Kurt Busch...

[Guest]

The current Nextel Cup Series Champion... benched!
Sited for wreckless driving by Pheonix police.
The arresting officer did smell alcohol, but Kurt refused to take a field test, so he was driven to a field office near the race track and was given the breath test, but the instrument failed... so alcohol related charges were dropped.
Crown Royal whiskey, one of Busch's current sponsors insisted that team owner Jack Roush, suspend the driver for the remainder of the year. (Kurt will be leaving his current team to take over the driving duties for retiring Penske driver Rusty Wallace... a team sponsored by the Miller Brewing Co.)
Funny... I've read statements from all sides of this story, but where's Miller's veiwpoint?
Personally, I feel that Kurt was let off too lightly, but he will have a court date in December. I would hope the judge takes a close look at the facts here and spanks the boy!
I've been a stock race car fan from the age of five, when I saw a race car heading off to the track, subsequently seeing that same race car returning from the race... Yup, "Rubbin' is racin' Harry!!!"
In my adult life, that passion for racing came full circle... as a sports photographer.
I met and got to know all the 'good 'ol boys', a few on a first name basis...
(Even got called into the 'Hauler' myself once, over copyright issues)
Many of which, are now in the twilight of their careers and a few of them sadly gone. (Davy Allison is probably the nicest person I have ever met)
That all came to a screeching halt shortly after I said, "I Do"... marrying into an instant family with three kids in 1992.
JFTR- That was Jeff Gordon's rookie year and I saw it then... A shift in the sport to younger drivers.
BTW- Young sennsation Rob Morroso died in an off track alcohol related crash the previous year, sadder yet... The toll it had on his dad Dick!
I would hope Nascar would at some point real soon, takes the time and effort to groom some sense into these young men about the responsibilities associated with being a 'Cup' driver... Maybe a few history lessons from the greats?
I'd sure like to talk to Richard Petty and get his take on where he feels the sport is headed with the shift to younger drivers...

[Spadinator]

Amen to the above statements!!!! It is just too bad the instruments failed.


LONG LIVE THE LEGEND OF #3

[Rob]

Jack Rousch made an interesting point that NASCAR is a much cleaner sport than any of the others. Imagine what would happened, or not, had that happened to a pro-ball player, "Aw, he didn't do nuttin' wrong. After all, we pay him millions of dollars a year. Besides, no one died.":x Kurt Busch was suspended for the rest of the season, only two races. Roger Penske will bring him back to Phoenix to apologize to the sherrif's department and help the community. Not bad relative to the rest of professional sports. Unfortunately, we'll never know what his blood-alcohol was to know if he was legally drunk or just stupidly belligerent. Okay, time to get off my soapbox.

Rob

[emiller]

Didn't the old drivers get started by hauling moonshine and were drunk most of the time. There's more tv and radio coverage now that if you mess up some how your chances of getting caught are more greater.

[Guest]

The sport has changed quite a bit since I was last involved...
Just look at the changes made towards driver safety over the last few years.
Yes Eddie, several of the old driver's did get their start from being moonshine runners, but I doubt that Junior Johnson himself would defend Kurt Busch's actions.
Rob,
I aggree that Nascar is a much cleaner sport and would like to add that it's atheletes are much more personable and reachable, but I don't see the liquor companies sponsoring athletes from other sports, at least not like they are in Nascar.
The liquor companies (Not talking beer here) have just recently been allowed to sponsor race teams and the way they're going about it is smart... To promote responsible drinking and believe me, that's the only reason why they were allowed to sponsor/advertise at this level.
I'm sure that any driver sponsored by one of these liqour companies has a clause in their contract which states they shall not at any time opperate a motorized vehichle with any amount of alcohol present in their blood.
Kurt Busch was the epitome of someone who should promote responsible drinking and not get behind the wheel... Especially with having a distilling company as a sponsor. Even though Kurt chose to leave Jack for greener pastures after this season, Jack didn't suspend him because of ill feelings towards Kurt for dumping him, it was Crown Royal that insisted that Kurt had violated his contract with Jack. Crown Royal dropped Kurt like a hot potato!
Being that Kurt Busch is under contract to drive for Roger Penske next season...
I truley believe Miller Brewing Co. is embarrassed over this.
Let me add... I really admired Kurt Busch for winning the championship in 2004, (I even bought one of his hats and a coffee cup) but another lesson he could have taken from the greats was respect towards others...
Kurt Busch certainly didn't respect the officer who pulled him over.
Do I want to see Kurt Busch villified over this? No... But I'd sure like him to be a man and step up to the plate and say something to the effect that he shouldn't have gotten behind the wheel while under the effect of alcohol... (Or was that in one or both of his apologies so far to the sherrif's department?)
All I hear him and his supporters saying is that alcohol wasn't an issue here and we support him 100%... that's BS!

