Bobby Hamilton Jr. is accused of pulling a gun on racers at his Highland Rim Speedway in Greenbrier, Tenn., according to a local television station.
The NASCAR driver was carrying the weapon and displayed it in a dispute with some racers at his track Saturday night, according to Nashville-area TV station WSMV's website. The story says that Anthony Walker, a super stock racer, and crew member Scott Thompson argued with Hamilton after they were disqualified for the car not being the proper weight. The pair told the station that they wanted a refund of their entry fee and Hamilton Jr. pulled the weapon.
"He cocked it back and started waving it around. Saying, I'll pop it, I'll pop it. I'll pop it," Thompson told the station. "I've never had a gun pointed at me, and I definitely didn't like it."
Hamilton told the station that he was going to his truck to get the refund money when he "was almost surrounded" and felt threatened. He claims he saw the men reach into their pockets and, according to the story, that he saw they had pocket knives.
"I kept watching their hands, watching their gestures, they kept getting more frustrated, about the time their hands go in their pockets, about the time they were coming out, they charged, and that's when I said, 'not today, not today,'" Hamilton told WSMV.
He told the station he showed the men the gun. According to the website, the police report says that Hamilton claimed to have taken it out of his pocket.
"I'm going to protect my business. And I'm going to protect my life," Hamilton said.
According to police quoted in the story, Hamilton has the proper permits for the weapon "and that no charges were filed because it's a 'he-said, she-said' situation."
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