Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

[roscoe]

http://www.themilwaukeechannel.com/sports/5315833/detail.html <br /><br /><br />AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Driver Kurt Busch on Sunday was suspended by his NASCAR team, Rousch Racing, for the last two races of the season after a run-in with law enforcement.<br />Busch will be replaced in the race at Phoenix International Raceway by Kenny Wallace.<br />"It's the last straw for Roush Racing," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing. "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists effective today."<br />Busch has a history of trouble with the sport's sanctioning organization for run-ins on and off the track with drivers and NASCAR officials.<br /><br />Busch apologized after the incident with Maricopa County sheriff's deputies near the Arizona track where he was scheduled to race Sunday.<br />The defending Nextel Cup champion was stopped Friday night after running a stop sign.<br />Busch allegedly refused a standard field sobriety test but agreed to a breath test, which sheriffs said did disclose the presence alcohol.<br />The deputy drove Busch to an office at the raceway to administer another breath test, but the machine there failed.<br />The deputy decided to ticket Busch only for reckless driving.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Best part of this is that he is the spokes person for the Crown Royal drink responsibly campaign. They are still running the radio ads with him talking about drinking and driving.<br />New details say he blew the sign at 60, in a 45 zone. Then refused to pull over, till a second squad showed up.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

This is his last year with Rousch Racing. Next year Roger Penske will have to deal with him.

 

[QC]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Yeah, I almost posted this too. I think the guy is a jerk anyway. Made me smile. Penske was interviewed and said no issue for next season. Without that breathalyzer working this thing goes away . . . Definitely odd . . . hmmmmm.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

To bad they don't make him find another line of work!

 

[Pony]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

If he wasnt "drunk" enough for a DUI then he wasnt't in the wrong legally......i feel the reprimands might be slightly harsh (not knowing all the facts etc)

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

My SIL's cousins' husband is on the crew for #97. This is what her take on it was when we asked her.<br />"He ran a stop sign and swerved to miss another car. A deputy sherrif saw him and tried to arrest him. He said that he smelled alcohol on him. And of course Kurt and his big mouth that he opens before his brain shifts into gear tried to refuse and got a nasty attitude, said some things he shouldn't have. I think everything got blown out of proportion, but his mouth didn't help. The breathalizer didn't work so they couldn't charge him with dui. With Crown Royal as a sponser they couldn't take any chances with putting out the message of "Drinking Responsively" , so they canned him. But if you noticed Jack was smiling. He and Kurt don't get along anyway. One of the reason's Kurt was leaving Roush anyway was that Jack had set Kurt up to run a full Busch schedule next year along with cup, but he didn't tell Kurt about it. One of the new owners of the Busch team came up to him at the track and told him that he was glad to have him aboard and Kurt didn't know what he was talking about. Needless to say he got a little tiffed over the situation. But from what I understand Jack is good for that stuff. He's a self made you know what. I think he did something along the same line to Matt Kenseth. But Matt is a little more soft spoken that Kurt is. <br /> <br />Part of it is that he's watched because of his position. With him being the 2004 Nextel Champion didn't help. The media is going to be on top of anything that happens and blow it out of proportion if they can. If Roush and Crown Royal hadn't put their foot down I'm sure Nascar would have. I haven't talked to Michael since this morning, but he said it wasn't good. I'm sure he'll call later. They were getting ready for a team meeting, when he called. All he knew at the time was that Kenny Wallace was driving the car, because he had been trying to get him fitted all morning. "<br /> <br />Nell

 

[KaGee]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Originally posted by Pony.:<br /> If he wasnt "drunk" enough for a DUI then he wasnt't in the wrong legally......i feel the reprimands might be slightly harsh (not knowing all the facts etc)

Excerpt from NASCAR.com:<br />

Roush said the decision to suspend Busch came after the team spoke with the arresting officer and the team's sponsors.<br /><br />"Roush Racing is embarrassed. The sponsors are embarrassed," Roush said. "This really cuts it. We're embarrassed for all of the NASCAR community."<br /><br />Roush Racing president Geoff Smith had a similar take.<br /><br />"It's the last straw for Roush Racing," Smith said. "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists effective [Sunday]."

I get from these comments that this was the "straw that broke the camel's back" kinda thing. NASCAR not only backed Roush's decision, they helped him find a driver for Sunday.<br /><br />Personally, I think Kurt is a cocky immature jerk (his brother is the same maybe worse... just wait and see). When he won the championship, I was glad, not for him, but for Jack Roush.