[TonyCooper]

The sport kinda lost a little luster when it went from Winston Cup to Nextel Cup. They are dropping several of the tracks that help start it all and trying to go more mainstream it seems.

Rockingham, Darlington, etc

Everything changes, but nothing does....

[TonyCooper]

:D Didn't the old drivers get started by hauling moonshine and were drunk most of the time. There's more tv and radio coverage now that if you mess up some how your chances of getting caught are more greater.

Makin' & Haulin' shine and drinkin shine are two different things... you drink it and you eatin into yer profits!

BTW, Best I know, making shine is now roughly equivalent to a traffic violation here in NC. They still find them occasionally and bust up all the equipment, then issue a fine.

[asianflava]

So is NASCAR doing the suspension? I thought I read an article saying that Rousch didn't think diciplinary actions would do any good. He has a different ride next year so Rousch brobably doesn't care anyway. After the season, he's not his problem.

Since I'm sorta reality junkie (I blame my wife) I started watching Driver X on Discovery Channel. I was surprised to see that HANS devices are now manditory. I remember watching an interview a few years ago with Bob Chandler, (Bigfoot creator) he was showing it off as his new invention.

[madjack]

NASCAR didn't do the suspension, Rousch Racing did at the insistence of the 97 car's primary sponsor, Crown Royal. Kurt has a history of bad behavior that Rousch has worked hard to cover up. When this occured, Jack said, the hell with it suspend him(didn't want ot fight with sponsor over Kurt anymore)...we can only hope Kurt will grow up and get himself some help as needed and not another drink. Quite a few drivers over the years have had different types of problems and most have eventually gotten the help needed to straighten themselves out...hopefull Kurt will also.

The Hans Device became mandatory after investigations showed that Dale Earnhardt would still be alive had he been wearing one, until that time they were optional...NASCAR works on saftey issues probably harder than any other race sanctioning body
madjack

[Hardin Valley Magic]

In my oppinion he was left off VERY easy. Says he refused a field sub. test.....Well my not to smart brother refused the same test here in Knoxville Tn guess what? he spent 48 hrs locked up probation for 6 mths AND lost his license for a year.. Immediately after rolling a Toyota 4 runner 6 times. Sounds like a double standard for the popular as usual..

[madjack]

HVM...you are right about the double standard...here in La. if you refuse a breathalizer test after failing a field sobriety test your license is suspended for a year...in Kurt's case(I understand) he was given the breathalizer test but the claim was it malfunctioned...you mean to tell me that Phoenix only has one machine
madjack

[Hardin Valley Magic]

one machine.....check.. all these race fans here DON'T DRINK... no worries.


p.s. all my hard earned money I spent working on my tear will aid to the benifit of a cup champion.
GO SMOKE.

[emiller]

HVM...you are right about the double standard...here in La. if you refuse a breathalizer test after failing a field sobriety test your license is suspended for a year...in Kurt's case(I understand) he was given the breathalizer test but the claim was it malfunctioned...you mean to tell me that Phoenix only has one machine
madjack

I dought there is only one machine in Maricopa County, The Goodyear police dept. is right close by. If you ever saw behind the headlines when they had Mark Martin on there another Roush racer he had alot of drinking problems and inccidents. I think Roush was making a point because Kurt was quiting the team. Don't get me wrong I not a Kurt B. fan but seams not everyone gets treated the same in any sport or non sport.

[Gaston]

the cop had a chip on his shoulder and Kurt is known for his fast mouth. a collision of attitude and authority!!

[Guest]

:lol: one machine.....check.. all these race fans here DON'T DRINK... no worries.


p.s. all my hard earned money I spent working on my tear will aid to the benifit of a cup champion.
GO SMOKE.

Steve,
He only has to finish 9th at Homestead to clinch.