NASCARâs Coca-Cola 600 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway has drawn attention for an off-track incident after a 23XI Racing employee was indefinitely suspended following an arrest in Concord, North Carolina.
Evanna Howell, 35, was named in NASCARâs weekly penalty report released Wednesday, May 27, with the sanctioning body listing her suspension as indefinite for a âbehavioralâ matter. The action came after an alleged incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 23, during one of the busiest weekends on the Cup Series calendar.
According to WCNC Charlotte, Cabarrus County records show Howell was charged with assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury. Police records alleged that Howell intentionally struck a 77-year-old man with a golf cart at the speedway around 1:45 p.m.
A Concord police report said the man suffered a âsevere laceration.â Court records showed Howell was released from the Cabarrus County jail on May 26 after posting a $125,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on June 16.
The case surfaced publicly during race week coverage connected to Charlotte Motor Speedway, where NASCAR teams were preparing for the Coca-Cola 600. Earlier in the weekend, drivers including Riley Herbst were on track for practice, with Herbst driving the No. 35 FRE Nicotine Pouches Toyota for 23XI Racing.
Howellâs LinkedIn profile identifies her as a senior account manager at 23XI Racing and says she has been with the team since 2021. 23XI Racing is co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin and fields Cup Series entries including the No. 23, No. 35 and No. 45 Toyotas.
The suspension does not mean Howell has been convicted of a crime. The charge remains part of an ongoing legal process, and the next major update is expected through the court system. Still, NASCARâs penalty report shows that the governing body moved quickly after the alleged incident became part of its review process.
Neither NASCAR nor 23XI Racing had issued a detailed public response at the time of the initial local reports. That leaves several questions unanswered, including what led to the alleged confrontation, whether the victim had any official role at the event, and whether the team will take separate employment action.
The incident also puts a spotlight on how NASCAR handles conduct involving team personnel away from competition. Most weekly penalty reports focus on technical violations, loose wheels, inspection failures or pit-road issues. A behavioral suspension tied to an alleged assault is different and carries reputational weight for everyone connected to the case.
Charlotteâs Coca-Cola 600 is one of NASCARâs crown-jewel events, bringing heavy fan traffic, team activity, sponsor guests and media attention to the facility. Swikblog covered the broader race weekend buildup and track-related storylines in its Coca-Cola 600 coverage from Charlotte.
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For 23XI Racing, the immediate challenge is keeping focus on its Cup Series program while the legal matter moves forward. For NASCAR, the indefinite suspension sends a clear message that alleged serious misconduct on track property can lead to swift disciplinary action, even before a court case reaches a conclusion.
Howellâs status in NASCAR remains uncertain until further updates come from court records, law enforcement, the sanctioning body or 23XI Racing.
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