Former NASCAR Xfinity crew member breaks team owner's jaw at Dover Speedway, police say

A former crew member of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race team was arrested Friday morning after breaking the team owner's jaw, according to Dover Police.

Officers learned that Lawrence Hayden, a 33-year-old resident of Concord, North Carolina, got into an argument with team owner Jerry Hattaway "over issues pertaining to Hayden’s employment with the team," said Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman, a spokesman with the city police department.

Police identified the team owner as Jerry Hataway, but NASCAR and website records identify the co-owner of JP Motorsports as Jerry Hattaway. Phyllis Hattaway is listed as a co-owner.

During that exchange Friday morning just before 11, Hayden began punching Hattaway in the infield of Dover International Speedway along North DuPont Highway, Hoffman said. The repeated punches broke Hattaway's jaw and prompted a call to police.

Court documents obtained by The News Journal on Saturday state that the two men got into the argument as Hayden was quitting the pit crew team.

Hattaway was first treated at the Fan Care Center at Dover International Speedway and later transferred to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital for further treatment for his injuries, Hoffman said.

He suffered the broken jaw as a result of the repeated punches to his face, according to court documents.

Hayden was arrested without incident and charged with one count of second-degree assault, Hoffman said, and released on $500 secured bail.

Facebook posts by JP Motorsports indicate that two drivers, Josh Bilicki and Stephen Leicht, will be racing in today's OneMain Financial 200 race. The race is slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. in Dover.

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Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.