Kyle Busch issues apology letter

  To all,

 I've had a lot of time today to sit and reflect, and try to put my thoughts into words as best I can.

 I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during Friday night's Truck Series race at Texas.

 I apologize to my fans, all my sponsors, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

 After talking with my team, it's great to have their support and encouragement to assure me that there are better days ahead. Even though this took place while driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports, I am sorry for how difficult this has been for everyone associated with Joe Gibbs Racing's Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series teams.

 I'd also like to apologize to Ron Hornaday Jr., and everyone associated with the No. 33 team in the Truck Series.

 I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend. NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions.

 As a race car driver, the hardest thing to do is to sit on the sidelines listening to cars on the track when you know you should be out there competing. For this, I have no one to blame but myself.

 Through a lot of support from the people around me, I feel like I've made a lot of strides this year, but this was certainly a step backward. Moving forward, I will do everything I possibly can to represent everyone involved in a positive manner. However, I know my long-term actions will have more of a bearing than anything I say right now.

  Sincerely,

 Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch parked for Texas weekend

FORT WORTH, Texas – Kyle Busch – who was parked in Friday night's NASCAR Truck race after intentionally wrecking Ron Hornaday under caution – will also miss Saturday's Nationwide race and Sunday's Sprint Cup race, NASCAR President Mike Helton announced.

In announcing Busch's suspension from driving the rest of the weekend, Helton said NASCAR's edict of “boys, have at it” did have a clear line.

“We saw it last night.” he said.

Busch's Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Denny Hamlin, will take Busch's place in Saturday's Nationwide race and Michael McDowell is scheduled to drive Busch's No. 18 Toyota in Sunday's AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Hornaday saw his chance at a fifth series championship disappear Friday night when Busch intentionally wrecked him under caution after the two got together racing three-wide for position. Hornaday ended up 34th.

Busch was called to the hauler after the race. He met with series officials approximately three minutes and left without comment. He was told to return Saturday morning for another meeting and again left without comment.

By that time, however, Hamlin and McDowell were already seen getting fitted in Busch's Nationwide and Cup cars.

Busch was unrepentant after the race.

“It’s two guys racing for tight real estate and there’s only two lanes of race track out there right now. I’m racing for a win just as much as Ron Hornaday,” Busch said Friday night. “It’s Lap 15. He wants to make it three-wide with a lapped car and knowing you always get loose when you’re on the inside.

“I retaliated. It’s certainly my fault for doing that. For everybody who wants to say that Hornaday is racing for a championship, just roll over. That’s not my fashion.”

Hornaday admitted he got into Busch on the track but said the retaliation after the caution was displayed was unwarranted.

“It was a racing deal. That crap he pulled down there, they parked Harvick for the same retaliation at Martinsville. If they don’t park (Busch) on Sunday, I’ll be really upset.”