Kurt Busch talks domestic violence with Fox Sports' Chris Myers

   Kurt Busch, who returned to the seat of Stewart-Haas Racing's No. 41 Chevrolet Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway for the first time since his indefinite suspension by NASCAR, sat down with Fox NASCAR Sunday host Chris Myers Sunday to share his thoughts on his suspension, whether he has anger-management issues and other topics. 

    Myers:  There are still people out there who might say, ‘Well, he must have done something.’

   Busch:  “Well, my reply to that would be yes, domestic violence is a serious issue.  The next step is the worst problem with that is when you’re falsely accused of it.  It hurts the real victims.  That’s what I have to say to that.”

   Myers:  There’s a real difference between a personal disagreement versus domestic violence, in your eyes?

   Busch:  “In somebody who has had moments of anger issues, that is one thing when you’re frustrated about a bad finish.  But going to a step to actually hurt a woman or to hurt somebody, that’s not in my realm.  That’s way beyond my reach.”

    Myers:  Do you feel you have anger-management issues?

    Busch:  “I feel like I haven’t handled a lot of the situations in my past to the best of my ability.  As I move forward and as I put things in place, yes, I want to do a better job of coming through this with class and dignity.”

    Myers:  (after reading a statement released by Busch’s ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, following NASCAR’s reinstatement of Busch).  Your reaction?

     Busch:  “There’s a road to recovery.  I’m following those steps.  I’ve worked with NASCAR through this whole process.  I was led to believe the criminal side would have been where there was a decision made, which is the most important side.  Beyond what the commissioner had to say, the next step is, yes, all these allegations are false.”

    Myers:  Were there some mistakes, if any, you made along the way in this?

    Busch:  One of them is not changing the code to my motorhome door, I mean.  And frankly, choosing the wrong woman to date.  This is a situation that everybody around me and my family has learned from, has been a part of and it’s been not just a tough five months but a tough three-and-a-half years.”

    Myers:  Were you worried about your image, your reputation?

    Busch:  “It’s already taken so many hits and done so many things over the years, that the biggest thing I want moving forward is I want this to be me in that car and not anything else.  Look at the present.  Look at the future.  My signature is above the door.  That’s who I am as a racer.”

   Myers:  You have a fast car here at Phoenix.  It’s a place you have had success before.  Will you be able to focus as much as you always have once you get behind the wheel and race for the win?

    Busch:  “I’ll tell you, I was a little nervous getting in the car Friday and after my first few laps, we were on top of the board and I was like, ‘What do you mean we’re on top of the board? I had no idea I’d be able to get back in the car and go that fast.   I have to do my job now to focus and to be that professional athlete.”

Update on A.J. Foyt's condition: 'I'm looking pretty good'

   A.J. Foyt continues to recover from his triple bypass surgery and subsequent complications at home in Houston. Foyt has been more active since his first return to his IndyCar Series race shop in mid-January. 

   “I’m doing a lot better; every day I’m doing a little bit more,” Foyt said. “I’m getting more of my strength back and I’m eating a better than I was when this first happened. I feel with all of the problems I had I’m looking pretty good. 

   "I’ve been on my bulldozer a couple times. Nothing to brag about, I was very weak and very tired but I have done some stuff with it. I probably should keep that quiet because I’m not sure the doctor would enjoy hearing that.” 

   Foyt, who has lost 50 pounds over the winter, does not expect to make it to a race before May as his current treatment keeps him tied to Houston, but he hasn’t ruled out a day trip. 

   “I may sneak out to a test where I can come and go in the same day. But that’s a call I’ll make based on how I feel that day. I think the new cars look pretty nice," he said. "The engineers are going to have their hands full with all of the trick stuff they came up with on the new aero kit. I’m anxious to hear the feedback from testing.” 

