Lt. Randy Sutton says NASCAR is off-track as they attempted to have wounded police officers arrested; Mike Ruch & Eddie Gossage comment
-Ruch says he was held by NASCAR officials for 45 minutes with officers; Founder of Wounded Blue claims NASCAR wanted the officers arrested; TMS says Fort Worth police were not involved and they were only asked to leave the track
-Mike Ruch claims the officers asked to get in; TMS says they flashed badges to enter closed areas
Angela Ruch drove a car with a Wounded Blue paint scheme. The decklid of the truck listed the names of every police officer killed in the line of duty so far in 2020.
A report surfaced on Wednesday that NASCAR had kicked out and asked to have police officers arrested for coming into the infield to have a look at the truck. The report claimed the officers in question were guests of Angela Ruch.
The officers stood by the truck to take pictures after the race concluded. NASCAR asked them to leave and called the Police, on the police officers.
The report claims that when Fort Worth police officers arrived, they declined to arrest the noticeably wounded service members.
Later in the week, Mike Ruch was fined $10,000 for violating COVID-19 protocols. The violation lists sections 12.8.1.b and 7.7.2.j.
12.8.1.b – “Failure to comply with NASCAR’s COVID-19 Event Protocol Guidelines and/or instructions from NASCAR including screenings, social distancing, compartmentalization, and use of required personal protective equipment, etc.”
7.7.2.j – “If a team is not in compliance with the Team Event Roster Rules and guidelines, that team will be subject to a Penalty as outlined in Section 12 Violations and Disciplinary Action.”
Texas Penalty Report: July 2020 (NASCAR Weekend)
Lt. Randy Sutton, founder of The Wounded Blue
“For weeks, NASCAR bent over backwards to support the Black Lives Matter organization,” Lt. Randy Sutton told Americas Keepers.
“However, when a car paying tribute to The Wounded Blue and raising charitable funds to help officers wounded in the line of duty hits the track, it’s been nothing but roadblocks.”
“Now, for NASCAR to call for the arrest of disabled officers who simply sought to take a photo with a vehicle etched with the names of over 120 fallen officers who were killed in the line of duty? It’s clear that NASCAR is the one who is off-track.”
Eddie Gossage statement
The president of Texas Motor Speedway responded to the report:
“Nope. They flashed their badges to get in. NASCAR busted them for not having credentials & not going thru screening. Fined Truck Series Racer’s Angela Ruch’s husband $10,000 for sneaking them in,” Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage stated via social media.
“Bad they flashed badges to get in restricted area, worse they’re lying.”
“I imagine they could be in trouble with the department they represent for misuse of their badge. This is a NASCAR violation, not a criminal activity. Fort Worth Police weren’t involved. These folks should be ashamed,” Gossage concluded.
Related: Angela Ruch announces a new tv show
Mike Ruch statement
Mike Ruch also responded to the report and the statement above from Gossage:
“Just so everyone is crystal clear. NASCAR has officially said that they are not fining me for bringing in police officers nor did bring in police officers,” Mike Ruch opened in a social media statement.
“The officers mentioned didn’t jump a fence to get into the infield, they knocked on the front door and were invited in.”
“They went to the track security, told them who they were and asked if they could take a picture with the truck. I’m assuming since the race was well over by then, that track employee didn’t see any harm and allowed the officers into the infield. The police officers never once flashed a badge.”
“A NASCAR official then detained all of us for 45 minutes and asked for the local police to arrest the officers. I did receive a $10,000 fine however, for what NASCAR states as not following the COVID protocol.”
“However, I was on an official roster known by NASCAR, passed the medical exam that day to be in the infield and I was also invited by NASCAR per an email from NASCAR, into a suite.”
Ruch concluded. “I watched the race from the suite, then came back down into the infield to get my wide to leave. NASCAR is stating that is the reason I was fined. Those are the facts construe them as you wish.”
Related: Mike Ruch insults DeLana and Kevin Harvick
Wounded Blue
NASCAR Truck
Links
Angela Ruch | The Wounded Blue | Texas Motor Speedway | NASCAR
