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.
Details of the police investigation were not immediately available but several sources said the fight involved Piquet Jr., who was not injured. Another person got a shoulder injury.
“We are aware an incident took place outside of the track’s infield following Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway involving members of our team and others from another team,” RCR director of communications Tim Packman said in a statement before the identity of those arrested was announced.
“We are cooperating with the local authorities in this matter.”
Piquet, who drives for Turner Scott Motorsports, 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.” (Sporting News)
