Ex-NASCAR driver faces charges in January 6 Capitol riots
- Tighe Scott faces two felony charges
- Scott made 89 career racing starts
- Scott was one of four men arrested by FBI
TALLADEGA, AL — May 2, 1976: Tighe Scott of Pen Argyle, PA, made his NASCAR Cup debut at Talladega Superspeedway driving this Chevrolet for car owner Walter Ballard in the Winston 500, finishing in 17th position. (Photo by ISC Images & Archives via Getty Images)
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(NewsNation) — A retired NASCAR driver who competed in the Winston Cup Series is among four Pennsylvania men facing criminal charges in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol, federal officials announced this week.
Tighe Scott, 75, was charged along with his son and two other men after being arrested by the FBI. The men were charged after federal authorities posted photos and videos of the attack online, including one in which Scott was recognized by someone as being a former race car driver.
Scott was charged with two felony offenses, including obstruction of a law enforcement officer during a civil disorder and assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Also charged this week were Scott’s son, Jarrett Scott, 48; Scott Slater Sr., 56; and Scott Slater Jr., 26.
The former NASCAR driver was also charged with five misdemeanor crimes: entering or remaining in restricted buildings or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building or grounds and violence in Capitol building or grounds, federal officials said.
Charging documents indicated that the four men harassed a line of police officers and that Slater Jr. picked up a flagpole and threw it toward the line. As police officers were trying to clear the scene, federal prosecutors allege that Scott physically struck police riot shields and attempted to rip a shield from an officer’s hands.
The complaint also says that the driver’s son and Slater Jr. used golf clubs to resist the officer’s shields. Slater Jr. also reportedly used his body weight to resist police and is said to have jabbed an officer in the ribs before he charged toward officers and ripped a riot shield away from police, the complaint states.
Scott made 89 starts during his racing career, finishing in the top 10 on 18 occasions. His best Winston Cup points finish was 13th, and he made his final appearance in 1982 when he finished 29th in the Daytona 500 after he crashed on the 81st lap.
