Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch Credit: Autostock

Busch suspended by Roush for final two races

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Kurt Busch was suspended by his team Sunday for the last two races of the NASCAR season after police cited the reigning Nextel Cup champion for reckless driving.

Busch, who qualified 17th for Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, will be replaced by Kenny Wallace.

Jack Roush

One of Busch's sponsors is Crown Royal, a distilled whisky brand. He is also set to leave Roush at the end of this season to join Penske Racing South and replace retiring Rusty Wallace in a car sponsored by Miller Lite beer.

"It's the last straw for Roush Racing," said Geoff Smith, president of Roush Racing. "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists effective [Sunday]."

"The team has elected to suspend Kurt Busch for the rest of the season," Smith said. "We took this action following an evaluation of the circumstances surrounding Kurt's Friday night altercation with the Arizona sheriff's office."

Busch has not commented publically on the reckless driving citation, but released a statement: "I regret the incident that occurred near the Phoenix International Raceway Friday evening where I received a traffic citation. It is important to understand that this citation is not alcohol related. I want to apologize to the Maricopa County Sheriff's department for my actions."

When asked about Busch's arrest and confrontation with police, team owner Jack Roush said it was no longer his problem.

"This suspension is made after full review of all the circumstances surrounding Kurt's Friday night altercation with the Arizona police, and after consultation with our primary sponsors, Newell-Rubbermaid and Diageo [the parent company of Crown Royal]," Roush said.

"All parties are in complete support that the action being taken today is necessary and appropriate under the circumstances," he said. "We felt that he was far enough out of line that it was a breech of his contract with me and that put me into breech with the contracts with my sponsors so we had to take action to alleviate the damage that was done in that relationship.

Inside the Numbers Kurt Busch's Cup stats Year W T5 T10 2000 0 0 0 2001 0 3 6 2002 4 12 20 2003 4 9 14 2004 3 10 21 2005 3 9 18 Totals 14 43 79 KURT BUSCH •   Driver Page •   2005 Statistics •   Superstore: Busch gear Down and outBusch, Roush and Penske on the defending champ's suspension Career highlightsWatch all of Busch's on-track action with TrackPass Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"Roush Racing is embarrassed. The sponsors are embarrassed," Roush said. "This really cuts it. We're embarrassed for all of the NASCAR community."

Busch, 27, was stopped Friday night by police near the track after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign, police said. The police report said the officer who stopped Busch smelled alcohol on the driver's breath, although Busch was not cited for that.

"As a result of the roadside investigation the deputy did take Mr. Busch into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol," said Lt. Paul Chagolla, a Maricopa County sheriff's spokesman.

Chagolla said the deputy smelled alcohol on Busch, but the driver refused to perform standard field sobriety tests. Busch did submit to a field breath alcohol test, disclosing the presence of alcohol.

The deputy drove Busch to the raceway, where a sheriff's facility is located, to administer another breath test but the machine there failed. The deputy then decided to cite Busch for reckless driving and he was released, Chagolla said.

Busch was spotted driving about 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, Chagolla said. A deputy tried to pull Busch over but there was some delay, Chagolla said. When he did stop, Busch was argumentative and uncooperative, Chagolla said. The deputy then called for a supervisor.

"This is Maricopa County and our streets are not to be used as raceways," sheriff Joe Arpaio said. "He ought to confine his speeding to the racetrack. And I don't like anybody being abusive to my deputies -- I don't care who they are."

Roger Penske, who will be Busch's boss beginning next season, said nothing has changed as far as his team's relationship with the defending Cup champion.

"This situation is unfortunate for high-profile athletes who are under significant scrutiny," Penske said. "We support him 100 percent for the future and we will work with him to be a great driver."

Busch is eighth in the point standings, 281 points behind leader Tony Stewart, but likely will finish 10th. Busch has three victories, nine top-10 finishes and 18 top-10s this season and has won $6,516,320.

Smith said Busch, who is under contract to the Roush team through the end of the season, will not be allowed to drive for anyone else this year.

"He would have to get permission and we would be very reluctant to give it," Smith said. "It's very offensive to us that he chose to take on the arresting officer the way he did verbally. And then the fact there was alcohol, even in the smallest way, involved."

Busch's truculent behavior on and off the track has gotten him in trouble with NASCAR and other drivers in the past.

He was punched in the face by Jimmy Spencer for trying to deliberately wreck him. He was called "an arrogant punk" by Kevin Harvick and is booed by fans who dislike his aggressive driving.

Busch got into trouble with NASCAR again at Darlington in May when he refused to go where he was told after returning to the track following a crash. He then was called into the pits for a penalty and responded with expletives directed at NASCAR officials over his car radio. He also tossed a water bottle that hit the NASCAR official in his pit.

NASCAR officials said his behavior was not "befitting of a champion."

Wallace said he got the call to jump behind the wheel of the No. 97 Ford at about 11:30 a.m. ET Sunday, as he was on the air on SPEED Channel's NASCAR This Morning.

"Jack Roush has been a friend to me throughout my whole career," Wallace said. "And he just called me up and he said, 'Hey, can you drive the 97 car?' and when I got my composure, I was like, 'Yeah, no problem.'

But Wallace said he agreed with a heavy heart.

"I feel bad for everybody in this whole situation," Wallace said. "I'm a professional and we're going to go out there and race. There's nothing like starting a race cold turkey, but we've done it a lot and we'll be OK."

Although Busch qualified 17th, because of the the driver change Wallace will start from the rear of the field.

"We're gonna race, make sure we stay on the lead lap," Wallace said. "I just need like five laps to get the feel of the car and we'll just go after it. I'm prepared and ready to go."

In typical Wallace fashion, he found the humor in Sunday's unusual situation.

"We've got a Miller helmet with tape all over it. We've got a National Guard uniform," Wallace said. "I'm the same size as Kurt, but I've got a 42-year-old midsection, but it doesn't slow me up.

"We tried hard to get the Irwin uniform to fit me, but that kid, he's just really skinny."