Kurt Busch maintains that alcohol was not involved in the incident. A hearing is set for next month.
Posted on 11/14/2005 10:56:58 AM PST by freepatriot32
AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 13) - Roush Racing put up with Kurt Busch's reputation for reckless driving on the track. When the defending Nextel Cup champion was accused of doing it in his own car, the team had seen enough.
Busch was suspended Sunday for the remainder of the NASCAR season after his run-in with police, who said he smelled of alcohol and was belligerent during a traffic stop Friday night.
"It's the last straw for Roush Racing," team president Geoff Smith said Sunday. "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists, effective today."
Kenny Wallace replaced Busch for Sunday's race at Phoenix, where Busch won in April, and finished 16th. Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch's younger brother, went on to win - then appeared upset as he lamented that a "true champion" had been taken out of the race.
Busch also will miss next week's Ford 400 in Homestead, Fla.
Busch was pulled over near Phoenix International Raceway for trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign. Officers said he smelled of alcohol and became belligerent.
Busch, who has a history of run-ins on and off the track with drivers and NASCAR officials, appeared to be holding back tears as he told NBC Sports that alcohol was not involved in the incident.
"Obviously, I'm upset. It's tough. I'm a race car driver, there's a race today and I'd love to be in the race," he said. "My crew, (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig, I have to thank them for what they gave me. Man, it's just unfortunate. I'd love to be there for them today.
"That's the decision they made, and I will live with it," Busch added
Busch made the Chase for the championship but was running in eighth place, virtually eliminated from a shot at winning another title.
"He's a young man with great potential that has been realized to an extent, but he's got some challenges building relationships in the public and the sponsors community to realize that potential," Jack Roush said. "I wish him well."
Busch is under contract to the Roush team through the end of the season. He will not be allowed to drive for anyone else in 2005.
"He would have to get permission and we would be very reluctant to give it," Smith said. "It's very offensive to us that he chose to take on the arresting officer the way he did verbally. And then the fact there was alcohol, even in the smallest way, involved."
Busch was not cited for alcohol; a breath test was inconclusive because the device failed. Police said Busch initially did not stop when a deputy tried to pull him over and, when Busch did stop, he was argumentative and uncooperative.
Roush said the sponsors felt he was "in breach of my contract by allowing that notoriety and embarrassment to be out there without taking some action. And the only action I felt I could take, and the one that was agreed upon, was to suspend him for the balance of the season."
Diageos, which sponsors Busch with its Crown Royal whisky brand, said it supports the Roush decision. "Diageos does not condone this type of behavior from anyone affiliated with our brands or our business," the company said in a statement.
Busch qualified 17th for Sunday's race. He is joining Penske Racing South next season, taking over the No. 2 Dodge from retiring Rusty Wallace.
Roger Penske, who will be Busch's new boss, said he was not involved in the decision to suspend Busch.
"Roush Racing has their business decision to make," Penske said. "This situation is unfortunate for high-profile athletes who are under significant scrutiny.
"Kurt made a public apology to the sheriff (Saturday night)," he added. "We support him 100 percent for the future and we will work with him to be a great driver."
NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said sitting Busch was a team decision. Asked if NASCAR would take punitive action, Hunter said, "We'll let the judicial process take its course. He's got a hearing set in December.
He said NASCAR has not yet spoken with Busch.
"This is not exactly the kind of publicity we like to have in connection with the Chase or the series itself," he said.
The 27-year-old driver from Las Vegas was punched in the face by Jimmy Spencer for trying to wreck him. He was called an "arrogant punk" by Kevin Harvick and is booed by fans who don't like his aggressive driving.
At Darlington in May, Busch refused to go where he was told after returning to the track following a crash. He then was called into the pits for a penalty and responded with expletives. He also tossed a water bottle that hit the NASCAR official in his pit.
NASCAR officials have said his behavior is not "befitting of a champion."
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that if Busch gets back to form as a driver and "takes care of business and makes better decisions off the track, he can tell everybody just how close he came to screwing it all up.
