NASCAR bigwigs are holding their ground in the face of growing outrage over another domestic violence scandal in sports. Driver Kurt Busch has been accused of smashing his lover’s head against a wall.
Despite official pleas by California congresswoman Jackie Speier to suspend Busch immediately, NASCAR president Mike Helton allowed Busch to drive in the final race of the season on Nov. 16.
In shocking court papers filed Nov. 5, Busch’s ex Patricia Driscoll, 36, claimed he attacked her in his motor coach on Sept. 26 when he became “despondent after performing poorly at a NASCAR qualifying race.” at Dover Downs racetrack in Delaware. “He jumped up and grabbed her face with his right hand and smashed her head three times against the wall next to their bed,” according to the petition.
Patricia says she pushed Busch away and ran out of the bedroom, and into another bus where she put an icepack on her head and neck. The attack left her with “severe pain and difficulty breathing as well as bruising on her neck,” according to the filing. Busch also called Patricia a “psycho” and “piece of s—” before accusing her of “having spies everywhere and having a camera on the bus to watch him,” say the court docs.
In the aftermath of the scandal, which broke Nov. 8, Busch has raced twice, prompting ire from Women’s Advocates.
“The charges are horrifying, and NASCAR’s inaction sends a clear signal to drivers that owners do not take these violent actions seriously,” said Congresswoman Speier after learning Busch would be allowed to finish his season.
“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?”
Patricia had asked a Delaware court to order Busch to undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
Busch’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, blasted the accusations as lies by a scorned ex. “Mr. Busch vehemently denies her allegations in every respect,” he said.
