(L-R) Chris Hacker, Joel Courage, Jason White.Photo:Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty, Guilford County Sheriff’s office/Facebook
Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty, Guilford County Sheriff’s office/Facebook
NASCAR suspended two part-time drivers and an additional industry member on Thursday, according toESPN.
Jason White and Chris Hacker were suspended indefinitely after both drivers were arrested for allegedly driving impaired this month.
Hacker, 23, was arrested on Tuesday, also in Huntersville, and charged with impaired driving, according to theMecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Chris Hacker.David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Industry member Joel Courage received the third suspension from NASCAR’s governing body on Thursday following his arrest on Aug. 9 for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender in North Carolina. According to theGuilford County Sheriff’s Office, Courage, 44, was operating a business, E33 Motorsports & Development, that aimed to discover and develop young drivers with NASCAR aspirations.
In 2008, Courage was convicted on 14 separate sex offenses in California,ESPNreported.
Joel Courage racing in 2018.David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
In a statement issued to Fox Sports reporterBob Pockrass, Hacker said he is “deeply sorry for the mistake” after addressing his arrest.
Hacker apologized to his fans, team, sponsors, and loved ones in his statement on Thursday. “The support I’ve been given throughout my racing career means the world to me, and I’m committed to getting the help I need so I can return to the track stronger than ever,” his statement concluded.
Hacker is scheduled to appear in court in North Carolina on Sept. 19, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
White’s hearing is scheduled for Sept. 6, according to theNorth Carolina Judicial Branch’s records. Per the report, he was arraigned on multiple offenses such as driving while impaired, speeding and reckless driving, perWJZY.
NASCAR driver Jason White.John Harrelson/NASCAR via Getty
John Harrelson/NASCAR via Getty
White previously drove for Mooresville, North Carolina-based TRICON Garage in theCraftsman Truck Series, where he is ranked 47th in the 2023 standings, per WJZY.
In a statement from TRICON Garage issued to PEOPLE on Thursday, the company said, “Although Jason White brought sponsorship funding to compete in the February NASCAR Truck Series opening event at Daytona Int’l Speedway for TRICON Garage, he is not an employee of, nor has had any additional ties to the team beyond that February event.”
Jason White.Credit: Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
Credit: Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
PEOPLE has contacted NASCAR and MBM Motorsports for comment.
On Aug. 6,driver Noah Gragson was placed “under indefinite suspension"shortly after it was reported that he liked an insensitive meme aboutGeorge Floyd’s 2020 murder.
Legacy Motor Club released a statementabout the suspension, noting that Gragson’s actions “do not represent the values of our team.” Josh Berry instead drove the No. 42 car for this weekend’s Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
source: people.com
