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.

   

Kurt Busch's lawyers seek to re-open protective order hearing; ask for investigation of Driscoll

   Lawyers for Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch filed a motion in Kent County (Del.) Family Court asking commissioner David Jones to re-open the hearing on the protective order he issued Monday prohibiting Busch from contacting or going near his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll.

   Busch's lawyers said they are also asking the Delaware Attorney General's Office to open an investigation of Driscoll to determine whether she has violated the Delaware criminal code offense of tampering with a witness.

   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 charges.

   Driscoll has granted several media interviews in recent days repeating her allegations. 

   One of Busch's lawyers, Rusty Hardin, released the following statement on Thursday afternoon after filing the petition: 

   "As Ms. Driscoll's contentions became ever more public, independent witnesses, who are close personal acquaintances of Ms. Driscoll's, have come forward and provided information that contradict her version of events after the split, before the alleged assault and immediately following the incident.  

   "All the witnesses confirm Mr. Busch's testimony that Ms. Driscoll presented herself to close friends and acquaintances as a covert agent involved in deadly conduct on behalf of the government. One witness was threatened not to talk; and another finds Ms. Driscoll's story completely incredulous based on his knowledge of the parties involved.

   "Ms. Driscoll’s frantic media onslaught of the last 48 hours at a time Mr. Busch is scheduled to drive in the most important NASCAR race of the year is further evidence that this is not about domestic violence, but instead about ruining the career and reputation of the man who left her. We are also asking the Attorney General’s Office to open an investigation of Ms. Driscoll to determine whether or not she has violated the Delaware criminal code offense of Tampering with a Witness through her repeated attempts to harass and intimidate witnesses who she fears will come forward with evidence that will totally undermine her credibility."

   Jones on Friday is scheduled to release his written opinion supporting the reasons for granting the order.  

   The petition filed Thursday included several attached exhibits including sworn witness statements and copies of text messages between Driscoll and potential witnesses.

  

'I'm Jimmie Johnson the NASCAR driver NOT Jimmy Johnson the coach'

   Check out this new video from Fox Sports, in which six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson 'joins' the cast of 'NFL on FOX' to promote this year's Daytona 500. 

   But he's not who they think he is! 

  

NASCAR tweaks group qualifying rules for Xfinity and Truck series at Daytona

  

   NASCAR has made some modifications to its group qualifying procedures and will utilize it for qualifying this week for the Xfinity and Truck series race at Daytona International Speedway.

   The changes come after several drivers complained about the process used in Sunday's Daytona 500 qualifying session. The changes, however, do not alter the format but help prevent the gamesmanship by teams that was causing a bottleneck on pit road during each round.

   As part of the changes, the fields will be broken into four groups in Round 1 by random draw. Each round will last just two minutes and 30 seconds (they were five minutes), barely long enough for teams to leave pit road and complete a qualifying attempt.

   Before the start, teams must start nose-first in their pit stall and will line up single-file on pit road for the start of the session. Once a car moves, it must go and complete its qualifying attempt or it will have its time disallowed.

   In Round 2, there will be two groups of 12, split by odd and even ranked cars and lined up fastest to slowest. In Round 3, the top 12 cars will compete for the pole in one, 2 1/2 minute session.

   "We continue to work in collaboration with the industry to implement the most exciting and competitive qualifying format, especially as it relates to superspeedways," said NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell.

   "We will continue to review the qualifying format for future superspeedway events."