"So, hopefully, he can put as positive spin on it and keep a lot of other people out of trouble in the future. But it's a dangerous game, man, when you get behind the wheel of a car, no matter if you just had a couple of martinis - it don't matter." Wallace, a full-time driver in the Busch Series, finished 12th on this track Saturday. He said he got a call about driving Busch's car about 9 a.m. Sunday.
"It's a sad situation, but I'm ready, willing and able to do this," Wallace said.
The 42-year-old Wallace, a younger brother of Rusty Wallace, has driven in 308 Cup races, including three this year, since making his debut in 1990. His last full season in Cup was 2003.
"I'm a Ford driver and I'm here," Wallace said when asked why he was chosen to fill in for Busch. "It seems like everybody believes in my talent."
Smith said the deal with Wallace most likely will be only for this race. Roush driver Todd Kluever, who currently races in the truck series, is expected to drive at Homestead.
AP Sports Writer Bob Baum contributed to this story.
Kurt Busch maintains that alcohol was not involved in the incident. A hearing is set for next month.
Sounds like everybody has a solved problem on thier hands (except maybe Roger Penske)
the rumblings I have been hearing about this today is that the sheriff in the county where he was arrested in has a bit of a track record....and so do the deputies...
I haven't researched that yet, but we will see how this plays out....
These guys just want to be like other pro sports guys, the NFL and NBA.
NASCAR Punk. Perhaps one day he'll see that Jack did him a favor by firing him. Time to grow up, Kurt. You did this to yourself.
"These guys just want to be like other pro sports guys, the NFL and NBA."
I'm just glad that NASCAR isn't having any of it. This was extreme but I suspect there were some deals made between Jack Roush, Roger Penske, and NASCAR.
I'd like to see Kenny Wallace get the ride for next year. He had a good run yesterday, coming from the back.
You'd think he coulda out run them. ;-)
"I'd like to see Kenny Wallace get the ride for next year."
I was thinking the same thing. He did pretty decent considering the fact that he jummped into an unfamiliar ride that wasn't fitted or set up for him. Also Kenny knows how to behave.
The county sheriff involved-none other than the one and only Joe Arpio (sp). Busch picked the wrong sheriff's deputys to call "wimps". (Saw a clip of Sheriff Joe on the news yesterday stating that no one was going to call his deputys "wimps")
He's a riot!
Missouri boy, Cardinal fan, too. The Wallace's are all good Pubbies.
Except for me. I drink Miller lite (when I'm drinking a cheap lite beer). I'm going to have to find a new cheap beer to drink next year.
I also hate to see a class act like Rusty Wallace be followed by the likes of Kurt Busch.
Busch is an incredibly tallented driver, but his social skills make hims someone I choose not to support.
Kurt be in a mess of trouble , but is it all of his own making? Stay tuned.
Coming Soon to Court TV
Nascar Court
"(when I'm drinking a cheap lite beer)."
We call that "Homeowners brand" because when you're buying a home it's all you can afford.
He has to do that or he will be in much worse trouble. During the race yesterday, one of the announcers said that there is a standard clause in all driver contracts that automatically terminates a sponsorship by an alcohol company of any driver convicted of DUI or any other alcohol related crime. His sponsor next year is Miller Lite and one of his current sponsors is Crown Royal.
True. However, they didn't prove that he was driving while over the legal limit, and it doesn't sound like the Officer was inclined to cut him some slack.
He either got very lucky, or was merely his normal stupid and obnoxious self with maybe a beer or two in his system.
He seriously needs to clean up his act, but I suspect that alcohol wasn't a real factor in this incident.
"a breath test was inconclusive because the device failed"
Consider yourself lucky this time...
Kurt Busch Statement: regard his reckless driving citation:
"I regret the incident that occurred near the Phoenix International Raceway Friday evening where I received a traffic citation. It is important to understand that this citation is not alcohol related. I want to apologize to the Maricopa County Sheriff's department for my actions."
(Kurt Busch Inc)(11-13-2005)
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