Suspect in high-speed pursuit was NASCAR driver

Police arrested James Neal of San Clemente when the chase ended in San Diego County.



Neal, 56, was a three-time NASCAR champion with a string of 11 victories in the early 1980s, according to Neal's own website, jamesnealracing.us. Neal retired for 21 years before returning to racing in 2008.

Deputies attempted to pull over Neal in a 2003 silver Chevy Corvette around 3 a.m. Monday near Via Pico Plaza at East Avenida Pico and the I-5 for a vehicle code violation and speeding. Neal refused to stop and drove onto I-5 heading south, Sheriff's Lt. Mike Jansen said.

Neal was traveling at speeds of up to 120-130 mph, Jansen said. Deputies followed him for five to six minutes to the Border Patrol checkpoint at the edge of San Diego County, where they lost sight of him. CHP officers took over the pursuit once deputies had lost him, Jansen said.

Neal slowed down and speeded up throughout the pursuit, Jansen said. The car's engine eventually "blew out" in La Jolla where sheriff's deputies arrested him without struggle.

Neal is being held at the Orange County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Police have not yet determined why he fled.

Contact the writer: 949-454-7343 or kchu@ocregister.com

 

So he was arrested in San Diego, but he is in jail in Orange County. Why is that?



Anyways, good find Paul!

 

WOOOOWWWW the vette engine blew out

 

and thats why you dont by a chevy. LOL. If I were him I think Id be more pissed at chevy than anyone else. seriously. Maybe he couldve got away

 

Three time NASCAR Champion? Of which series? His name's not listed anywhere in the list of champions

Did the article really cite the dude's own website as it's source?? Great reporting. That fake website doesn't even work for me and I couldn't find any reference matching the name with any past or present NASCAR driver.

 

Prob 'cause it was their pursuit and we wanted to get reimbursed for the gas!!!

Just like how all kids in schools are now "Child of the Year" - For being part of the generation that started that stupid shit - I am sorry!

 

Hahaaha, the Chebby blew up!!

 

Probably cuz Ave Pico/I-5 is IN Orange County. And, arrested by state police (CHP) it sounds like, not SD jurisdiction.

 

not very good for a nascar driver to be speeding on public streets, to me this is like a ufc fighter fighting on the streets.

 

kinda like this guy?