 

[Pony]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Oh, I really dislike Kurt as well, for those same reasons. At the same time, given that the breathalizer didnt work, and the officer only thought he smelled a trace of alcohol on his breath (from ESPN), I think the actions weren;t founded. I'm sure they were looking for something to happen to get rid of him early and this just seemed like a good opportunity. Just like I am sure this is only as big of an issue as it is with NASCAR because of Kurt's sponsoring a no drinking and driving campaign. If it were any other driver I find it hard to believe this wouldve happened the same way..........there are too many loose ends to really make a good statement about this

 

[jph20]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

to bad roger don't can him too !!!!!11 sorry he's a spoiled brat .......but hey dats just my opinion an you know what they say about opinion's!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KaGee]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Anybody remember the name Robbie Moroso? I saw him race once down in Charlotte. The kid was as good as any of the current "young guns", maybe potentially better.<br />Again, excerpted from an opinion piece @ NASCAR.COM:<br />

Considered to be NASCAR's next great driver, Moroso lost control of his car on Sept. 30, 1990, near his Lake Norman, N.C., home. He died and killed the driver of a second car.<br /><br />According to a medical examiner's report, Moroso had a 0.22 blood alcohol level -- more than twice the legal drunk level of 0.10 -- at the time of his death.<br /><br />Moroso, who was going home after a race at North Wilkesboro, was driving at least 75 mph in a 55 mph zone, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.<br /><br />He also had been convicted of speeding four times. Judges could have revoked his license at least twice since March 30, 1989, but the charges were reduced...<br /><br />...No, the reckless driving citation was not alcohol related. You can get that ticket for running a stop sign, which Busch did. <br /><br />That's the spin. It's a play on words. People do it 24/7/365.<br /><br />So maybe there are two other words to remember:<br />Tammy Williams, the woman killed by Moroso.

DUI is something highly looked down upon at NASCAR. There may be a few drivers who would possibly been given a second chance. But I seriously doubt that any of the "young guns" have that kind of capital built up to avoid simular circumstance.<br /><br />From what I have read, Jack Roush had the total backing of NASCAR. I believe they intended this to serve as a message to the rest of the drivers, young and old.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Now, if they can just get rid of little Busch I'll be happy. THen the brothers can go in to business for themselves hanging their heads off the back of boats and letting folks spank their butts so them big ears those boys are sportin will paddle them around the lake.

 

[KaGee]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

That's mean EF! LOL <br /><br />They can't help they were born with them elephant ears!

 

[ehenry]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

I think I'll change their name to The Paddleboat Twins !<br /><br />THis is after all a boating forum. LOLOL

 

[ehenry]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Kagee, lookin at your post above...didn't Scott Wimmer crash and roll an SUV then get a DUI safe driving award?? He's still drive Wards old car, the 22.<br /><br />And, speakin of Ward, I hope somebody puts him in a ride for next year but I haven't seen or heard anything about it.

 

[QC]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Originally posted by efhenry:<br /> Kagee, lookin at your post above...didn't Scott Wimmer crash and roll an SUV then get a DUI safe driving award?? He's still drive Ards old car, the 22.

Yup, and I think you meant Ward's old car, as in Burton. Man, I miss that guy <br /><br />We should get Walleyehed to check on the Busch Bros ears. I am thinkin' the pitch is wrong . . .

 

[ehenry]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

QuietCat, I miss him too. I'm hoping he's got a deal going to drive next season...Him and Elliot Saddler are both good guys. Did you know Elliot Saddler raises champion coon dogs and guides hunts in the off season?<br /><br />We can get them ears checked but I'm thinkin with whoppin them on the butt that auto pitch change will come in to play ! ! Ya just have to hit em hard enough!

 

[KaGee]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

I don't recall Wimmer, but then I don't follow him. <br /><br />NASCAR did suspend BUSCH SERIES driver Shane Hmiel indefinetly earlier this year for "substance" abuse". They also did the same for some other not well known driver. <br /><br />For Hmiel, it was his second offense, hence the harshness of his penalty.<br /><br />I liked Ward also. But, there has to be something about his personality that car owners and sponsers don't like. It can't be his driving ability.

 

[QC]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Originally posted by KaGee:<br /> I liked Ward also. But, there has to be something about his personality that car owners and sponsers don't like. It can't be his driving ability.

I agree that there is something weird going on. IMO, not with Sponsors, they apparently love the guy, but with owners and maybe even crew chiefs. I'd like to see him back with Tommy Baldwin. That combo won . . .

 

[KaGee]

Re: Defending Champ NASCAR Busch Suspended

Yep EF... Wimmer had his "event" back in January. There were calls for his suspension, but apparently he was remorseful and has worked hard to try to make amends. It happened off season. He is a low visibility driver. On top of that, he is a likable guy inside the garage, so he had a little capital built up. <br /><br />Trust me, if there is the slightest appearance of a relapse, he will be gone too, at least for a while. <br /><br />Busch on the other hand has pushed the envelope this year in several ways. And, he's the reigning champion. Bite the dog and the dog WILL bite back. NASCAR has no appreciation for anybody who embarrasses them in any way. Even more so for someone of high visibility. Tony Stewart came real close a couple of years ago.