Driver arrested and banned after ramming car in the pits, knocking over crew members

Motorsport photo

The Best Plumber 604 Racing Series -- a regional dirt late model division -- was competing at 1-75 Raceway on Saturday night for its season-opener when the dangerous incident took place.

Greg Martin and Matt Henderson collided in the feature race, and Martin was frustrated. While Henderson's car was receiving service in the pits, Martin drove into the side of the vehicle at a low rate of speed. Even still, there were two crew members standing on the opposite side of the car, and both were knocked to the ground by the impact. One of the crew members did suffer some injuries, including bruised ribs.

Martin was immediately disqualified and was not allowed to take any further part in the race weekend. Martin, 51, was also arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The series also suspended him for at least two years.

I may be wrong but I believe he got a 2 year ban for this!!!!! pic.twitter.com/MvySDesDmH

— Bench Racing (@RacingBench) May 10, 2026

Drone footage of Greg Martin ramming Matt Henderson at I-75 in the hot pit was shared with me. pic.twitter.com/NNfNtsiqfz

— John Trent Racing (@JFTrentRacing) May 11, 2026

"Driver and crew safety is of the utmost importance to the Best Plumber 604 Racing Series," series officials said in a statement. “All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that protects the safety of competitors, crews, officials, fans and partner tracks” and it will “continue to uphold the standards of conduct expected at all series events.”

Henderson addressed the incident that led to the pit road run-in via Facebook, saying: "I bottomed out and hit Greg getting into turn one 3 laps after a restart. We had ran door to door for 3 laps so if my intention was to wreck him I wouldn’t have waited to do it for 3 laps. We hit as I bounced through the holes and it wrecked us. I hate that. Would rather have just got me. If Greg wanted to fight me or tell me how unhappy he was or anything to that degree I’d have understood it. No one wants that. So I get it. When he chose to use his race car to hit mine in a crowded pit area and injured people, that I can’t understand. That is not something that should ever happen.