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11-13-2005, 10:40 AM
NASCAR This Morning: Roush suspends Busch; Wallace to drive No. 97
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SPEED Channel /
Posted: 2 minutes ago
NASCAR This Morning — your prerace show before every Nextel Cup race on SPEED Channel — talked with several guests at Phoenix International Raceway, including Roush Racing president Geoff Smith. Tune in to SPEED next Sunday at 11 a.m. ET before the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NTM co-host goes behind the wheel
Kenny Wallace: I'm as stunned as all of you are right now. I was on the SPEED Channel stage truck, and I got a call from Jack Roush. And he said, "Kenny, can you drive the 97 car (Sunday)?" And I was stunned. So I just got done fitting the seat up, and I just did what Jack Roush asked me to do. I said, "Yeah, I can do it." So I'm a little stunned, a little sensitive right now to the situation. All I know is I just got in the car with (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig. NASCAR was here with (Nextel Cup race director) John Darby. Everybody approved my eligibility. Obviously I've got over 300 Cup starts and three second-place finishes so my eligibility is there. I ran 14th (in Saturday's Busch race), and God, guys, you can tell by my face, I'm excited about it.
Roush Racing announces suspension
John Roberts: Friday night in Phoenix, Kurt Busch was detained by local police under suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released with a ticket for reckless driving. For more in this situation and what's going on with the 97 car, let's go to Bob Dillner.
Bob Dillner: J.R., it's a developing story we've been following the entire morning in the garage area. Geoff Smith is the president of Roush Racing. Let's get right to the punch here, Geoff. What is going on with the 97 team this morning in Phoenix?
Geoff Smith: We have elected to suspend Kurt Busch for the remainder of the season based upon an evaluation of all the circumstances surrounding the Friday night altercation with the Maricopa County Police. We wish to extend our profound apologies to the arresting officer and the entire sheriff's office who do such a wonderful job in bringing this race to the Arizona fans. And as Kenny Wallace reported — he wasn't dreaming — he was actually asked by Jack Roush to be in the car (Sunday), and he accepted. So we look forward to having Kenny in our car. We know he'll do a great job for our sponsors and for our fans today.
Bob Dillner: You've been in meetings all morning long, Geoff — you, Jack (Roush) and several other people. How did this decision come about?
Geoff Smith: Well, the circumstances were introduced to us (Saturday) noon roughly, and then more detail kept evolving. And that began to lead to sponsor inquiries about what happened and so we all ultimately got together. This was behavior that is not acceptable under any circumstance for our sponsors, their customers and their employees. And we don't want anyone to think that this is a reflection on Roush Racing or Diageo or Rubbermaid, our great sponsors.
Bob Dillner: Geoff, thank you so much for joining us on NASCAR This Morning. ...I just want to clarify two things. Kurt Busch is still on the premises here at PIR, and this is a Roush-imposed suspension and has nothing to do with a NASCAR decision.
Story Tools: Print Email
SPEED Channel /
Posted: 2 minutes ago
NASCAR This Morning — your prerace show before every Nextel Cup race on SPEED Channel — talked with several guests at Phoenix International Raceway, including Roush Racing president Geoff Smith. Tune in to SPEED next Sunday at 11 a.m. ET before the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
NTM co-host goes behind the wheel
Kenny Wallace: I'm as stunned as all of you are right now. I was on the SPEED Channel stage truck, and I got a call from Jack Roush. And he said, "Kenny, can you drive the 97 car (Sunday)?" And I was stunned. So I just got done fitting the seat up, and I just did what Jack Roush asked me to do. I said, "Yeah, I can do it." So I'm a little stunned, a little sensitive right now to the situation. All I know is I just got in the car with (crew chief) Jimmy Fennig. NASCAR was here with (Nextel Cup race director) John Darby. Everybody approved my eligibility. Obviously I've got over 300 Cup starts and three second-place finishes so my eligibility is there. I ran 14th (in Saturday's Busch race), and God, guys, you can tell by my face, I'm excited about it.
Roush Racing announces suspension
John Roberts: Friday night in Phoenix, Kurt Busch was detained by local police under suspicion of driving under the influence. He was released with a ticket for reckless driving. For more in this situation and what's going on with the 97 car, let's go to Bob Dillner.
Bob Dillner: J.R., it's a developing story we've been following the entire morning in the garage area. Geoff Smith is the president of Roush Racing. Let's get right to the punch here, Geoff. What is going on with the 97 team this morning in Phoenix?
Geoff Smith: We have elected to suspend Kurt Busch for the remainder of the season based upon an evaluation of all the circumstances surrounding the Friday night altercation with the Maricopa County Police. We wish to extend our profound apologies to the arresting officer and the entire sheriff's office who do such a wonderful job in bringing this race to the Arizona fans. And as Kenny Wallace reported — he wasn't dreaming — he was actually asked by Jack Roush to be in the car (Sunday), and he accepted. So we look forward to having Kenny in our car. We know he'll do a great job for our sponsors and for our fans today.
Bob Dillner: You've been in meetings all morning long, Geoff — you, Jack (Roush) and several other people. How did this decision come about?
Geoff Smith: Well, the circumstances were introduced to us (Saturday) noon roughly, and then more detail kept evolving. And that began to lead to sponsor inquiries about what happened and so we all ultimately got together. This was behavior that is not acceptable under any circumstance for our sponsors, their customers and their employees. And we don't want anyone to think that this is a reflection on Roush Racing or Diageo or Rubbermaid, our great sponsors.
Bob Dillner: Geoff, thank you so much for joining us on NASCAR This Morning. ...I just want to clarify two things. Kurt Busch is still on the premises here at PIR, and this is a Roush-imposed suspension and has nothing to do with a NASCAR decision.