NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kurt Busch is being investigated after an allegation of domestic assault against his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll.
The Dover (Del.) Police Department issued the following statement:
The Dover Police Department can confirm that an investigation is being conducted based on an allegation of domestic assault that is alleged to have occurred in the City of Dover involving Mr. Busch. These allegations were brought to the Dover Police Department on Wednesday, November 5th at 2:00PM. At this time, the department is still investigating the victim’s claims and will not have any further comment on this matter in order to preserve the integrity of the case. The Dover Police Department will release further information as it becomes available. We appreciate the public’s and media’s patience in this matter and are confident that the department is taking the proper investigative steps to ensure the case is resolved appropriately.
Multiple reports state that Patricia Driscoll said the incident occurred inside Busch’s motor home during the Dover International Speedway race weekend in September. Driscoll filed court documents Wednesday asking that a judge order Busch to have no contact with her and to stay away from her. She is reportedly also asking that Busch undergo a psychiatric evaluation and an evaluation by a certified domestic violence treatment agency.
In the documents Driscoll alleges that, “He (Busch) was verbally abusive to her and said he wished he had a gun so that he could kill himself.”
Driscoll said Busch called her names and accused her of “having spies everywhere and having a camera on the bus to watch him.” He then jumped up, grabbed her face and smashed her head three times against the wall next to the bed, the documents say.
The documents further state that Driscoll says she pushed Busch away and ran from the bedroom, going to a nearby bus to put an ice pack on her head and neck. She said the incident caused her severe pain, difficulty breathing and bruising on her neck.
Busch’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, issued a statement Friday afternoon saying Busch would cooperate fully with the investigation.
“The Dover Police Department has been informed that Mr. Busch will fully cooperate with their investigation,” Hardin said, “and he expects to be vindicated when the entire truth of the situation comes to light. This allegation is a complete fabrication by a woman who has refused to accept the end of a relationship, and Mr. Busch vehemently denies her allegations in every respect. At this time, we intend to have no further comment in the media out of respect for the Dover Police Department’s desire to conduct a thorough investigation without a media circus.’’
Busch is at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend in preparation for the upcoming Sprint Cup race but has made no statement concerning the allegations.
Mike Arning, a spokesperson for Busch’s team, Stewart-Haas Racing, issued a statement which said, “This is an allegation Stewart-Haas Racing takes very seriously, but we’re still gathering all of the facts and are not in a position to comment in greater detail.’’
NASCAR responded to the incident with a release from Brett Jewkes, NASCAR Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, as follows, “NASCAR is aware of the investigation involving driver Kurt Busch. We recognize the seriousness of this matter and are actively gathering information from all parties, including law enforcement authorities and Stewart-Haas Racing. It would be inappropriate for NASCAR to comment further on this matter until we have more information.”
Driscoll is president of the Armed Forces Foundation and Busch has participated as a spokesperson for the organization.
Pat LaFrieda, chairman of the board of the Armed Forces Foundation issued a statement saying, “I want to, first and foremost, express the direct support from the Board of Directors of the Armed Forces Foundation to Ms. Driscoll. For more than a decade, Ms. Driscoll has been a tireless worker and advocate for our nation’s service members, veterans, and military families. The Foundation will continue working to support service members, veterans, and military families and we ask that Ms. Driscoll’s privacy be respected. Given the serious nature of the allegations, the Foundation has suspended its association with Mr. Busch.’’
A hearing in the case is scheduled for Dec. 2.
