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.”
