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Kurt Busch

Sponsor on Busch: 'We support Kurt 110%'

Jeff Gluck
USA TODAY Sports

The testimony from Kurt Busch's ex-girlfriend alleging domestic abuse during this week's protection order hearing in Kent County (Del.) Family Court likely won't have an impact on his status with sponsors or his race team.

Patricia Driscoll testified in a hearing Tuesday and Wednesday that Busch slammed her head against a wall three times during an argument in the driver's motorhome at Dover International Speedway on Sept. 26 and said Busch has struggled with drinking and depression. Busch on Wednesday denied her claims and called them a "fabrication" when he took the stand.

Meanwhile, the investigation by Dover police into the incident remains open -- no charges have been filed. Those who have supported Busch seem intent on sticking with the 2004 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion and driver for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Luke Burrett, the CEO of apparel brand Panic Switch Army, said he's "gotten to know both parties over the years" and "we support Kurt 110% on this case."

"There's been a lot of allegations," Burrett told USA TODAY Sports. "We know Kurt on a personal and business level. I know him as a human being, and I know what he's capable of doing and what he's not capable of doing, and we support Kurt all the way to the end on this. We're not going to go anywhere. It's not going to change what we're doing."

That's the same approach being taken by SHR co-owner Gene Haas, whose Haas Automation is the primary sponsor for Busch's No. 41 Chevrolet in NASCAR's premier series.

Though the team did not respond to a request for comment this week, Haas said in November he was "not concerned" based on the facts he knew. Busch's status with the team and with NASCAR has not changed.

"He'll be in the car until someone else pulls him out," Haas said Nov. 9 in the wake of Driscoll's initial report. "I'm not pulling him out."

NASCAR chairman Brian France said Nov. 14 the sport would not take action against Busch until the investigation was complete, if then.

Another one of Busch's sponsors, Monster Energy, did not respond to USA TODAY Sports' request for comment.

According to Panic Switch's initial news release announcing the partnership with Busch in 2013, an agreement was initiated from a friendship between company co-founder Charis B. and Driscoll, who heads the Armed Forces Foundation.

But Burrett said Wednesday he felt confident the company's relationship with Busch would move forward – though he hoped the situation would be resolved soon.

"Has it affected our business? Yeah, of course it's affected our business," he said. "Anytime you get an allegation of abuse, it's going to affect everybody's business until it's cleared up."

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

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