UPDATE: NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports have both suspended Eddie D’Hondt indefinitely.
Hendrick announced its suspension first in a statement Wednesday morning.
“We 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.
“A spotter for this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway has not been named at this time.”
NASCAR suspended D’Hondt indefinitely for violating sections 12.8.1.e and 2.11 of the rulebook.
UPDATE 2: Kickin’ The Tires obtained the criminal summons and warrant for D’Hondt’s arrest from Catawba County.
According to the sworn documents, the incident took place on Sept. 7, 2020, Labor Day. The warrant was not issued and D’Hondt was not arrested until May 12, 2021.
The woman accused of D’Hondt of “FULL BODY BUBB ING (sic) HER, FACE TO FACE AND SPIT COMING ONTO HER FACE, WHEN SHE PUT HER HAND UP AND TOLD HIM TO STAY BACK SHEW AS PREGEANT (sic) HE SLAPPED HER HAND OUT OF THE WAY AND CAME AT HER PUSHING HER BACK WITH HIS BODY.. The defendant is a male person and was at least 18 years of age when the assault and striking occurred.”
Bob Pockrass at Fox Sports obtained more details.
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
The argument resulted because D’Hondt wanted, according to the employee/victim affidavit, a refund or more time on the rented jet ski because they initially did not have the required clothing and were therefore late after getting the required clothing. (3/3).
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 26, 2021
D’Hondt has filed a motion to compel for video footage from surveillance cameras from the jetski rental company property as they have yet to be produced. Affidavits filed supporting this request state the employee said during the argument that she had cameras all over the place.
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 26, 2021
More from D'Hondt attorney: "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." (2/2)
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) May 26, 2021
Original Report
Eddie D’Hondt, spotter for Chase Elliott’s No. 9 team in the NASCAR Cup Series, was arrested earlier this month on misdemeanor charges of assaulting a woman and battery against an unborn child.
According to the Hickory, N.C. Police Department’s website, D’Hondt, 62, was arrested on May 12. On the North Carolina Judicial Branch’s website, D’Hondt is scheduled for two court appearances, on June 7 (battery of an unborn child) and June 30 (assault of a woman).
According to North Carolina statutes, battery of an unborn child is described as:
“G.S. 14-23.6. A person commits this offense, a Class A1 misdemeanor, when he or she (1) commits a battery (2) on a pregnant woman. This offense only applies to a battery—that is, the actual striking—not to an assault. It is a lesser-included offense of “Assault Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury on an Unborn Child,” below. G.S. 14-23.6(a).”
The incident report is not publicized on the Catawba County website, according to local officials, due to North Carolina laws regarding this type of assault.
The Cup Series has held two races since D’Hondt’s arrest: May 16 at Dover International Speedway and Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas. D’Hondt was listed as the No. 9 team’s spotter for both events. At Dover, Hendrick Motorsports posted the first 1-2-3-4 finish in the organization’s history.
According to NASCAR’s rulebook, D’Hondt’s arrest could violate Section 12.8.1.e, which says a member “could be fined and/or indefinitely suspended” for “being charged with or convicted of a significant criminal violation.”
Assault is listed as an example.
D’Hondt did not report to NASCAR within 72 hours that he had been charged with a misdemeanor, which violates Section 2.11.a of the rulebook.
D’Hondt has served as a spotter at Hendrick since 2011. He’s previously served as general manager of Evernham Motorsports and worked with Chase’s father, Bill, before spotting for Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon and now Chase.
Daniel McFadin is a 10-year veteran of the NASCAR media corp. He wrote for NBC Sports from 2015 to October 2020. He currently works full time for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and is lead reporter and an editor for Frontstretch. He is also host of the NASCAR podcast "Dropping the Hammer with Daniel McFadin" presented by Democrat-Gazette.
You can email him at danielmcfadin@gmail.com.