Jake Crum charged with assault after Annabeth Barnes, Landon Huffman debacle at Hickory

On3 imageby:Dustin Schutte05/25/23

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jake crum
photo credit: getty images

Jake Crum faces some serious legal trouble, as well as punishment from NASCAR, after a fight erupted at Hickory Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

During Saturday’s Late Model Stock competition, drivers Annabeth Barnes-Crum and Landon Huffman traded jabs on the track late in the race. At one point, Barnes spun herself out while making contact with Huffman, She then drove around the track under a caution flag, located the rival and crashed into the right rear of his car.

Following the incident, a fight broke out in the spotter’s stand between Crum and former NASCAR driver Robert Huffman. Crum could be seen hitting and stomping on Robert’s head before the two were separated.

The altercation led to Crum’s arrest on simple assault charges. Per ShortTrackScene.com, he immediately posted bail.

NASCAR also took action against Crum for the incident. He’s been barred from any sanctioned event and won’t be eligible to receive a competition license for the rest of the year. NASCAR sent Crum a letter.

“You engaged in a physical act (inflicting bodily harm) toward another competitor, which is a violation of the NASCAR rules,” the letter states. “This letter is to notify you that you are prohibited from participating in any NASCAR sanctioned event for the remainder of 2023. In addition, based on your conduct at Hickory Motor Speedway and for participating in a NASCAR sanctioned event without a NASCAR license — you are ineligible to apply for a NASCAR license until 2024.”

NASCAR says it will reconsider Crum’s membership upon a license application in 2024.

After the race, Landon Huffman provided an explanation of what happened on the track.

“Got squeezed into fence on back stretch, so used the bumper. I raced her as clean as possible last week for 30 laps for the damn lead. That’s what i get in return,” he wrote on Twitter. “They spend more money than anyone. Test more than anyone. Tonight is not racing. It’s dangerous.”

Jake Crum participated in NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series

Crum mostly participated in NASCAR’s Truck Series with a few appearances in the Xfinity Series. The 31-year-old raced in 16 events in the Truck Series and four in the Xfinity Series.

He did not record any wins or top-10 finishes in either circuit.

Saturday night’s altercation wasn’t Crum’s first issue with NASCAR. In 2014, he purposely wrecked Ryan Ellis during a Truck Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. NASCAR barred Crum from racing on anything but road courses.

Crum has not made a comment regarding the situation on Saturday night.