Tony Stewart has contingency plan in case Kurt Busch can't drive
Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart said the team has a contingency plan if Kurt Busch is unable to drive because of still-unresolved allegations of domestic violence against the former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.
Busch's ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, filed a police report last November in Dover, Delaware, alleging Busch grabbed her by the throat and shoved her face-first into the wall of his motorhome three times during the September Dover race weekend. Busch has adamantly denied the allegations, and has not been charged criminally in the case. The Delaware Attorney General's office has said repeatedly that there is no timetable for deciding whether or not he will be criminally charged.
Driscoll has asked for the Kent County (Delaware) Family Court to issue a no-contact order forbidding Busch from contacting her. A decision on that request is expected to be issued in a matter of days by Family Court commissioner David Jones.
Thursday, during the annual NASCAR Media Day at Daytona International Speedway, Stewart was asked if SHR had a contingency plan for Busch's situation.
"We do, but we're kind of waiting to see what happens," said Stewart, who revealed no details. "I'm very hopeful we won't have to worry about it. I feel bad that he's in that situation right now, that they're both in that situation. We have to be smart and we have to have a plan in place if it doesn't work out for whatever reason."
Asked if he thought the case would drag out this long, Stewart said, "No, not at all. Not at all. It's definitely been a surprise for us."
For his part, Busch said he was ready to go racing, although he appeared frustrated that the case has dragged on as long as it has with no resolution or end in sight.
"The days in court, and now that we're going close to Day 100, as far as all of the proceedings go, normal situations that happen around these types of situations take 30 minutes," Busch said. "So sometimes preferential treatment can go the wrong way."
Busch added, "We all have to be patient. We all have to understand that there's a process to respect, and the fact that no announcement has come out, each day that goes by, it continues to be good news. And with the team and their support, they've been fantastic — (team co-owner) Gene Haas, especially.
"It's amazing to have the comfort level that I have, as well as to have told them the truth and understanding of everything," Busch said. "It's easy to be here and be pumped up about the season that's 10 days away."
