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.
Yup, good riddance.
Kurt Busch is the 2004 Nextel Cup Champion and always will be.
Wow, I guess Kurt is in the clear, vis a vis, alcohol, heard Arpaio say that he blew a .017 on the breathalyzer and that he didn't refuse a sobriety test, hmmm imagine that...the Kurt bashers got it wrong...I await the apologies...
Busch's fault!
You posting to me? I complimented Kenny Wallace on his sense of humor and brought up the contractual restriction on drivers whose sponsors are alcohol companies. Although I do not particularly care for Kurt Busch, I have not posted anything here that I would consider "bashing" him.
Sorry RB,
It was more of a general musing, I meant to tag it to myself...no offense intended. I am a KB fan, but I like you, am also glad Herm got the ride...
"Kurt Busch is the 2004 Nextel Cup Champion and always will be."
Yes he is, and he eared it. He's an incredibly skilled driver.
He's still needs to grow up a lot if he wants to fill the shoes of someone like Rusty Wallace as a representative of Nascar, his racing team, and his sponsors.
Nowhere do they mention an alcohol test. If he was over the legal limit...say it. If he wasn't then this is B..shit.
When did this become illegal?
" BTW, I was very soured by Roush's decision to yank him for a speeding ticket from the last two races."
It wasn't a speeding ticket. It was reckless driving.
It was his behavior to the police officer. It MAY have been related to the officer smelling alcohol on his breath. Apparently the equipment to test his blood alcohol malfunctioned. However, they spoke with the arresting officer before making their decision. They discussed things with their sponsors before suspending him.
I also doubt it was just over this one incident. They didn't just suspend him and then keep a respectful silence on the issue. They were very outspoken in their displeasure with Busch. That's something you don't see happen, so I expect that there was more to this falling out than just this incident.
They
"It MAY have been related to the officer smelling alcohol on his breath. Apparently the equipment to test his blood alcohol malfunctioned."
Absolutely innacurrate.
From Today's AJC over at http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/1105/15busch.html
""Mr. Busch was administered a preliminary breath test at the command post which registered .017," Maricopa Sheriff's Lt. Paul Chagolla said.
In Arizona, a person can be charged with driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol level at .08 or higher.
A 170-pound male who consumes two drinks in two hours will have a blood-alcohol content of .01, according to estimates from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Web site."
Bottom line, THERE was no machine malfunction, that was a lie by the Maricopa Sherrif's department. The first in what I believe was a series of them. Bush was not intoxicated, regardless of what anyone says. So he got suspended for a ticket for wreckless driving, my point still stands.
Amend my last sentence to read
So he got suspended for a ticket for reckless driving, my point still stands. Meant to type Reckless not Wreckless.
When the "other car" is a police cruiser and the cop is trying to get you to pull over.
exactly!
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