Falwell under scrutiny for using NASCAR driver’s yacht on vacation

Liberty University president Jerry Falwell Jr., is reportedly under scrutiny from school officials concerned by his use of school funds, including the school’s sponsorship of a NASCAR team.

Current and former university staffers told Politico in an article published Thursday that the school’s trustees are concerned with Falwell’s oversight of Liberty’s finances, including his 2017 decision to sign a lucrative deal sponsoring Hendrick Motorsports, which employs a number of NASCAR drivers including one currently sponsored by Liberty University, William Byron.

Falwell’s relationship with owner Rick Hendrick has come under criticism from some officials at the school due to Falwell’s use of the NASCAR mogul’s yacht for family vacations to the Greek islands and other locations, according to Politico. He is currently on indefinite leave after a photo of him aboard the yacht with his pants unzipped appeared on his Instagram in early August.

According to one employee with knowledge of the sponsorship deal, Falwell never utilized the yacht for purposes that would benefit the university, instead using it only for personal travel.

It “was never used for university business, never used to try to better the university. It was always Jerry, Becki. Always,” the employee told Politico. Becky Tilley Falwell is married to Jerry Falwell Jr.

Liberty University officials did not immediately return a request for comment from The Hill, and declined to answer questions about whether the yacht was ever used for Liberty University business from Politico.