NASCAR: Kurt Busch still suspended despite lack of charges
NASCAR said Thursday afternoon that Kurt Busch is still indefinitely suspended despite the Delaware Department of Justice announcing that it wouldn't press criminal charges against the driver regarding an allegation of domestic assault.
"NASCAR is aware of the Delaware Department of Justice announcement today regarding driver Kurt Busch," a statement said. "As we disclosed Monday, he has accepted the terms and conditions of a reinstatement program and is activelly participating in the program. Kurt Busch's eligibility for reinstatement will continue to be governed by that program and the NASCAR Rule Book, though the elimination of the possibility of criminal charges certainly removes a significant impediment to his reinstatement."
The sanctioning body hasn't publicly said what the timeline for Busch's reinstatement would be either before or after the announcement of no charges.
Earlier Thursday, the Delaware DOJ said there wasn't enough evidence to satisfy the burden of proof in the allegations by Busch's ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll. She said Busch had slammed his head against the wall of her motorhome multiple times.
Thursday evening, Stewart-Haas Racing issued a statement:
"We appreciate the thoroughness of the Dover Police Department’s investigation into the allegations made against Kurt Busch and respect the time the Attorney General put into his decision," the statement said. "They are the experts in these matters and the decision not to pursue charges is an important one. We’re currently working with NASCAR to understand how this impacts Kurt’s reinstatement process.”
NASCAR indefinitely suspended Busch on Friday, Feb. 20 after the county commissioner assigned to the request for a protection order hearing between Driscoll and Busch said that Busch had more likely than not committed an act of domestic abuse against Driscoll. The commissioner had granted Driscoll a protection order against Busch earlier in the week.
Barring a quick reinstatement before Sunday's race at Las Vegas, it will be the third race Busch has missed in 2015. Regan Smith, who has filled in for Busch in the first two races of the season, is set to replace him again in the No. 41 car.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of From The Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
