NASCAR has an elaborate rulebook in place to keep drivers within legal limits. Whenever a driver crosses those limits, strict action is enforced. For instance, when Noah Gragson liked an insensitive post last year, officials swiftly suspended him. Kyle Larson faced a similar fate in 2020 when he let his mouth run foul. In line with this strict attitude, a NASCAR insider judged Scottie Scheffler, a top-ranked golfer, sternly.

Recently Scheffler got into quite the icky mess before registering stellar records at the PGA championship. The pro player seemed to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, although the facts are not confirmed. A NASCAR official picked up on that hazy aspect and aimed his guns at Scheffler, only to have fans bully him.

Scottie Scheffler’s mess receives backlash from NASCAR employee

When Scottie Scheffler drove his car to the Valhalla Golf Club, it was a day just like any other for him. He was all set to maintain his World No. 1 status when an unexpected situation emerged. A bus accident had unfolded earlier in the morning, and police restrictions were amplified. Scheffler happened to irk an officer for bending his instructions, and the latter handcuffed him.

The pro golfer was slapped with four serious charges, including felony second-degree assault on a police officer. However, there was no evidence of Scottie Scheffler assaulting the officer. He was soon released and scored well at the championship. Scheffler shot 5-under par in the second round and was tied for third place when he finished play.

But the incident got on the nerves of a NASCAR official. Dave Moody, host of Sirius XM Speedway, oozed his disapproval of Scheffler’s intentions. He tweeted: “Dear Scottie Scheffler: Having dealt with traffic jams at sporting events a time or two over the years, I can attest that ignoring Law Enforcement, jumping curbs and shortcutting the traffic flow is a REALLY bad idea.”

However, Scottie Scheffler is actually renowned for his clean record besides his stellar performance. He won his second Masters title last month and was the overwhelming favorite in the PGA Championship. Scheffler is also known as an “upright, outstanding” player who became a father just days ago. 

Hence, fans were furious over Dave Moody’s draconian response to Scheffler’s apparently ill-founded arrest.

NASCAR community ridicules one of their own

The detective who Scottie Scheffler allegedly thrashed bore swelling and abrasions when he went to the hospital. However, there was no footage to confirm this, as the officer was not wearing a body camera. Hence, Scheffler’s hazy arrest was highlighted when fans lashed out at Dave Moody. 

One fan brought up the unclear nature of the story to speak against Moody: “We don’t know the whole story.” Another fan mocked Moody’s bizarre conviction, asking if he had solid proof: “Wow didn’t realize you were an eye witness.” Somebody else respectfully opposed Moody’s take: “That’s not what happened Dave. Much respect, but let’s look at the facts please.”

Then some fans directly questioned Moody’s authority, blaming him for diverting from his motorsport commentary path. One fan tweeted: “Dude. Really. Stay your lane on this one. You’re awesome at what you do.” Another fan also raised their eyebrows at Moody’s rationale: “I guess common sense isn’t so common anymore? 🤷‍♂️”

Scottie Scheffler thus has the unanimous support of the NASCAR fan community, if not a top-ranking commentator.