NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was detained on suspicion of drunken driving and cited for reckless driving after a confrontation with police near the track where the NASCAR champion is to race Sunday. Busch was stopped Friday night after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign about 2 miles from Phoenix International Raceway, said Lt. Paul Chagolla “As a result of the roadside investigation the deputy did take Mr. Busch into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol,” said Lt. Chagolla. Chagolla said the deputy smelled alcohol on Busch, but the driver refused to perform standard field sobriety tests. Busch did submit to a field breath alcohol test, and the device showed the presence of alcohol. The deputy drove Busch to the raceway, where a sheriff’s facility is located, to administer another breath test but the machine there failed. The deputy then decided to cite Busch for reckless driving and he was released, Chagolla said. Busch was spotted driving about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, Chagolla said. A deputy tried to pull Busch over but there was some delay, Chagolla said. When he did stop, Busch was argumentative and uncooperative, Chagolla said. The deputy then called for a supervisor.
Busch, the reigning Nextel Cup champion, is in Phoenix to race in Sunday’s Checker Auto Parts 500. Busch, eighth in points for the season, qualified 17th for the race. His team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said: “It’s a traffic ticket as far as we know.”(ESPN.com/AP)
AND Defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champ Kurt Busch was issued a criminal traffic citation for reckless driving Friday night by a Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office deputy. The stop occurred at 8:20 p.m. near El Mirage and Broadway roads, about three miles from Phoenix International Raceway. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said a motorcycle deputy saw Busch nearly rear-end another vehicle, speed around it to avoid a crash and blast through a stop sign. He was clocked at 60 mph in a 45 zone. The deputy said he tried to stop him, but Busch kept driving. The deputy called for backup and another deputy helped pull Busch over. Arpaio said Busch insulted the deputy by asking what law enforcement agency he was from and saying, “you ought to be directing traffic.” Busch reportedly pulled out his driver’s license and NASCAR identification and said, “Don’t you know who I am?”
“He can speed on the racetrack but he’s not going to speed on the streets of Maricopa County,” Arpaio said. MCSO spokesman Lt. Paul Chagolla said the deputy “smelled alcohol” and tried to administer a standard field sobriety test. Busch started the tests but stopped before completing each one. He was then taken into custody under suspicion of driving under the influence and transported to a mobile command post at PIR for a breath-alcohol test, but the machine malfunctioned. Busch, who will drive in the Checker Auto Parts 500, was issued a criminal citation for reckless driving and ordered to appear in Tolleson Justice Court on Dec. 22. “I don’t plan to take any action myself,” said Jack Roush, Busch’s team owner. “I’m not looking down the road with Kurt, based on the fact that he has his release and he will be doing something else. He’ll be under new management, and new oversight next year, and I’ll just stand aside and watch and see how that works out for him.” Busch will drive for Penske Racing South next season.(Arizona Republic)(11-12-2005)
UPDATE: NASCAR president Mike Helton was seen escorting Busch to a NASCAR hauler for a private meeting [at Phoenix]. Hunter also attended but refused to reveal any details of the meeting.(Roanoke Times)
AND Saturday morning, after he qualified 17th but before the content of the citation was known, Busch told The Miami Herald: “This is nothing more than a speeding ticket. And so things get blown out of proportion. . . . Just a meaningless speeding ticket. I’m not that stupid on race weekend.”(11-13-2005)
