Why was former NASCAR superstar Kurt Busch arrested? All you need to know
Kurt Busch has pled guilty to Driving While Impaired (DWI) after his arrest on August 14. An Iredell County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion for reckless driving, overspeeding, and driving with an impermissible amount of alcohol in his blood.
Following complaints from multiple residents concerning overspeeding incidents, the Iredell County Sheriff's Office has been conducting speed checks lately. During the nighttime, Busch, in his Lexus, drove past NC's Brawley School Road way above the permitted speed limit. The area allowed the cars to notch up to 45 mph, but the former NASCAR driver's Lexus was caught doing 63 mph in the zone.
As a result, Busch was pulled over at 11:32 PM. His breath contained a strong odor of alcohol and his eyes were glassy. Thus, he underwent a breathalyzer test to determine his Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). While in North Carolina, the permissible BAC limit is 0.08%, Kurt Busch's blood contained a staggering 0.17%, more than double the limit. The NASCAR superstar was arrested by the officer in charge, and the following day, the court suspended his license for 30 days.
According to the officials, the prosecutors agreed to waive reckless driving and overspeeding charges, provided the 46-year-old submits a guilty plea for DWI. Kurt Busch took full responsibility for his actions and issued an apologetic statement (via journalist Bob Pockrass on X).
"I take full responsibility for my recent DWI arrest and deeply regret my actions. I voluntarily completed a pre-trial assessment and followed all recommendations ahead of my court date. I'm committed to making amends, ensuring this never happens again, and returning to racing with a renewed focus. Thank you to everyone who has supported me," Busch's statement read.
Kurt Busch has received a 60-day suspended jail sentence spanning 12 months, during which the former NASCAR driver will be on probation.
Kurt Busch hints at return to racing after formally announcing his retirement last year
Busch joined Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin's 23XI Racing in 2022 and ran 20 races for the team, clinching the Kansas Speedway win. However, during his 21st Cup Series weekend at the Pocono Raceway, the veteran driver of #45 Toyota brutally crashed, resulting in a serious concussion.
Kurt Busch's severe injury prompted him to announce running a full-time schedule in the 2023 season. However, the Pocono qualifying event marked the 34-time Cup Series race winner's final visit to the asphalt, as he disclosed his retirement in August 2023.
However, after getting arrested and pleading guilty to DWI, a part of Busch's statement read, "returning to racing with a renewed focus," hinting toward the NASCAR Hall of Famer's potential return to the high-octane motorsport.