ISC statement on the development of additional safety measures for its tracks

Statement from International Speedway Corporation (ISC) President John Saunders:

   “Beginning with our two superspeedway motorsports entertainment facilities, Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, ISC is developing a significant plan for the installation of additional impact-absorbing technologies including but not limited to SAFER barriers (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction). We will utilize all available tools to ensure the safety of the drivers and our fans. It will remain our top priority.

   “A thorough review of our other ISC facilities will continue with the focus to prioritize each track’s most critical areas first. This includes but is not limited to our upcoming races at Phoenix International Raceway and Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. ISC is working very closely with NASCAR and industry experts to identify areas for additional safety protections. As we finalize our plans, we will communicate them to the drivers and necessary stakeholders ahead of our races at each ISC facility.”

David Ragan emerges as leading candidate to fill in for the injured Kyle Busch

   Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan has emerged as the leading candidate to fill in for injured driver Kyle Busch this season at Joe Gibbs Racing, multiple sources confirmed to The Observer on Tuesday.

   Ragan was at Joe Gibbs Racing headquarters in Huntersville, N.C., on Tuesday morning meeting with JGR officials, sources confirmed.

   Ragan, 29, a two-winner in the Cup series, has spent the past three-plus seasons at Front Row Motorsports and finished 17th in Sunday's Daytona 500 in the No. 34 Ford. He would have to be released from his contract at FRM in order to make the move.

   There was no immediate response from JGR officials for a request for comment.

   Busch remained hospitalized in Daytona Beach, Fla., hospital Tuesday morning with a compound fracture in his right leg and a mid-foot fracture in his left foot.

   Busch suffered the injuries in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series opener at Daytona International Speedway when his No. 54 Toyota got caught up in a multi-car wreck and plowed nose-first in an interior retaining wall which was not covered by energy-absorbing SAFER barriers.

   Busch is expected to miss a significant amount of the 2015 season.

What Jeff Gordon had to say about his final Daytona 500

   Jeff Gordon, who started from the pole, ended up getting caught in a last-lap wreck in the final Daytona 500 of his distinguished career. Here is what Gordon had to say about his last 500 start:

   WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AND FEELING RIGHT NOW KNOWING THIS IS IT? 
“For some reason I’m still smiling and enjoying every moment of it.  Obviously, I enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second half.  What an amazing car we had.  Just out there in the front with our Drive To End Hunger Chevrolet just controlling the race.  Had one restart where I started on the outside and just couldn’t get our line going.  We got shuffled back and kind of played catch up from that point on.  This was an amazing week and an amazing day.  I am just in a different place that is so foreign to me, but so incredible.  To just be taking it all in and enjoying every moment.  Yeah, right now I’m a little bit sad this is my final Daytona 500, but I’m more upset we didn’t have a shot at winning there at the end.

   “Congratulations to Joey Logano.  That moment you saw there with his dad that is what it’s all about.  These types of moments, such a big race it means so much to all of us.  You want to share that with the people that you are closest to that have been there along the way.  Congratulations to him and I don’t know what else to say other than I enjoyed it.  I’m not going to miss those final laps. That was just crazy, but certainly would have liked to have had a shot to win.  If you are over there in Victory Lane it is awesome and you enjoy it.  If you are not in Victory Lane you are like ‘oh gosh when is that next restrictor-plate race.” 

   DID YOU ENJOY YOUR FINAL DAYTONA 500? "I enjoyed every moment of it. I enjoyed the pre-race and the race; all the way up to that wreck."

   WHAT PUT YOU OUT OF POSITION BECAUSE THE BOTTOM DIDN'T MOVE? "The biggest thing to me, you saw there weren't a lot of lead changes out there because the leader has such an advantage. We were just dominating and it was really easy in some ways. I was just having to really watch my mirrors.  My pit crew did an amazing job. So it was kind of business as usual, but that one restart, I chose the outside, I was really basing it off who I thought was behind me that could push me. We just didn't go. The inside lane went better. We got shuffled back. And we just never recovered after that. We were doing everything we could. I think we were between fifth and 10th and I could never break through to get any further forward."

   DID THE BOTTOM LINE JUST NOT GO QUICKLY? "The bottom lime was not as organized and then we stacked them in the middle of one and two. The outside line formed and got a little bit of a run. At that point everybody is just trying to shuffle and take their momentum and do something with it. Believe it or not I actually got a good run with Kasey Kahne up the middle. It was hairy. I knew there was high potential of a wreck. I was just following him through that hole and was just holding on tight to get through the corner. I saw where I had a pretty good amount of momentum coming. I think we maybe could have gotten a top-five out of it. Then they started wrecking, or somebody hit me. I don't know."

