11/05/24
November 12, 2005
Kurt Busch,: reigning NASCAR Nextel Cup champion, was detained in Maricopa County for suspicion of DUI. Asked to comment, Jack Roush, his current team owner, said "I don't plan to take any action myself. I'm not looking down the road with Kurt, based on the fact that he has his release and he'll 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."
posted by mr_crash_davis to auto racing at 07:36 PM - 34 comments
"does anybody know what Busch did (other than this) to get on Roush's bad side?" Well, there was that whole "signing with another team before even negotiating with Roush" thing. I can't imagine why that would leave Jack a little bitter.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:43 PM on November 12, 2005
Thanks, crash, I figured something happened, but didn't know what. I should have known to go to NASCAR.com for the answer. Is it OK to call you 'crash_', or would you prefer 'mr_davis'?
posted by Desert Dog at 11:25 PM on November 12, 2005
Celebrity types seem to be able to get away with behaviour that would not be tolerated in the peon world. Example: this DUI incident and the Paris Hilton thing where her boyfriend ran his Bently into a truck while drunk.
posted by Aqua Knight at 01:36 AM on November 13, 2005
He was never a fan favorite to start with. This is not going to help.
posted by chicobangs at 04:12 AM on November 13, 2005
Crown Royal is one of his sponsors. It's nice to hear that a driver uses the product he endorses. Bottoms up, Kurt
posted by Team SkidMark at 09:11 AM on November 13, 2005
Is it me or does it seem that with the younger ages people are getting in to pro sports, adds to the immaturity level? Did he really think he could drive like that on a city street? And then get mouthy with a cop on top of it? I think it would have been funny if he got "tuned up" on the way to take the breathalizer. ( sorry he "fell" on the way)
posted by volfire at 09:18 AM on November 13, 2005
700 officers at this track and only one broken breath machine? Who's not prepaired for Sunday's race? I'm not a fan of DWI nor Kurt Bush but who's the fool? Any Nascar fan can tell you there's always a heavy police presence. Somebody was not on their game. Check your sources.
posted by come to Jesus at 09:21 AM on November 13, 2005
And now, Jack Roush has suspended Busch for the rest of the year. Wow. And Desert Dog, "Crash" or anything near it is fine. Just don't call me late for supper!
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:39 PM on November 13, 2005
Stock car racing evolved from drunken moonshiners out running the police. Maybe Kurt was doing the throw-back thing
posted by Team SkidMark at 06:45 PM on November 13, 2005
Get away with it!?! He got canned with two races to go, he was ninth in points out of four dozen drivers/teams. His team acted quickly and definatively. What other sport would have immediatly removed a front runner from compitition? I applaud the way this was handled, Busch's behavior was reprehensible. Way to go Jack Roush! The owners/officials of football, basketball and baseball should sit up and take notice. The so-called "real sports" should handle their players in the same way NASCAR does/did. But, of course, thugs and criminals rarely make their way to the top of NASCAR the way they do in "real sports."
posted by bugsyduke at 07:06 PM on November 13, 2005
Mr Crash I would like to take this moment in time to say thank you for posting this story. On the other hand for those of you that think before you speak. We do not know that he was drinking for one just because the officer said he smelled it does notmean everyone is drunk. As for the talking back to police thats between him and the officers and in my opinion if he did talk back to them then he was not to bright. But as for the suspension of the last two races thats like it was said a fair and just punishmnet for being a idiot ont he main roads. As for you Desssert dog it is no longer a red neck sport. and you Aqua Knight nobody cares about paris hilton and her world and as for kurt bush the whole celebirty thing goes out the window when the arrested him and took him in for a breath test. There is no consperacy for the average working man or women and there is no special treatment for the celebirties.
posted by firefighter97 at 03:08 AM on November 14, 2005
How does a guy go from the Nascar reining champion to outcast in 10 months? Kurt must have really been ruffling some feathers all year long. Well luckily for Kurt he may be losing his Crown Royal but he can now slam Miller Lites. CHEERS!!
