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Kurt Busch’s Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out About Controversial Domestic Abuse Incident

By Brian Thornsburg

Feb 27, 2016; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) sits in his car during practice for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2016; Hampton, GA, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kurt Busch (41) sits in his car during practice for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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It has been over two years since fans were hit with the news that NASCAR had decided to suspend Kurt Busch for alleged domestic abuse against his then-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll. The announcement came only a few days after a Delaware family court determined that it was more likely than not that the abuse had taken place.

Patricia Driscoll recalled: “After I got the restraining order was really bad. After he got suspended was 100 times worse, to the point where the police had to come stay in the house. The fans are on me. They just want me dead. The death threats were horrible after he was suspended.”

Driscoll went further into the tweets she received from fans.

"It was death threats and, ‘You should have your child taken from you, you’re a gold digger. You’re a whore, you’re just after his money.’ Somebody started a petition to have me removed from the foundation."

The incident, which has been mired in controversy ever since the public got wind of it, is that Driscoll went to Busch’s motor home unannounced and uninvited during a race weekend at New Hampshire In September of 2014 and was asked to leave several times by the former Cup champion. When she did not comply, he allegedly beat her head against the wall and choked her.

"It felt like I couldn’t breathe. He was choking me. He had my face so tight it hurt, just smashed my head. He had this very crazy look in his eyes. He scared me."

While Driscoll did come over uninvited and unannounced, she claims it was to check on him and that she worried he was in a bad place. That being said, it is interesting to note that the incident happened right after Busch was eliminated from championship contention at New Hampshire and he may have been upset by that.

Hours later, Driscoll returned home after the incident and looked at herself in the mirror.

"I  wanted to remind myself of what he had done to me. I needed this to remind me anytime I was starting to feel weaker, he might come to apologize, that this was not acceptable and he will not do this to me, and I will not go back no matter what."

The charges were later dropped against Busch after a judge determined that there was not enough evidence to charge him and that Driscoll had been untruthful in her testimony. Busch then finished a diversion program that NASCAR required in order for him to be reinstated and he later went on to make the Chase that year as well.

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As for Driscoll, she is apparently still trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and still deals with backlash from the incident to this day. Not only that, she is also facing a federal indictment for allegedly defrauding the Armed Forces Foundation, which she served as director of before stepping down from the position due to public pressure.

The indictment comes after an ESPN investigation of her that claims she used the foundation’s money for everything from travel for herself and her son to lofty family vacations as well. It’s also being said that she used the money from the foundation to fund her legal team, which has only brought about more threats,  harassment, and anger from fans.

Despite all of that, Driscoll is still trying to help other women by lobbying for a Jane Doe law that will protect victims of domestic abuse from instantly being exposed to the tabloids like she originally was. The law currently only applies to victims of rape but could have very positive effects if applied to victims of domestic abuse as well.

"“I want these women to not get victimized after the fact like I did because the beating I took afterward is a million times worse than what happened that night.”"

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What do you think NASCAR fans? Do you believe her account of the story? Should tabloids have been able to take this as far as they did? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to tell us what you think of Driscoll trying to pick up the pieces of her life and fight for the victims of domestic violence.

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