Former NASCAR Driver Hints At Racing Return Despite Guilty DWI Plea

Former NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch has dropped hints that he could make a return to racing, despite his recent guilty plea for driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Arrested in Iredell County late at night on August 13, 2024, Busch’s offenses included speeding in a 45 mph zone and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. Busch posted at the time of his arrest:

“I’m very disappointed in myself and I apologize to my family, my racing family, and to my fans.

“I will work with the authorities to rectify the situation and work with the county to make it a safer place in the future.”

A report from Iredell Free News also stated at the time:

“Deputy Zalepka reported that Busch, who lives off Pine Meadow Lane in Mooresville, ‘had red glassy eyes’ and ‘a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath,” according to court records. ‘Defendant admitted to drinking prior to driving.'”

In response to the charges, Busch entered a guilty plea for the DWI offense. Consequentially, he was handed a 60-day suspended sentence and placed under unsupervised probation for a year. Additionally, the court required him to complete 24 hours of community service, in addition to paying a related fee. As part of these legal repercussions, Busch forfeited his driver’s license and will be required to seek temporary driving permission.

Reflecting on the incident, Busch addressed the situation whilst also revealing he goal is to ultimately return to racing. He explained:

“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.”

FOX Sports reporter Bob Pockrass shared the news to social media, posting:

“As TMZ reported, Kurt Busch received a 60-day suspended jail sentence with a year of unsupervised probation after pleading guilty this week to DWI. He was arrested Aug. 14 in NC after being stopped for speeding and a breath test registered a BAC of 0.17.”

Despite Busch acknowledging his desire to return to NASCAR racing, the specifics of his potential comeback remain uncertain. Speculation has increased regarding potential roles with his previous team, 23XI Racing, or perhaps another position within a lower-tier series. As of now, neither 23XI Racing nor Monster Energy, Busch’s sponsors, have issued statements concerning his future involvement with the team.