Spotter for Chase Elliott suspended following battery and assault charges
NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have indefinitely suspended Eddie D’Hondt, a spotter for Chase Elliott on the No. 9 team, shortly after they were made aware of two misdemeanor charges brought against D’Hondt.
The charges include assault on a female and battery of an unborn child, according to records from the North Carolina Judicial Branch. D’Hondt, 62, was arrested in May in Catawba County, records show.
In September, D’Hondt was charged with assault on a female for striking Irene Elizabeth Young, according to a Criminal Summons record in North Carolina obtained by KickinTheTires.net. An arrest warrant issued on May 12 alleges that D’Hondt committed battery of an unborn child by pushing Young “with his body on her stomach” while Young was pregnant.
According to FOX Sports, the incident stemmed over an argument about jet ski rentals in which Young was an employee of the rental company and alleged D’Hondt made “full body contact and yelled in (her) face pushing (her) back multiple times with (his) body.”
FOX Sports reported that D’Hondt’s wife filed an affidavit Wednesday that stated that Young, “fully extended her arm into my husband’s face so quickly that I thought she was about to hit him, and swung her hand out towards his face. My husband took his open hand and moved (her) hand out of his face.”
D’Hondt also reportedly filed a motion to compel video footage from cameras at the jetski rental company property. A statement from D’Hondt attorney obtained by FOX Sports said that D’Hondt is innocent of the charges and looks forward to his day in court, which is set for June 7.
“These unfounded charges have negatively affected Mr. D’Hondt’s career and damaged his reputation and he is currently exploring all legal remedies, both criminal and civil,” the statement said.
FOX Sports obtained affidavits in D'Hondt case. It stems from a Sept 7 2020 argument over jet ski rentals, where an employee alleged D'Hondt made "full body contact and yelled in my face pushing me back multiple times with body” and "hit my arm away” & “swung a fist at me.” (1/3)
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 26, 2021
Hendrick Motorsports said in statement that it “became aware of the situation this morning and have immediately and indefinitely suspended Mr. D’Hondt’s role with our company.”
“We are taking this matter very seriously and will continue to seek additional information about the alleged incident,” the statement said.
The team has not named a replacement spotter for the upcoming race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Hendrick Motorsports is coming off a milestone victory last weekend at Circuit of the Americas in which the No. 9 team won its first race of the season to tie the organization with Petty Enterprises at 268 wins in the Cup Series. It was Chevrolet’s 800th win.
On Wednesday, NASCAR announced it indefinitely suspended D’Hondt for violating Member Conduct Guidelines and a Required Notice rule 2.11, which states that, “Any NASCAR Member charged with any violation of the law (misdemeanor and/or felony) shall notify NASCAR...prior to the next scheduled Event or within 72 hours of being so charged, whichever is earlier.”