ANDERSON, IN (WRTV/CNN) – Two race car drivers face criminal charges in connection to a fight that broke out after a wreck on the track.
In the next-to-last race of the night, there had been plenty of banging and bumping, but then there was much, much more.
Car No. 33, driven by Shawn Cullen, was behind a car driven by Jeffery Swinford that spun out.
Swinford was not happy about that, and drove up to Cullen. After an exchange of words, he drove his car straight at the 33, rolling up onto the hood.
“It is absolutely, totally dangerous,” said Rick Dawson, the racetrack owner. “It is a 3,500-pound race car going after an individual. It’s no different damage than a gun or a knife or a bomb …”
Cullen got out and confronted Jeffery Swinford and fisticuffs ensued. Cops hit Cullen with a stun gun and eventually handcuffed him. He was charged with Class B misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Swinford was charged with Class A criminal recklessness.
The prosecutor said it could have been disastrous.
Swinford’s brother Mike defended his actions. He pointed out that Cullen had bumped his brother’s car twice in one race.
“Is racing a sport where you just back out and let the other guy go because he’s beating the crap out of your car?” he said.
There’s a good chance Swinford’s racing days at Andersonville Speedway are over, though.
“I hope not,” Dawson said, when asked if Swinford would ever race there again. “As long as I am around and have anything to do with it, it’s not going to happen.”
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