Truex, Jr fined for illegal ‘pit-stop’
Quote selected text Published January 23rd, 2007 in NASCAR News
Two-time NASCAR Busch Series champ Martin Truex Jr. thought he was making a pit stop out of view, in a corner of the county’s parking garage, but like a scene right out of “Seinfeld,” the wrong person was watching. The bathroom break in the garage connected to the Ocean Walk Shoppes earned Truex a $208 ticket from a Volusia County Beach Patrol officer.
“I got a ticket for doing something stupid,” Truex said by phone Monday afternoon. It was just after midnight Friday and Truex — in town to test for the Jackson-Hewitt Preseason Thunder Busch Series — was walking back to his car on the third floor of the parking garage on Earl Street with a group of friends, a police report shows.
When the group approached a silver Chevy Suburban, Capt. Rich Gardner noticed that Truex began urinating on the right front tire of the SUV. At that point Gardner, sitting in an unmarked patrol car, called out: “I hope that’s worth 100 bucks,” a Beach Patrol report states. According to Gardner; Truex then responded, “It is worth 100 bucks,” and he held out a $100 bill. Not amused, Gardner told the 26-year-old race car driver that the matter was not a joke, then asked for Truex’s identification. The officer also said he doesn’t take bribes. “It sounds like you’re trying to bribe me,” Truex answered, according to the report. “You said, ‘Is that worth 100 bucks?’ and I said yeah. Did you say that?”
The encounter between Beach Patrol captain and racecar driver briefly became as tense as a NASCAR Sunday bumper to bumper race in the final lap. After a few more words exchanged, Gardner attempted to handcuff Truex, only to meet with resistance, the report states. After telling him to place his hands behind his back seven times, and ordering him to stop resisting, Truex, who lives near Charlotte, N.C., waved the white flag and cooperated with Gardner, but then offered the captain the $100 bill again, the report states. But in the end, Truex was not charged with urinating in public.
Because of all the talking that was done, Gardner smelled a hint of alcohol on Truex’s breath and charged him with disorderly intoxication. Truex, who finished 16th in last year’s Daytona 500 and who is employed by Dale Earnhardt Inc., denied resisting Gardner, but he did recall urinating on the tire of his vehicle. “I had to take a leak in the corner of a parking garage where no one could see,” he said. “It was a stupid mistake and I’ll never do it again.”
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Who hasn’t done that? When you gotta Go ya Gotta Go………
I used to be in Law Enforcement and what that was, was a stupid cop. He basically asked for
a bribe. I think a harsh warning would have been in order myself and no need to cuff the guy when you’re the one starting the argument…which is what it sounded like he wanted. Maybe Truex was stupid for doing that but like Jay said…when ya gotta go, ya gotta go! Sounds like Beach Patrol in Volusia County have way too much time on their hands.
Why was that cop there? just sitting in a parked car, sound kind of strange to me.
Why was that cop there? just sitting in a parked car, sounds kind of strange to me.
The car was unmarked as well yet the cop was in uniform. That doesn’t sit well with me.
Man cops are there to protect us! well what was the cop doing just sitting in the parking garage in the first place. TRUEX was wrong but the cop should have not just been sitting there.