Full Throttle

There are a lot of things that could be listed as being part of a NASCAR crime wave. Dale Earnhardt Jr “stealing the hearts” of fans for consecutive years as the Most Popular Driver comes to mind. Jim Hunter’s recent “disappointment” with Dale Jr. and J. Gordon over missing the awards banquet and the silence following the Gordon revelation he spoke with NASCAR officials previous to his Paris appearance is worthy of listing on the “police blotter.” As is the other Gordon’s ill advised stunt when he decided tossing his helmet was the “right thing to do.”

But there is “crime” and then there is Crime, as in the case of Chief Deputy Patrick Taylor of the Cocke County (Tenn.) Sheriff’s Department. He has been caught dealing in stolen NASCAR apparel.

Chief Deputy Taylor and his brother, Jarrod Taylor, were arrested on a two-count federal indictment accusing them of conspiring to traffic in more than $5,000 worth of NASCAR apparel believed to have been stolen in another state. According to the indictment, their receipt of the stolen property in May was part of an undercover FBI sting operation.

Despite that fact Taylor brothers weren’t required to post bond and are free this Christmas Eve I think it’s safe to say they won’t be receiving anything, with the exception of a truck load of coal, from Saint Nick this Christmas.

In other legal news, Kurt Busch was scheduled to appear in Tolleson Justice Court on Thursday but changed the court date to 9 a.m. Jan. 27, according to court officials.

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