Former NASCAR driver Tyler Walker was arrested in Utah on Friday after leading police on a multi-state high speed chase on Interstate 15.
According to ESPN.com, Walker led authorities in the area through Nevada, Arizona and Utah before being stopped in southern Utah six miles over the state border. The authorities say that Walker had marijuana, pills and open containers of alcohol in his luxury BMW sedan and a female passenger named Raelie McDonald was also arrested.
Both parties in the car were found to be under the influence and could possibly face charges in all three states. The police found an open bottle of vodka on the front passenger floor board.
"During an inventory of the vehicle, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and alcohol were found," Utah Highway Patrol Corporal Todd Johnson told the St. George (Utah) Spectrum.
Walker's bail is set at more than $18,000 and was booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility, according to Yahoo Sports.
Walker competed in nearly 30 NASCAR events prior to 2007 when he was suspended for violating the league's drug policy. During his brief career, he drove in 19 NASCAR Nationwide series and nine Camping World Truck Series races.
According to the police, Walker stopped the black BMW after he drove over spike strips on the road, then ran away before being arrested. Walker was driving a BMW 750 Li sedan. The reports say that the chase reached speeds of 140 miles per hour and started around 7:30 a.m. in Nevada, where state troopers failed to pull the car over for speeding.
According to Yahoo Sports: "In July, a video of Walker throwing a massive tirade after he disagreed with a call at Williams Grove Speedway in Pennsylvania surfaced. In the video (that is incredibly not safe for work or some ears) Walker spews many obscenities towards race control and a scuffle involving his crew and security then ensued."
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, "Walker was released from the Washington County, Utah, jail Wednesday after he posted $18,020 bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday in St. George."
Walker has had personal issues for years and had the chance to drive the #36 truck for Bill Davis Racing full-time, but after 6 races he was out after violating the substance abuse policy. Last July he won the Kings Royal race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg OH, taking home $50,000 for the win.
