NASCAR Racing track has turned into wrestle ring when Two Richard
Childress Racing crewmen were arrested and charged with misdemeanor
assault following a fight Friday night in the Richmond International
Raceway driver/owner lot.
The crewmen work on the Nationwide Series team of Brian Scott, who was kicked by Nelson Piquet Jr. on pit road following the race earlier in the evening. That incident apparently sparked the fight in the motorhome lot.
Michael Searce, listed on the RCR website as a mechanic on the Scott team, was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor assault. Thomas Costello, an interior specialist for Scott, was arrested on one count of misdemeanor assault, according to Lt. Linda Toney of the Henrico County Police.
Searce, 50, and Costello, 35, were released following booking, according to Toney. According to an online incident and arrest data from the Henrico County Police, the fight occurred about 11 p.m. ET. Arrests were made at 2:26 a.m. ET.
Turner Scott Motorsports confirmed that Piquet was the target of the assault.
“Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team,” said a statement from the team. “TSM will have no further comment on the incident as the matter is an active case with the Henrico Police Department.”
Details of the police investigation were not immediately available, although police did confirm that one person did suffer an injured shoulder. Sources said it was not Piquet who was injured.
“I didn’t witness what took place last night outside of the race track,” team owner Richard Childress said. “Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation.
“I am still learning all the exact details, and because it did happen outside of the track, local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter. We are now concentrating on winning the Sprint Cup race tonight.”
NASCAR is also waiting on details.
“Obviously we’re still gathering facts about what happened,” spokesman Kristi King said. “We will address it once we have all the information.”
Piquet had tangled with Scott during Friday's Nationwide Series race.
After the race, the crews nearly brawled and Scott went over to Piquet's car. Piquet shoved him and then kicked him in the groin.
NASCAR officials said there would be no penalties for anything that happened on pit road after the race. They said they would not comment on the ongoing police investigation.
"When you get a temper at the end of the race, everybody is tired and frustrated and you do things you don't mean to," Piquet said after the race.
"The intention wasn't to do that. It was just to keep him away from me because I didn't want to start a fight. He came running at me yelling. It was kind of a first reaction to defend myself. It wasn't meant to hit him where it ended up."
The crewmen work on the Nationwide Series team of Brian Scott, who was kicked by Nelson Piquet Jr. on pit road following the race earlier in the evening. That incident apparently sparked the fight in the motorhome lot.
Michael Searce, listed on the RCR website as a mechanic on the Scott team, was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor assault. Thomas Costello, an interior specialist for Scott, was arrested on one count of misdemeanor assault, according to Lt. Linda Toney of the Henrico County Police.
Searce, 50, and Costello, 35, were released following booking, according to Toney. According to an online incident and arrest data from the Henrico County Police, the fight occurred about 11 p.m. ET. Arrests were made at 2:26 a.m. ET.
Turner Scott Motorsports confirmed that Piquet was the target of the assault.
“Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team,” said a statement from the team. “TSM will have no further comment on the incident as the matter is an active case with the Henrico Police Department.”
Details of the police investigation were not immediately available, although police did confirm that one person did suffer an injured shoulder. Sources said it was not Piquet who was injured.
“I didn’t witness what took place last night outside of the race track,” team owner Richard Childress said. “Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation.
“I am still learning all the exact details, and because it did happen outside of the track, local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter. We are now concentrating on winning the Sprint Cup race tonight.”
NASCAR is also waiting on details.
“Obviously we’re still gathering facts about what happened,” spokesman Kristi King said. “We will address it once we have all the information.”
Piquet had tangled with Scott during Friday's Nationwide Series race.
After the race, the crews nearly brawled and Scott went over to Piquet's car. Piquet shoved him and then kicked him in the groin.
NASCAR officials said there would be no penalties for anything that happened on pit road after the race. They said they would not comment on the ongoing police investigation.
"When you get a temper at the end of the race, everybody is tired and frustrated and you do things you don't mean to," Piquet said after the race.
"The intention wasn't to do that. It was just to keep him away from me because I didn't want to start a fight. He came running at me yelling. It was kind of a first reaction to defend myself. It wasn't meant to hit him where it ended up."