On Monday, February 17, Candace Muzny was found dead in her Ski Island home, near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 43-year-old former NASCAR driver reportedly died due to accidental drowning, a medical examiner determined Wednesday.
Muzny had just been arrested last month for after allegedly punching a nail technician for not speaking English and cutting a responding police officer with a pocket knife. She had only been out of jail for a few days before her tragic death.
Former NASCAR Driver Candace Muzny Death
Muzny's body was discovered around 5 p.m. local time on Monday afternoon. Neighbor Raushae Jones witnessed firsthand the immediate tragedy and shock surrounding the incident.
"I just pulled in right there, and the woman was already in the front crying and she was on the phone with somebody," Jones told Fox 8.
"They always seemed like nice people, so I didn't really - I don't know. It was just shocking," Jones said.
Muzny's death was initially ruled suspicious, though a medical examiner's office report later concluded that the cause of death had been accidental drowing. Muzny had only been out of jail for a few days, having been released on Friday.
Candace Muzny Arrest
On January 12, Muzny was arrested after slapping and yelling at a manicurist for speaking Vietnamese to a co-worker. When another co-worker attempted to call police, she threatened him with a pocket knife and punched him in the face, according to a police report.
"We were speaking in our native language about my pay, and then she said to 'f***ing stop speaking that language or I will slap you in the face,'" manicurist Tiffany Nguyen told News9 in January.
"She got me cornered, and I fell. But I was able to kick her, and she lunged and tried to put a knife up to my throat a couple of times."
In an interview with Heavy.com, Muzny gave her side of the story.
"I asked her three times to stop speaking Vietnamese to me," Muzny said. "I was paying with the American dollar."
"I think if you're speaking to an American who is a customer of yours, and you know they're not Vietnamese, it's rude to talk to them in a language they don't understand. She needs to get back to Vietnam. If she wants to live in America and serve Americans, she needs to speak the language they speak."
When a Oklahoma City police officer arrived at the nail salon, Muzny's dog began biting the officer's leg. She also struck the officer behind the ear with her pocket knife, leaving him with a small cut. Muzny was charged with assault & battery on an officer, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, resisting an officer, and interfering with a 911 call.
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Candace Muznzy Racing Career
Muzny competed in the NASCAR Late Model Divisions and NASCAR K&N Pro Series. She also raced in the 2007 Toyota All-Star Showdown and 2009 Last Chance Open.
When the former race car driver was coming up in the sport in her 20s, her skills did not go unnoticed. Even famous fabricator and TV personality Jesse James praised Muzny's potential.
"Candace is a very skilled and patient driver. The sky is the limit for her. And the best thing? She is not shooting for the stars," James told The Orange County Register back in 2005. "She's humble and willing to put the time in and learn and take each step with confidence."