Patricia Driscoll disagrees with Kurt Busch Chase waiver; intent on "seeking full justice"

Statement from Patricia Driscoll regarding NASCAR's lifting of indefinite suspension of Kurt Busch:

"Even though Kurt remains on indefinite probation under this decision, I’m deeply concerned about the message NASCAR is sending by letting him compete for the championship after he was found by a judge to have committed an act of domestic violence. But I am gratified, at least, that NASCAR’s decision comes with the mandatory condition that he follow through on the treatment he so clearly needs. My work with the Armed Forces Foundation on veteran treatment courts has made me a strong believer in the rehabilitation process. But it has also taught me that rehabilitation takes time and can only come after you’ve taken full responsibility for your actions. Though this continues to be a difficult time for me, I remain committed to standing up for my integrity and seeking full justice."

Chevrolet statement regarding NASCAR driver Kurt Busch

JIM CAMPBELL, Chevrolet vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports

“Now that Kurt Busch has been reinstated by NASCAR and is able to fulfill his obligations associated with our agreement, we have lifted our suspension and will continue to monitor the situation.”

Joey Logano: 'I did a good job of screwing up anytime I could'

   Sprint Cup Series driver Joey Logano had one of the few cars that could keep up with race winner Kevin Harvick early-on during Sunday's Kobalt Tools 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway but by the end of the race he and his No. 22 Team Penske team had fallen out of contention, in part due to a pair of pit road speeding penalties.

   Logano finished 10th and led 47 laps - the second-most of any driver. But he was none-too-easy on himself for Sunday's result.

   "That was a poorly executed race on my behalf. I didn’t do a good job. I did a good job of screwing up anytime I could," Logano said after the race. "The speeding on pit road – I found that. I put us in a hole. Not that we were going to win the race either way because we weren’t fast enough but I maybe cost us two or three positions with what I did. 

   "I don’t know. We have some work to do. I have work to do with myself first and then we have work to do with the car, too.”

What Erik Jones and Ryan Blaney said about their on-track incident Saturday

  On a restart on Lap 172 of 200 in Saturday's Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney and Erik Jones were racing in the top-five for position when Blaney appeared to get loose and got into Jones' No. 18 Toyota. 

   Jones then got loose and looked like he would save the car before it took an abrupt right and into the wall, which was not protected by SAFER barriers. 

   Here is what Jones told Fox Sports 1 after emerging from the infield care center:

   “The 22 (Blaney) just lost it. Obviously not a lot of car control on his end today. Really unfortunate to be taken out that late. Had a strong car, one that I thought could have contended with the 33 (Austin Dillon) for the win," Jones said. "Wish we could have brought them home a better finish. It doesn't take away from our day. We ran up front. Led laps. Had a fast car. The finishes will come. It's a shame that it had to end the way it did.”

   After the race, Blaney - who finished second to Dillon - immediately apologized to his crew and expressed regret for the incident.

  “Yeah, I mean it is a racing incident but you never want to see a wrecked race car and you be a part of it. I know it is a racing deal and you just hate to be in that position," he said. "That is the worst spot to be in, pinned down on the bottom and have someone right on your door. It happens but I don’t like getting into things with people and I hate to see a race car torn up. I hate to see it. I hope he knows I feel bad about it. We have to move on eventually. We will try to do that before tomorrow.” 

Brad Keselowski's crew chief on why the No. 2 team got pulled from the qualifying grid

   Right before the start of Round 1 of Friday's Sprint Cup Series group qualifying at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR officials removed Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford from the starting grid and sent it back through inspection.

   An inspector noticed a team member pulling out the fender around the right-rear tire on Keselowski's car. NASCAR announced in the offseason teams would not be allowed to alter side skirts or fenders once cars cleared inspection and reported to the grid.

   "They just wanted to see it pushed in a little bit. I'm not sure (if it was changed)," said Keselowski's crew chief, Paul Wolfe. "The officials were out on the grid after the guys got through inspection to make sure guys don't have their skirts out too far. 

   "They didn't like how wide ours was and we had to come back (through inspection) and push it in and then get on our way."

   Asked if he was expecting any penalties, Wolfe said, "No, I'm not expecting any."

   Keselowski was able to re-pass inspection and still had time to participate in qualifying. He will start 11th Sunday.