Nelson Piquet Jr.-Brian Scott post-race fight leads to arrests

The post-race fight Friday night between NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Nelson Piquet Jr. and Brian Scott spilled over into the motor home parking area of Richmond International Raceway afterward and led to the arrests of two Richard Childress Racing crew members.

Police said that Michael Searce was arrested on two charges of misdemeanor assault and Thomas Costello was arrested on one count of misdemeanor assault. Both are crew members for Scott. Each was released early Saturday morning.

Piquet and Scott have recently had a running feud on the track, as the video below illustrates. Piquet finished 14th in the race and Scott 20th. Brad Keselowski edged Kevin Harvick for the victory.

The video eventually shows the post-race altercation, in which Scott confronted Piquet for crashing into him near the end of the race Friday night. Each airs his grievances on camera in exclusive interviews.

When the two had returned to pit road, Piquet eventually shoves Scott and then kicks him in the groin. Crew members for both drivers rushed to the scene.

[Update: 1:10 p.m.: The disagreement between the two teams continued in the motor home parking area later when Searce and Costello allegedly assaulted Piquet and one of his crew members. according to Henrico County, Va., police.

“Several members of another race team confronted a group that included Nelson Piquet Jr., resulting in the arrest of two individuals from the other race team,” Turner Scott Motorsports, for which Piquet drives, said in a statement.

Team owner Richard Childress released his own statement.

“Our team members were walking to their cars and words were exchanged with members from another team, which led to an altercation,” Childress’ statement said. “I am still learning all the exact details and, because it did happen outside of the track, and local authorities became involved. We are working with them to resolve this matter.”]

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Wire service and Internet reports contributed to this report.