### NASCAR Suspends Eldora Speedway Star Driver Spencer Hughes for 8 Months Over Betting Scandal
**Eldora Speedway** — In a shocking turn of events, NASCAR has suspended Spencer Hughes, the star driver known for his remarkable performances at Eldora Speedway, for eight months following his involvement in a betting scandal.
The suspension, announced late Friday, comes amid a broader investigation into illegal betting activities linked to professional racing. Hughes, who has been a prominent figure in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, faces significant repercussions as a result of his alleged involvement.
According to NASCAR officials, the investigation revealed that Hughes was engaged in unauthorized betting activities, a serious violation of NASCAR’s strict policies regarding gambling and integrity within the sport. The league has emphasized its commitment to maintaining a fair and transparent competition, and this suspension reflects their zero-tolerance stance on such violations.
Hughes, 23, who had previously announced the end of his stint with PCC Motorsports at the conclusion of the 2023 season, now faces an extended hiatus from the sport. His suspension will keep him out of competition until April 2025, missing a significant portion of the upcoming racing season.
In a brief statement, NASCAR reiterated its dedication to upholding the integrity of the sport. “NASCAR has a responsibility to ensure that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct,” said a NASCAR spokesperson. “We take violations of our policies very seriously and are committed to enforcing the rules to preserve the integrity of our competitions.”
The news has sent shockwaves through the racing community, particularly given Hughes’ prominent role and impressive track record. Known for his strong performances and recent success at Eldora Speedway, Hughes had been a rising star in the racing world. His suspension is expected to impact not only his career but also the dynamics of the racing circuit.
Hughes has yet to make a public statement regarding the suspension. However, his legal team is reportedly reviewing the case and considering options for appeal. The driver’s recent achievements, including notable victories and a top-12 ranking in the Lucas Oil standings, have been overshadowed by this scandal.
As the racing community grapples with this unexpected development, fans and industry insiders are left questioning the future of one of their standout drivers and the implications for the sport as a whole. NASCAR’s decision underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of professional racing and the consequences of deviating from its standards.
PCC Motorsports owner Craig Sims announced Monday evening that he’ll scale back his Hope, Indiana-based racing program at the conclusion of the 2023 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series campaign, ending his association of more then two seasons with driver Spencer Hughes of Meridian, Mississippi.
Hughes, who turns 23 on October 30, will run two more events this year — October 13-14’s Coors Light Fall Classic at his hometown’s Whynot Motorsports Park and October 20-21’s Lucas Oil Series season-ending Dirt Track World Championship at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio — to close his stint with Sims. He joined the team during the 2021 season and has spent the past two years as a regular on the Lucas Oil tour.
“I think of Spencer as a son and all of the guys that have worked on the car as part of our family,” Sims said in a press release. “It all comes down to the rising cost of our sport. It costs twice as much now as it did when we started this team three-and-a-half years ago with Hudson O’Neal driving the car. When it comes down to it, it just doesn’t make any financial sense anymore.
“Hopefully, everything works out for Spencer and he lands on his feet somewhere that can help him keep progressing in this sport. I greatly appreciate his dedication and talent behind the wheel, the hard work of each of our crew guys that we had this year and in the past, and of course all of our great sponsors.”
Hughes currently sits 12th in Lucas Oil standings with six top-five and 22 top-10 finishes. Overall in 2023 he’s made 76 starts for PCC Motorsports with eight top-five and 29 top-10 finishes.
“It’s disappointing, but when Craig (Sims) broke down the numbers and showed me the budget, I don’t blame him one bit,” said Hughes, whose two victories with PCC Motorsports came in 2021 Baltes Classic at Eldora (worth $5,000) and last year’s Fall Classic at Whynot ($12,000). “The costs have just skyrocketed and we didn’t have the type of season that we wanted to have, but that wasn’t from lack of effort I can promise you that. There were a lot of late nights and sleepless nights trying to put our heads together to find that extra speed but we just couldn’t hit on anything.
“I’ll always think of Craig and (wife) Shannon as family and can’t thank them enough for allowing me to live out my dream of racing full-time with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series the past two years.”
Hughes, who finished ninth in last year’s Lucas Oil standings, will return to his native Mississippi following the DTWC and look to assemble a racing program for 2024.
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