NASCAR legend Kurt Busch arrested for DWI, reckless driving in North Carolina

Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch was arrested Tuesday night and charged with driving while impaired and reckless driving after being pulled over in Iredell County, N.C., according to the Iredell Free News . A county magistrate has since revoked Busch's driver's license for 30 days, and he is set to appear in court on Sept. 19.

Busch was pulled over for speeding at 11:32 p.m. Tuesday night after a deputy clocked him driving his 2024 Lexus at 63 mph in a 45 mph zone on Brawley School Road, at which point the responding deputy noted that Busch had "red glassy eyes" and "a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath" according to court records. Busch, who admitted that he had been drinking prior to driving, was registered as having a blood-alcohol content of 0.17 -- just over twice the legal limit in North Carolina.

Busch was taken to the Iredell County Detention Center and charged with DWI, careless and reckless driving, and speeding. In a statement, the 46-year-old Busch apologized for the incident.

"I'm very disappointed in myself and I apologize to my family, my racing family, and to my fans," Busch said. "I will work with the authorities to rectify the situation and work with the county to make it a safer place in the future."

This is not the first time Busch has had problems with alcohol. In 2005, Busch was cited for reckless driving after being pulled over on suspicion of DUI in Arizona, an incident that led to Roush Racing firing Busch -- who was already set to move to Team Penske in 2006 -- with two races to go in the season. Busch was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service in that case.

Kurt Busch competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2001 to 2022 in a career which saw him earn the 2004 Cup Series championship and 34 career victories including the 2017 Daytona 500. Busch retired from racing last August one year after suffering a severe concussion in a crash at Pocono Raceway.