigate a claim of domestic assault made by his former girlfriend.
Patricia Driscoll, Busch’s ex-girlfriend, has made the accusation against Busch. Police in Delaware are still investigating an incident that allegedly occurred inside Busch’s motorhome at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 26.
Busch has not yet been arrested or charged with any crime.
“We are watching that case carefully,” France said Friday at his “State of the Sport” question-and-answer session with reporters. “It’s under review by law enforcement and others, and they have not made a decision on that regarding Kurt. So until they make some judgments on that investigation, it wouldn’t be right of us to just intervene before they’ve even gotten the investigation completed. So that’s our position. We’ll respect their process. It’s in their hands.”
Driscoll has filed court documents asking a judge to order Busch to stay away from her and not contact her. She claims Busch verbally and physically abused her and smashed her head against a wall three times.
Dover Police Department officials told SI.com that Busch has yet to be interviewed by authorities.
France said Friday that NASCAR is sensitive to the issue of domestic violence in a year where the NFL has been under national scrutiny for its handling of cases involving former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice and other players.
France said there are no changes planned to NASCAR’s domestic dispute policy.
“If charges are filed, that will change our equation, and we will look at that,” France said. “We realize the heightened awareness of this important topic, and our policies will reflect that as we go down. They’ll reflect how serious it is.”
Busch’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, has said Busch “vehemently” denies the allegations and that Driscoll’s accounts are “a complete fabrication by a woman who has refused to accept the end of a relationship.”
Busch has continued to drive for Stewart-Haas Racing. He is scheduled to race in Sunday’s season finale, the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Stewart-Haas executive vice president Joe Custer said the team was awaiting word from the authorities.
“We have spoken to Kurt in depth regarding this matter and he has vehemently denied that it happened and assures us there is no truth to it whatsoever,” Custer said. “At this point in time we are taking Kurt at his word and his status with the team is unchanged.”
France also confirmed Friday that U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) sent a letter to NASCAR president Mike Helton and to Stewart-Haas Racing saying she was “disappointed” that Busch hadn’t been suspended until the matter is resolved.
“NASCAR would rather let Mr. Busch drive for the remainder of the racing season than take a stance on violence against women,” Speier wrote in the letter. “While he rounds the track, the legal processes for his domestic violence charges race forward as well. Until his legal proceedings end, NASCAR should put Mr. Busch’s car in park. The charges are horrifying, and NASCAR’s inaction sends a clear signal to drivers that owners do not take these violent actions seriously.”