NASCAR Cup
Three crew members indefinitely suspended by NASCAR
On Friday, NASCAR issued three indefinite suspensions to crew members working in both the Cup and Xfinity Series.
Jim Utter Nick DeGroot
Edited: Dec 3, 2021, 10:35 PM
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Johnny Roten, who served as the crew chief for the No. 13 Motorsports Business Management Cup operation, has been suspended after violating the sport's substance abuse policy.
Additionally, two other members have been indefinitely suspended for violating NASCAR's behavioral policy.
John Byrd Jr. was the hauler driver for the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Cup team and Austin Zivich was the car chief for the No. 78 B.J. McLeod Motorsports entry in the Xfinity Series.
According to a story in the Lenoir (N.C.) News-Topic, Byrd, 53, was arrested on Nov. 22 after a witness saw him engaged in a felonious sex act with a child under the age of 13. The incident allegedly took place on Nov. 21.
Byrd is currently being held in Caldwell County Jail under a $75,000 secured bond and charged with felony child abuse - sexual act. He has a Dec. 13 court appearance scheduled in Caldwell County
Zivich, 26, has a Dec. 13 court date in Iredell County facing a charge of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor. In North Carolina, a person commits the offense of third degree sexual exploitation of a minor if "knowing the character or content of the material, he possesses material that contains a visual representation of a minor engaging in sexual activity."
Zivich also has a Dec. 17 court date in Iredell County facing a charge of misdemeanor indecent exposure. According to court records, Zivich was arrested and bonded out on Nov. 29.
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