A Delaware court ruled on Friday that NASCAR driver Kurt Busch committed an act of domestic violence and Saturday, someone wrote ’41 Ray Rice’ on his garage stall.
Probably not the legacy Ray Rice was hoping for, but he is now inextricably connected with acts of domestic violence in sports. After a ruling by a Delaware court said that driver Kurt Busch committed an act of domestic violence on his girlfriend Patricia Driscoll last September, someone wrote the words “41 Ray Rice” on Busch’s garage stall, according to a story by Sporting News.
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The number referring to Busch’s driver number and Ray Rice obviously referring to the former Baltimore Ravens running back who scandalized the NFL last year with his domestic violence incident.
Ray Rice was suspended indefinitely by the league after his incident came out on camera, though he’s since been reinstated, but has yet to find a team that will sign him. The incident caused the NFL to look more closely at domestic violence incidents by its players and further, to treat them more harshly. That incident was shortly followed by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson coming under scrutiny for child abuse.
Busch was also suspended indefinitely by NASCAR after the ruling, citing actions detrimental to NASCAR. He was also issued a behavioral penalty.
"“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,” NASCAR officials said in a statement Friday afternoon. “He will not be allowed to race nor participate in any NASCAR activities until further notice. (via Sporting News)"
NASCAR Vice President Steve O’Donnell said afterwards that Busch has a right to appeal the ruling, but made it clear that NASCAR will not tolerate actions of abuse by their membership. He also said that he objected to any inference that such things were tolerated or that it was part of the culture. He then added that he and NASCAR will have no further comment as it is now a legal issue.
Busch has chosen to appeal the decision and NASCAR has said they would expedite the appeals process. He’s expected to have his case heard on Saturday.
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