Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
It's an interesting topic, but one that is rarely mentioned in NASCAR: If a driver uses his car as a weapon during a race and injures or kills another competitor or fan, could there be legal implications?
Bob Pockrass of SceneDaily.com explored the issue in a thorough story, and the answer according to the lawyers he spoke with is...maybe.
One lawyer Pockrass spoke with said:
"District attorneys are elected officials. Politics are part of the game. Let's say you did something like what happened at Atlanta and even admitted, ‘Hell yeah I did it' and it was Dale Earnhardt [injured]. Do you think a district attorney might indict you to get votes and publicity?"
The sport would be changed forever if there turned out to be legal consequences for actions on the track. For now, will that change how some drivers race?
Doubtful.
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It's happened in hockey...
…and it didn’t really change the game.
Actually, it’s happened twice, though both times in Canada, which has a different criminal justice system. But two hockey players (Marty McSorley and Todd Bertuzzi) were charged with assault (with a weapon for McSorley – his stick – and causing bodily harm for Bertuzzi), and though McSorely never played professionally again (at 37, he already had a long career), Bertuzzi still is.
Honestly, I don’t think an assault charge would have a huge impact on the sport. It might get you media types in an uproar for a few weeks, but would it really be much different from when a driver gets a DUI?
by ChicknLil on Mar 17, 2010 8:08 AM EDT reply actions
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