NASCAR remains silent on advisor’s arrest

The court date for New Orleans Saints running back and NASCAR Growth and Engagement Advisor Alvin Kamara is set for this week.

Early last month, Justice of the Peace Harmony Letizia rescheduled the hearing for Alvin Kamara and the other three individuals arrested in connection with a Saturday, February 5 altercation in Las Vegas, Nevada from Tuesday, March 8 to Monday, April 25.

The decision came as a prosecutor acknowledged that video evidence and witness statements were still being provided to their lawyers.

The disturbing incident, which took place at a Las Vegas nightclub the night before the New Orleans Saints running back took part in the NFL Pro Bowl at Allegiant Stadium, led to him being arrested for battery causing substantial bodily harm and conspiracy to commit battery.

The four men involved, including Kamara, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Chris Lammons, Darrin Young, and Percy Harris, all intend to plead not guilty, according to their attorneys.

Kamara was released on $5,000 bond on Monday, February 7.

Battery resulting in substantial bodily harm is classified as a felony in the state of Nevada. So if the 26-year-old Atlanta, Georgia native is convicted, he would have to pay a mandatory fine of $10,000, and he could also face between one and five years in prison.

His arrest is significant in the NASCAR world after NASCAR brought him on as their first ever Growth and Engagement Advisor during the 2021 season.

He became a fan of the sport in 2020, taking an interest as a result of the fact that several drivers, including his close friend Bubba Wallace, played a role in various acts of social justice.

Most notably, Wallace led to the ban of the Confederate battle flag from race tracks, and he ran a “Black Lives Matter” paint scheme on his #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet at Martinsville Speedway in June 2020.

Kamara built about his newfound fandom the following season. His juice and smoothie chain, The Big Squeezy, appeared on the #6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet of Ryan Vargas as the primary sponsor for the race at the Daytona International Speedway road course in February 2021.

Then in June, he was named to the newly created advisor role.

Since the incident occurred, however, the fact that NASCAR has not issued a statement about it or even acknowledged it happened has been somewhat of a talking point.

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Two and a half months later, they have still not yet commented, though interestingly, neither have the Saints, by whom Kamara is officially employed.

Whether or not anything will be said after the hearing later this week — and whether or not this depends on the result of the hearing — remains to be seen.