Inside the Panic Switch Army retail trailer in one corner of the Chili Bowl souvenir area, Kurt Busch was at rest Saturday. It has been a long January. On the way to a NASCAR/Goodyear tire test scheduled Monday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Busch dropped in on the Chili Bowl Friday and Saturday to get a taste of the country’s No. 1 Midget racing event – and to sell a few T-shirts. Busch had spent two days this week in Kent County (Del.) Family Court, where he and others testified in hearings about a protection order filed against Busch by Patricia Driscoll, his former girlfriend. The hearings created interest far beyond the normal reach of NASCAR news, particularly when Busch claimed that Driscoll is a trained assassin, leading Driscoll to insist – again – that Busch is a candidate for treatment for alcoholism and depression. So Busch, weeks away from the start of his second Sprint Cup season with Stewart-Haas Racing, was more than happy to drop in on the Chili Bowl – his first visit, he said – and to leave the legal craziness behind for a while. The judge’s decision in the case is expected within the next month. Busch wouldn’t talk about his off-track troubles Friday or Saturday. Instead, he roamed the track area meeting fans, visited team co-owner Tony Stewart (who’s working with the track-preparation crew here) and relaxed at the Panic Switch Army traveling headquarters. Busch is a partner (along with company executives Luke and Charis Burrett) in Panic Switch, an “urban and streetwear” clothing company that is making inroads in the NASCAR (and other motor sports) souvenir area with on-the-edge apparel and accessories. Among Panic Switch’s “team” members are Busch (whose T-shirts are labeled “Outlaw”), Brad Keselowski, Tony Stewart and wrestler Bill Goldberg.(USA Today)(1-18-2015)
