Crew member throws multiple punches, breaks jaw of NASCAR team owner
There will be a lot of excitement at Dover International Speedway in Delaware this weekend, as it’s the site of the AAA 400 Drive for Autism NASCAR Monster Energy Series Cup race on Sunday.
But there was a lot of action off the track on Friday, when a former crew member of JP Motorsports was arrested for allegedly punching his ex-boss in the face multiple times and breaking his jaw.
Lawrence Hayden, 33, got into an argument with the owner of JP Motorsports.
“At approximately 10:51AM, officers from the Dover Police Department were called to the infield of the Dover International Speedway in reference to the assault,” Dover police said in a statement released by Master Corporal Mark Hoffman, the public information officer for the department.
“It was then learned that Hayden and team owner Jerry Hataway (56), were involved in a verbal argument over issues pertaining to Hayden’s employment with the team,” the statement added.
“During that verbal exchange, Hayden began punching Hataway causing Hataway to suffer a broken jaw. Hataway was initially treated at the Fan Care Center at Dover International Speedway and was later transferred to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for further treatment for his injuries,” the police report explained.
Hayden was taken into police custody without incident. He was charged with one count of second-degree assault and given a $500 secured bond.
Hataway is a co-owner of JP Motorsports, which races in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (essentially a minor league to the Monster Energy Cup series).
The NASCAR Xfinity Series OneMain Financial 200 was set to run Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
For Sunday’s Monster Energy Cup race, Kyle Larson won the pole with Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch behind him.
“We’ve always qualified good here, have yet to get a pole, have raced well here, but yet to get a win. So maybe we’ll get both out of the way this weekend,” Larson told Fox Sports 1 after qualifying, according to Sporting News.
Larson, who won three times last year, is looking for his first victory of 2018.
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