RICHMOND, Va. - Nelson Piquet Jr. was involved in a post-race altercation that led to the arrest of two crew members for Richard Childress Racing, his team said Saturday.
Piquet and RCR driver Brian Scott tangled on the track during Friday night’s Nationwide Series race and in the pits after. Crews for both drivers confronted each other when Scott went over to Piquet’s car, and Piquet shoved him and then kicked Scott in the groin.
“When I went to talk to him, he just pushed and shoved me and then kicked me below the belt,” Scott said after the race. “It’s just a chicken move.”
Henrico County police said there was a fight in the motor home lot that led to the arrests of two crew members. Michael Searce was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor assault, and Thomas Costello was arrested on one count of misdemeanor assault. They were released early Saturday.
“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,” Turner Scott Motorsports said in a statement.
Team owner Richard Childress said his crew members were on their way home when the incident occurred.
“Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation,” Childress said. “I am still learning all the exact details and, because it did happen outside of the track, and local authorities became involved.
We are working with them to resolve this matter.
“We are now concentrating on winning the Sprint Cup race tonight.”
Sports, Pages 28 on 04/28/2013