posted by JALVES at 06:56 AM on November 14, 2005
How does a guy go from... Easy: zero tolerance of this kind of behavior. Isn't what he did enough? He nearly rear-ended another vehicle, he sped through a stopsign at a speed in excess of the posted limit and resisted arrest. My point from above is that other sports should follow NASCAR's lead. Champion or no, highly paid participants in any sport should be held to a higher standard than the rest of us. More benifits should require more responsibilities. Is anyone else tired of the "sports and entertainment figures get away with murder" refrain? This is how you stop that... Do not let them get away with it. Ever.
posted by bugsyduke at 07:27 AM on November 14, 2005
I am asking this honestly and without any sarcasm: I would like to know how NASCAR is not considered a "redneck" sport. Also, how could these actions make NASCAR overall a better disciplined sport than the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB? Were the actions handed down by the officials at MASCAR? It sounds as if there are those that think that NASCAR holds a "higher standard" of responsibility that other sports and that it's the "type" of people in that sport that makes for the incident when it's much more complicated than that.
posted by tadley86 at 08:07 AM on November 14, 2005
Been a race fan for years... Don't really think anything about Rousch, But Kurt messed up.. He got caught... Hope he is smarter for the ole #2 Miller Lite
posted by crazyazz424 at 08:54 AM on November 14, 2005
It isn't that complicated at all. The officials do not need to intervene if the team takes care of it. I'm not exactly sure what you were trying to say after the word "type," but you were on the money when you called NASCAR an "overall...better disciplined sport." What did Barney Fife say? "Nip it in the bud."
posted by bugsyduke at 09:03 AM on November 14, 2005
I'm not quite sure myself...! I was trying to type in the middle of something... I'm sure NASCAR, considering the type of sport (high-speed car racing) has to be more disciplined when it comes to dealing with illicit behavior. The amount of actual competitors and teams probably makes it a little easier as well. Does NASCAR have a union? The fact that the union of the major 4 sports sticks up for some the the unsavory types doesn't help their league's image either. I know you can't pick and choose once the player pays his union dues, but common sense has to kick in sometime. I'm not a NASCAR fan, but seeing the amazing growth in the sport over the last decade or so is intriguing.
posted by tadley86 at 11:24 AM on November 14, 2005
How can you call 60 in a 45 reckless? Thats barely speeding. No wonder this guy was in 9th place.
posted by HATER 187 at 11:30 AM on November 14, 2005
Kurt Busch is a jerk. He deserved being kicked out of the Roush car for the last two races of the season. He has done and said so many stupid things to others on the track - he was due so much more than a fine and/or loss of points. HE GOT IT!! I applaud AZ police. Kurt Busch is not above the law. If he didn't know it before - he knows it now. Oh, by the way - NASCAR is not a redneck's sport. I cannot and will not ever be a redneck. My neck is brown. Get my point?!
posted by alljasz at 12:06 PM on November 14, 2005
Hater 187, 60 in a 45 IS reckless, not to mention illegal. He also blew through a stopsign, that is often how people get killed. Traffic laws are a form of communication, they allow us to drive with a reasonable assumption of what others will be doing. What part of zero tolerance do you not understand. The position taken by Busch's team is quite clear. Obey local laws or do not drive for the team. Tends to erase grey areas. Tadley, a union that protects its members from the consequences of illegal actions is reprehensible.
posted by bugsyduke at 12:09 PM on November 14, 2005
Well, isn't 25 over usually the legal threshold for "reckless" in terms of speeding? I come not to defend Kurt Busch, but I take issue with the idea he deserved to be kicked out of Roush. The little I know on the subject was from Bryant Gumbel's "Real Sports" a couple of weeks back. It sounded like both parties hated each other and wanted to call it quits.
posted by yerfatma at 12:16 PM on November 14, 2005
I really think the reckless driving charge came from a combination of speeding, ignoring a stop sign, and very nearly rear-ending another car (the officer reported he had to swerve and lock the brakes) As far as being kicked out of Roush, again, I applaud their policy. I don't often have to defend the off-track behavior of the sport's stars (not that I would.) Some of us enjoy having respectable sports heros.
