Kurt Busch, the defending Nextel Cup Series champion, was suspended by Roush Racing for the remaining two races of the season after being cited by the police on Friday night for reckless driving near the track where Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 was held.
"We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists, effective today," Roush Racing's president, Geoff Smith, said on Sunday.
The team owner, Jack Roush, announced the suspension before Sunday's race, which was won by Busch's younger brother Kyle. Busch, who has a history of clashes with other drivers, was also suspected of drunken driving in the incident Friday night.
PHOTO: AFP
Busch is to join Penske Racing South next season, taking over the No. 2 Dodge from Rusty Wallace, who is retiring. Roger Penske, who will be Busch's new boss, told AP that "this situation is unfortunate for high-profile athletes who are under significant scrutiny," but he added that Busch had made a public apology to the sheriff.
"We support him 100 percent for the future, and we will work with him to be a great driver," Penske said.
Busch, who qualified 17th for Sunday's race, won the Subway Fresh 500 at Phoenix on April 23 and was eighth in points in the Chase for the Nextel Cup, though he had little chance of winning the title.
Roush Racing named Kenny Wallace to replace Busch in the No. 97 Ford car on Sunday, and he finished 16th. Todd Kluever will take the wheel for the season finale, the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway next week.
Busch was near tears during an NBC interview before the race.
"Obviously, I'm upset," he said. "It's tough. I'm a race-car driver. There's a race today, and I'd like to be in the race. That's the decision they made, and I'll have to live with it."
Roush Racing officials made the decision to switch drivers in consultation with the team's primary sponsors, Newell-Rubbermaid and Diageo, Smith said.
Diageo is a London-based producer of liquor, wine and beer. Its brands include Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.
"Roush Racing didn't want to be viewed as condoning the behavior, and our sponsors certainly didn't want to be viewed as condoning the behavior either," Smith said.
The Maricopa County sheriff's deputies who stopped Busch reported seeing him drive 60mph in a 45mph zone about two miles from Phoenix International Raceway. He also ran a stop sign, Lieutenant Paul Chagolla told reporters.
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