Kurt Busch charged with reckless driving: NASCAR driver Kurt Busch was detained on suspicion of drunken driving and cited for reckless driving after a confrontation with police near the track where the NASCAR champion is to race Sunday. Busch was stopped Friday night after trying to avoid another car and running a stop sign about 2 miles from Phoenix International Raceway, said Lt. Paul Chagolla "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. Chagolla. 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, and the device showed 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.
Busch, the reigning Nextel Cup champion, is in Phoenix to race in Sunday's Checker Auto Parts 500. Busch, eighth in points for the season, qualified 17th for the race. His team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter said: "It's a traffic ticket as far as we know."(ESPN.com/AP)
AND Defending NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch was issued a criminal traffic citation for reckless driving Friday night by a Maricopa County Sheriff's Department deputy. The stop occurred at 8:20 p.m. near El Mirage Road and Broadway. A spokesman for the Sheriff's Office said that the officer on the scene deteteced an “odor of alcohol,” and tried to admininster a standard field sobriety test but Busch refused to take it. He was then taken into custody under suspicion of driving under the influence. At PIR, the spokesman said, the breath-alcohol machine malfuntioned. Busch, who will drive in Sunday''s Checker Auto Parts 500 at PIR, was ordered to appear in Tolleson Justice Court on Dec. 22. Jim Hunter, NASCAR's vice president of corporate communications, said, the organization has “conversations with our drivers about conduct, yes.”(Arizona Republic)(11-12-2005)

Good job Busch.... That's the type of publicity you want to give your new sponsor for next year.  what an ass....