   WAS THE BOTTOM GROVE GOOD EARLY ON AND THEN THE HIGHER GROOVE?  "It just depends on who is pushing, how you are pushing. Sometimes if you push too hard you actually stall the momentum because the cars start getting out of shape.  If you take five cars and they all go at the same time, you take five cars and their kind of domino affect then the ones on the outside are going to prevail. It wasn't an inside/outside lane thing to me, it was just how the guys restarted."

   HOW TOUGH FOR YOUR LAST DAYTONA 500 TO END LIKE THIS? "It is disappointing because things were going so well, especially that first half. That first half was amazing. I was enjoying that moment very, very much. Just being out front. Being in control of the race. I felt like we were just doing everything perfectly.  The car was amazing. I knew it was going to be crucial to maintain that track position. That one restart I chose the outside and that line just didn't go. From that point on, we were just playing catch up."

Statement from Patricia Driscoll's ex-husband, Geoffrey Hermanstorfer

   Statement to the Media - From Darin Rumer on behalf of Geoffrey Hermanstorfer regarding Driscoll vs. Busch Matter

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

   Mr. Geoffrey Hermanstorfer, the father of Houston Hermanstorfer is making a public plea to both the media and the public in general who are following the Kurt Busch ongoing legal issue with Patricia Driscoll, Houston Hermanstorfer’s mother.  Mr. Hermanstorfer requests that the media please refrain from using images of Houston, mentioning Houston by name, or even referring to him as the son of Patricia Driscoll in reference to her allegations of domestic violence.  Mr. Hermanstorfer believes Houston to be a child who deserves to not be attached to adult situations and his privacy should be respected and protected, as every child’s should.

A message from Kurt Busch's crew chief

  Tony Gibson, who was set to begin his first full Sprint Cup Series season with driver Kurt Busch in Sunday's Daytona 500, posted a short message on his Twitter account Saturday morning, his only comments so far following Busch's indefinite suspension on Friday.

pic.twitter.com/jgMWSczLdd
— Tony Gibson (@TonyOldman41) February 21, 2015

   Xfinity Series driver Regan Smith will substitute for Busch in Sunday's race.

NASCAR indefinitely suspends driver Kurt Busch

   NASCAR on Friday indefinitely suspended Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch after a Kent County (Del.) Family Court commissioner issued his opinion detailing the domestic violence acts allegedly committed by Busch against his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll.

   The Observer first reported the suspension on Friday afternoon.

   "Given the serious nature of the findings and conclusions made by the commissioner of the Family Court of the State of Delaware, NASCAR has indefinitely suspended driver Kurt Busch, effective immediately," a NASCAR statement said. "We will continue to respect the process and timetable of the authorities involved."

   Xfinity Series driver Regan Smith will replace Busch in Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 41 Chevrolet in Sunday's Daytona 500, the team confirmed. 

   In his order on Monday, Kent County (Del.) Family Court commissioner David Jones found "by a preponderance of the evidence" that Busch committed an act of domestic violence against Driscoll.

   On Friday in a 25-page written opinion, of copy of which has been obtained by The Observer, Jones said he believed Busch "manually strangled" Driscoll in a confrontation in his motorhome on Sept. 26, 2014. The commissioner also believed there was "substantial likelihood" Busch could commit similar matters in the future.

   The commissioner also found that Driscoll provided "false testimony" at times during the hearing but believed enough independent evidence existed to find merit in Driscoll's claim.

   Driscoll sought the order after alleging Busch smashed her head against the wall of his motorhome three times during last September's NASCAR race weekend at Dover, Del. 
   
   The Dover (Del.) Police Department investigated Driscoll's complaint but elected to send its findings to the Delaware Attorney General with no recommendation. The Attorney General's office has yet to decide whether to seek any criminal charges against Busch.

   Among the restrictions placed on Busch by the order: 

   - Busch cannot threaten, molest, attack, harass or commit any other act of abuse against Driscoll and any minor children in her household.

   - Busch cannot come with 100 yards of Driscoll's person, residence or workplace. At NASCAR races, Busch must maintain a "practicable distance" from Driscoll if both are in attendance. 

    - Busch cannot attempt to contact Driscoll in any way.

   - Busch must be evaluated for "mental health problems" and follow any recommendations by the evaluator. 

Watch Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart share the 'NASCAR love'

   As one of the first tweets from its new @Mobil1 Twitter account this week, the brand unveiled a video featuring a comedic exchange between Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart feeling the "NASCAR Love."

   Watch how these two NASCAR champions get under each other’s skin on the heels of Harvick’s 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup championship.