Busch Meets With The Media

 

What a difference a year makes.

It was one year ago that Kurt Busch was in New York City for NASCAR's Champions' Week and the NASCAR Nation celebrated the Roush Racing star as the Nextel Cup Series champion.

On Thursday the outgoing Champion reemerged from hiding in New York and all the attention was again focused on him...but this time for all the wrong reasons.

Kurt Busch tried to explain the wrongdoing that parked him for the final two races of the 2005 Nextel Cup season and all in all seemed humbled by the experience.

"Everybody has a circumstance come up in life when you want to press the reset button. This is one of those," Busch said.

The Friday before the race at Phoenix International Raceway on Nov. 11, police stopped Busch for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone, swerving to avoid a car and running a stop sign. Police also suspected Busch of being intoxicated but tests later showed Busch had a blood-alcohol level of 0.017, well below the Arizona limit of 0.08. Police reports also said that Busch was argumentative.

On the Sunday morning prior to the race, car owner Jack Roush announced he was suspending Busch for the season's final two races.

"That was Jack's decision," Busch said Thursday. "He made a hasty decision, but he made that decision, and I was left to live with it."

The suspension marked the official end of Busch's five years in Nextel Cup with Roush. Midway through the season, Busch had agreed to drive for Penske Racing in 2007. But only days before the Phoenix incident, Roush released Busch from his obligations with the organization for 2006, allowing him to replace Rusty Wallace next year at Penske.

Busch finished 10th in the Nextel Cup standings.

"Sitting on the couch for two races, it gave me time to reflect and to think and it also gave me the time to look forward to what I have in front of me at Penske," Busch said.

When Busch was suspended, Roush Racing general manager Jeff Smith said: "We're officially retiring as Kurt Busch's apologists."

Roush also indicated that Busch's time with the team was less then a positive experience.

"Kurt had been a challenge for everybody that interacted with him on the team at some time or another," Roush said before the final race of the season. "He used up his equity with his sponsors. He used up his equity with me."

Thursday Busch danced around that earlier criticism.

"They've got their business," Busch said. "They said their things at Phoenix and Homestead. I think we had a great career together with winning 14 times and winning a championship. I will leave with my head high and the pride that I developed in that No. 97."

During his time with Roush, Busch earned a reputation for being arrogant and brash.

"It's tough," Busch said. "You have to be confident in this business. You wouldn't be able to go and drive a racecar at 200 mph and not be confident. I hope that that image begins to change and that people begin to realize that I'm a confident driver, not overly confident, not cocky."

Tony Stewart, who will be honored at tonight's Nextel Cup Banquet at the Waldorf-Astoria for his second series title in seven seasons, has had his fair share of problems with the fans and media.

"I talked to Kurt a little bit about it [Wednesday]," Stewart said. "If there's things that I can take from my past experiences and help him, I'm willing. Why wouldn't you want to do that? Nobody wants to see anyone else be unhappy and see someone get in situations that aren't comfortable."

Wallace also offered his assistance in helping Busch change his public persona.

"I'll be happy to help all I can," Wallace said. "I've got a personal service agreement with [Busch's new sponsor] Miller Brewing Company for the next seven years. ... I'll do all I can. Now if something goes haywire and he starts bringing me down with him, I'm going to grab him by the neck and say `Hey pal, I'm here to help, I'm not here for you to screw me up.' But he's a good guy."

Busch promises that fans will see a different personality when he gets behind the wheel of the No. 2 car.

"Everybody has a circumstance come up in life where you want to press the reset button," Busch said. "This was one of those. I'm ready to go jump on the racetrack and race races. ... What has to happen is that the real me has to come out. The fans need to get to know Kurt Busch better. It will take time."

Busch seemed to imply that Roush prevented drivers from showing their true personalities.

"It's going to be fun," Busch said. "Just to be able to look above me and notice that there's not a roof. That the convertible top is down and we're going to be cruising with one arm hanging out the side having a great time with it."

Greg Engle, the Editor of the Cup Scene Daily is seeking employment within the motorsports journalism industry. If you are interested, please contact him at:greg@cupscene.com