Congresswoman wants suspension

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Friday, November 14, 2014

While a California legislator has called for Kurt Busch to be suspended amid domestic assault allegations, NASCAR chairman Brian France said Friday that no action will be taken against the Sprint Cup driver.

France confirmed Friday that Rep. Jackie Speier 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."

She also called for NASCAR to "adopt a policy going forward in all domestic violence cases to suspend drivers until criminal proceedings end or there is a clear lack of evidence."

Patricia Driscoll, Busch's ex-girlfriend,has accused Busch of domestic assault, and 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. "It's under review by law enforcement and others. They haven't made a decision on that regarding Kurt. Until they make judgments on that investigation, it wouldn't be right to intervene before it's completed."

In the letter, Speier also took issue with NASCAR not suspendingTravis Kvapilin 2013 after domestic violence allegationssurfaced, saying "it calls into question the enforcement policies exercised by NASCAR."

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.

Gene Haas, the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing along with driverTony Stewart, saidlast Sunday that "there's two sides to every story," and that he did not consider removing the 2004 Sprint Cup champion from the car during the investigation.

NASCAR has rules covering inappropriate or criminal behavior away from arenas, but it does not have a policy addressing domestic violence on its own. The rule book has a section covering violations and disciplinary action, including penalties that can be determined "by the gravity of the violation and its effect on ... the interests of stock car racing and NASCAR."

France said Friday that NASCAR is sensitive to the issue of domestic violence.

"You can expect our policies to reflect the understandable awareness that that's not going to be tolerated," France said. "How any league handled some of this is one thing. It's pretty clear when you see what's happening around the country that our policy will reflect the significance and importance that it should."

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."

The NASCAR Sprint Cup season concludes this weekend with the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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