A NASCAR race weekend is supposed to be defined by lap times and championship standings. Instead, one of the biggest stories to come out of Charlotte Motor Speedway has nothing to do with the racing at all.
NASCAR Hands Down an Immediate Suspension
NASCAR has indefinitely suspended a 23XI Racing employee after authorities accused her of using a golf cart to assault a 77-year-old man during the recent race weekend in Charlotte. The sanctioning body announced the punishment Wednesday as part of its weekly penalty report, categorizing the matter as a behavioral incident and suspending Evanna Daneen Howell under section 4.4.A of the NASCAR rulebook. The decision came just days after Howell was arrested and charged in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with NASCAR acting quickly, before either party involved had publicly commented.
What the Charge Alleges
Court records from Cabarrus County show Howell, 35, was arrested Saturday and charged with assault involving a 77-year-old man identified as Dennis Manchester. Specific details of the confrontation haven’t been made public, but court records indicate a judge, Matthew Black, determined probable cause existed that Howell unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously assaulted Manchester with a golf cart allegedly used as a deadly weapon, and that the incident resulted in serious injury. That detail elevates the case well beyond a minor dispute or an accusation of verbal misconduct — the charge alleges the use of a vehicle and serious injury to an elderly victim, allegations serious enough to push the matter into the criminal justice system while also creating fallout inside the NASCAR garage. Her plea status is not yet public, and the allegations remain unproven in court.
Records show Howell was issued a $125,000 bond and was released Tuesday following her first court appearance. She has retained attorney Harold Cogdell Jr. to represent her. Neither 23XI Racing nor NASCAR had publicly commented on the allegations beyond the suspension announcement, and Cogdell had not publicly commented on the matter either, silence that isn’t unusual during an active legal proceeding but still leaves real uncertainty about how the team will address the situation going forward.
An Uncomfortable Spotlight for 23XI Racing
The situation places 23XI Racing in an awkward position. The organization, owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, is one of the sport’s most visible teams and has been a major presence in the Cup Series since launching competition in 2021. Howell has worked as a senior account manager for the team since that year, according to her LinkedIn profile, and has been based in Charlotte throughout much of the organization’s growth.
Why This Matters Beyond One Incident
NASCAR race weekends function like temporary cities, with thousands of team members, officials, vendors, media, and fans moving through a speedway, alongside a constant flow of vehicles ranging from haulers to golf carts operating behind the scenes. Because of that environment, conduct and safety standards are taken seriously, and an allegation involving a vehicle and a claim of serious injury draws attention well beyond a typical internal disciplinary matter, touching on safety, liability, and public trust rather than competition itself.
A sport built around speed, precision, and control now finds itself dealing with allegations involving a golf cart, a 77-year-old victim, and a criminal charge that has already triggered an indefinite suspension. As the legal process unfolds, both NASCAR and 23XI Racing will likely remain under scrutiny while the public awaits answers that haven’t yet surfaced.
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