A protection order issued against Kurt Busch will remain in place, a Kent County (Del.) Family Court Judge ruled Thursday, according to the Wilmington (Del.) News-Journal.
Protection order against Kurt Busch upheld
Kurt Busch must continue to not contact his ex-girlfriend, a Delaware judge ruled Thursday.
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The no-contact order was granted when Patricia Driscoll, Busch’s ex-girlfriend, alleged the former NASCAR champion grabbed her by the throat and smashed her head three times against a bedroom wall inside Busch’s motor home Sept. 26 at Dover International Speedway.
Family Court Commissioner David Jones placed the order Feb. 16. NASCAR indefinitely suspended Busch Feb. 20, just two days before the season-opening Daytona 500, when Jones’ released his summation stating Busch “more likely than not” physically assaulted Driscoll.
Judge William Walls upheld Jones’ initial ruling.
“At its core, this case involves an incident between Busch and Driscoll,” Walls wrote in his decision. “The case shows that two people can remember, and interpret, the same situation in different ways. The parties agree on little. However, the undisputed portions of the evidence establish that the parties had a tense discussion on September 26, 2014. In the middle of that discussion, Busch moved unnecessarily close to Driscoll, placed his hands on her face and knocked Driscoll’s head against a wall.”
Citing a lack of evidence, the Delaware Attorney General did not pursue criminal charges against Busch, who a week later regained his NASCAR eligibility after sitting out three races.
Driscoll attends NASCAR races as part of her role as president of the Armed Forces Foundation. When she is at the track, Busch must keep a “practicable” distance away from Driscoll. Outside of racing events, Busch is required to stay 100 yards from Driscoll’s home or workplace.
The Sprint Cup Series returns to Dover this weekend for the first time since the incident between Driscoll and Busch.
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