NASCAR driver Kurt Busch "remains suspended from competition" despite an announcement Thursday that the Delaware Attorney General’s Office "will not pursue criminal charges against him for an alleged act of domestic violence last year against his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll," according to Jim Utter of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Busch "still will have to complete the terms of his reinstatement process." The Attorney General’s decision "comes more than three months after receiving an investigation from the Dover (Del.) Police Department regarding the incident, which was first reported by Driscoll on Nov. 5 -- nearly six weeks after it allegedly occurred." Busch was suspended by NASCAR on Feb. 20 after a Kent County (Del.) Family Court commissioner issued his opinion "detailing the domestic violence acts allegedly committed by Busch against Driscoll." Stewart-Haas Racing officials was unavailable for comment, while SHR manufacturer Chevrolet, "which cut tires with Busch when he was suspended, said its stance has not changed but would continue to monitor the situation" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/6). ESPN.com's Bob Pockrass noted SHR co-Owner Gene Haas, whose "machinery company (Haas Automation) has logos plastered across Busch's firesuit and car, has been a staunch supporter of Busch but has not commented since the suspension" (ESPN.com, 3/5).
NASCAR TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH: USA TODAY's Nancy Armour writes NASCAR's decision to suspend Busch "was the right one" last month when it was announced, and it "remains right now." If the sanctioning body "is serious that it won't tolerate 'any actions of abuse,' as it said when it suspended Busch two weeks ago," it will not allow him to drive again "until it's confident he's got his temper in check." It is "going to take more than a pass from prosecutors to prove that." After years of "looking the other away at domestic violence, no sports league or governing body can afford to take abuse allegations lightly." Here is NASCAR's chance to "prove it doesn't" (USA TODAY, 3/6). ESPN.com's Ryan McGee wrote Busch's suspension is "only partially about domestic violence." It ultimately was the "sum of a much larger pile of parts." The notion of being "detrimental to stock car racing" includes "embarrassing the sport, dragging NASCAR's multicolored logo through the mud, through a Jerry Springer producer's show rundown, or creating situations that fuel every overplayed mainstream stereotype that auto racing isn't, but its critics so eagerly hope that it is." Busch "has accomplished all of the above" over "and over and over again" (ESPN.com, 3/5).
