Busch crewman arrested for misdemeanor assault
By Lee Montgomery
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
A crew member for a NASCAR Busch Series team was arrested Saturday morning at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport after an alleged confrontation with a crew member from another team.
Gregg Edward Pasi, 43, who served as jackman for Team Rensi Motorsports No. 35 team, was charged with simple assault and battery, a misdemeanor offense. He was released on $1,000 secured bond.
According to officer David Strickland of the airport police, city police were called to the Wilson Air Center - the charter section of Douglas airport to investigate "some type of disturbance."
Pasi was arrested for allegedly punching Shannon Myers, whom Strickland said had a cut on his head. Myers is a tire changer for Robert Yates Racing's No. 90 team.
Pasi was scheduled to appear in Mecklenburg County District Court on Monday.
A spokesman for Team Rensi Motorsports said Pasi was a contract, weekend-only employee with the team and was immediately fired.
"We do not condone that activity, and we have taken appropriate measures," spokesman Charlie Roakes said. "He will no longer be used by Team Rensi Motorsports."
The alleged incident happened on board a Racing Logistics charter plane that transports crew members on race weekends. The flight was headed to Chicagoland Speedway, site of Saturday's USG Durock 300.
According to a Yates source, Myers has been late to charter flights in the past but was not this time. Still, the source said, Pasi asked Myers if he had a watch, and when Myers told Pasi to "mind your own business," Pasi punched Myers in the face.
The Yates source also said Myers had bruises, stitches on his head and had headaches after the incident.
Myers, also a weekend-only employee, will return to the track this weekend, the Yates team said, if his headaches clear.
