After the NFL had its own domestic violence crisis, an athlete in another sport is in trouble for the same thing. NASCAR driver Kurt Busch is under investigation after being accused of domestic assault by his ex-girlfriend.They broke up a week before the alleged incident.
Patricia Driscoll, Busch’s ex-girlfriend, brought the allegations to the Dover Police Department on Wednesday. The alleged incident happened inside Busch’s motorhome during the weekend of the race at Dover International Speedway in September. Dover Police are investigating the incident. According to the court documents filed by Driscoll, Busch was despondent after his performance in qualifying for the race. He then called her names and accused her of ''having spies everywhere and having a camera on the bus to watch him.'' Busch then grabbed her face and smashed her head three times against the wall next to the bed, according to the Associated Press. Driscoll said the incident caused here severe pain, had difficulty breathing, and had bruising on her neck.
Driscoll is asking a judge to order Busch to stay away from her and to not contact her. She is also asking the Busch have a psychiatric evaluation and be evaluated by a certified domestic violence treatment agency.
'He was verbally abusive to her and said he wished he had a gun so that he could kill himself,'' Driscoll stated in the court documents.
Busch has retained Rusty Hardin as his attorney. Hardin says that Busch is cooperating with the authorities. He also calls the allegations a complete fabrication and says that Busch denies the allegations against him.
NASCAR is aware of the investigation involving Busch.
"We recognize the seriousness of this matter and are actively gathering information from all parties, including law enforcement authorities and Stewart-Haas Racing," NASCAR chief communications officer Brett Jewkes said. "It would be inappropriate for NASCAR to comment further on this matter until we have more information."
Busch, whose nickname is “The Outlaw”, has had trouble with anger management in the past. He has a history of run-ins with drivers, NASCAR officials, and reporters. He is in his first year driving for Stewart-Hass Racing after driving for Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske, Phoenix Racing, and Furniture Row Racing. This season Busch has one win and made the Chase for the Sprint Cup, but was eliminated from the Chase when the Chase field was cut from 16 to 12, according to USA TODAY. Busch has 25 career wins in the Sprint Cup Series and won the championship in 2004.
So far Busch has not been charged in the case. A hearing for the case is scheduled for December 2.