Delaware’s Department of Justice said Thursday that it would not pursue criminal charges against suspended NASCAR driver Kurt Busch in connection with a domestic-violence case involving his ex-girlfriend.
The agency said it found that “the admissible evidence and available witnesses would likely be insufficient to meet the burden of establishing beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Busch committed a crime.”
There was no immediate reaction from Busch, who has denied the allegations in the case.
Officials said Busch’s ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, alleged that she was physically abused by Busch on Sept. 26, 2014, during an argument in Busch’s motor home at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
She filed a complaint with Dover police on Nov. 5, leading to a review by the Delaware attorney general’s office on whether Busch should face criminal charges.
In the meantime, a family court commissioner in Delaware granted Driscoll a no-contact order against Busch, 36, a former champion in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.
The commissioner, David W. Jones, also released a 25-page report on Feb. 20, in which he asserted that it was “more likely than not” that Busch had abused Driscoll by holding her throat and smashing her head against a wall in the motor home.
That prompted NASCAR to suspend Busch indefinitely. Busch, who drives the No. 41 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing, twice has unsuccessfully appealed the suspension.
Busch missed the season-opening Daytona 500 on Feb. 22 and last Sunday’s race in Atlanta. Regan Smith will again fill in for him Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Follow @PeltzLATimes for more motor racing news
Copyright © 2015, Los Angeles Times