Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, finds himself in the headlines for an unwanted reason involving a speeding car. He’s been charged with DWI.
Busch was initially pulled over, according to the Iredell Free News, for traveling 63 mph in a 45-mph zone.
What followed was a field sobriety test and his arrest for driving while impaired, with his blood-alcohol concentration registering at 0.17%. That is more than double the legal limit in North Carolina.
Court records indicate Busch “had red glassy eyes” and “a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath,” and had “admitted to drinking prior to driving.”
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Kurt Busch Responds To DWI Arrest
Along with the DWI charge, Kurt Busch was slapped with careless and reckless driving, and speeding charges.
The retired NASCAR driver was later released after signing a document promising to appear in court on September 19. He issued a statement of apology in which he expressed deep regret and promised to rectify the situation.
“I’m very disappointed in myself and I apologize to my family, my racing family, and to my fans,” Busch said.
“I will work with the authorities to rectify the situation and work with the county to make it a safer place in the future.”
Busch had his driver’s license revoked for 30 days following the incident. (Interestingly, you don’t actually need a driver’s license to race in NASCAR. You do, however, need a NASCAR license!)
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Not His First Drinking Incident
This isn’t Kurt Busch’s first brush with legal trouble related to alcohol. Back in 2005, he faced charges for reckless driving, which at the time was linked to a suspected DUI.
The arrest led to him serving 50 hours of community service as punishment.
Kurt Busch is a name synonymous with NASCAR. He won the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series championship in his third full season, making him one of the youngest champions at that time.
Over his 23-year career, he amassed 34 wins in the Cup Series. He also tallied 339 top-10 finishes.
Busch was known for his aggressive driving style, which often led to both victories and controversies, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most competitive and polarizing figures.
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