posted by bugsyduke at 12:26 PM on November 14, 2005
"Does NASCAR have a union?" No. The drivers attempted to unionize in the early Sixties, but Curtis Turner and Tim Flock, the drivers who led the union organizing, were banned for life by Bill France Sr. They were later allowed to return, but France swore that no union driver would ever be allowed to race in NASCAR, and AFAIK there hasn't been any serious unionization talk since.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 01:33 PM on November 14, 2005
Oh, and by "allowed to return" I mean France Sr. lifted the ban. Turner came back, but Floyd never did.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 01:33 PM on November 14, 2005
Flock, not Floyd. The sinus medications must be kicking in.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 01:34 PM on November 14, 2005
mr_crash_davis: Thanks for the explanation. Looks as if not having a union has worked for them so far. bugsy_duke: You are absolutely correct; unions that uphold illicit and illegal actions for their members are reprehensible. I think it happens all the time, though. How many times have you seen a ballplayer take their punishment and NOT call on the union. Rarely. And most players are allowed to play while fighting their suspensions rather than the other way around. (I think all leagues should have a fast track for suspensions and expulsions so that when a league hands down the suspensions it's up to the player and the union to fight for playing time.)
posted by tadley86 at 02:11 PM on November 14, 2005
bugsy_duke: I applaude you for your insight and I do belive that the sports star should be held liable for their crime no matter what. But who has ever been fired from their job or let go from their job due to a traffice ticket. As for the cop locking up his brakes and swearving abviously he did not see the caution flag waving and who knows maybe kurt was looking for the pit box before he pulled over. Mr_Crash: How do you think this will effect Kurts chances with the penski racing team and the #2 car for next year or for 2007.
posted by firefighter97 at 09:32 PM on November 14, 2005
Roger Penske says he still plans to put Busch in Rusty Wallace's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge in 2006, unless there are "sponsor problems," which is a pretty good escape clause, when you think about it.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:38 AM on November 15, 2005
YeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw nascar! Who cares this crap is boring.
posted by sadsadcubsfan at 10:54 AM on November 15, 2005
YeeeeeeeeeHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw nascar! Who cares this crap is boring. After reading your first few posts, most of us could (and probably would) say the same thing about you. If a topic doesn't interest you, rather than making an ass of yourself, how 'bout you just shut your piehole and move on? That's right, just move on...nothing to see here. Have a nice day.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:55 PM on November 15, 2005
Dear Sasquatch, The redneck thing was just a joke, so lighten up. And besides, my head isn't up my ass. It's between YOUR MAMA'S LEGS!! Again Mr. Squatch, that was just a joke also. Have a nice day, oh hairy one.
posted by Desert Dog at 03:12 PM on November 15, 2005
"How do you think this will effect Kurts chances with the penski racing team and the #2 car for next year or for 2007" I think The_Black_Hand was right on the money when he mentioned the "sponsor problems" escape clause. Last night on the Speed Channel, Michael Waltrip, Ken Schrader, and Brian Vickers all alluded to there being a "morals clause" in every NASCAR driver's contract, and as we've seen in the recent past with Shane Hmiel, a driver can get the boot and not be heard from again. My bet is that Busch will not get away with something like this again. The first time he screws up and makes Penske or Miller look bad, he's out.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 05:36 PM on November 15, 2005
Interesting turn of events now that blood alcohol tests reveal that Bucsh wasnt even close to be drunk!
posted by daddisamm at 12:01 PM on November 16, 2005
Its nice to see that all those involved on that team are so close knit. It's obvious to me that Mr. Roush deeply cares for his driver. I'm touched. But seriously, does anybody know what Busch did (other than this) to get on Roush's bad side? I'd like to think I'm well-rounded as far as keeping up with sports, but I must have missed this one. Oh, I said 'sports', I meant to say NASCAR. If I ruffled any redneck feathers, I humbly 'pologize. Now git boy, git.