Kurt Busch begins NASCAR's process for reinstatement

Mar 2, 2015 - 10:17 PM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Kurt Busch has agreed to NASCAR's terms and conditions for reinstatement after he was suspended indefinitely for domestic violence allegations on Feb. 20.

NASCAR placed Busch, the driver of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet and 2004 Cup Series champion, on suspension when it learned that a Delaware judge had concluded that Busch "more than likely not" committed an act of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll in his motorhome at Dover International Speedway last September.

On Monday, NASCAR spokesman David Higdon said that Busch informed the sanctioning body late last week that he would agree to its process for reinstatement. There is no timetable in place for his potential return to NASCAR competition. NASCAR also did not reveal the terms and conditions for his reinstatement.

"We understand Kurt Busch has begun the process for reinstatement as a NASCAR member," Stewart-Haas Racing executive vice president Joe Custer said in a team statement. "NASCAR has laid out its expectations for Kurt, and while there is no timetable to meet those expectations, Kurt's willingness to embrace the conditions set forth by NASCAR is a positive step that we support."

Delaware Family Court Commissioner David Jones granted Driscoll a protective order on Feb. 16. When Jones released his 25-page opinion of the court case four days later, he noted that Busch committed an act of abuse against Driscoll by "manually strangling (her) with his left hand on her throat, while placing his right hand against her chin and face, causing her head to forcefully strike the interior wall of (Busch's) motorhome, thereby recklessly causing physical injury to (Driscoll) and recklessly placing (her) in reasonable apprehension of physical injury."

Busch lost both of his appeals for reinstatement the day before the Daytona 500. A three-member National Motorsports Appeal Panel heard and considered Busch's initial appeal before he presented his position to National Motorsports Final Appeals Officer Bryan Moss.

The Delaware Attorney General's office has yet to make its decision on criminal charges against Busch. Police conducted a criminal investigation and handed their findings to the attorney general's office for review in early January.

Regan Smith, a regular in the Xfinity Series, will remain the replacement driver for Busch in the No. 41 car this weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Smith has been behind the wheel of that car in the first two races this season, finishing 16th in the Feb. 22 Daytona 500 and then 17th in Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. SHR said in a release that a driver for the 41 team in the March 15 race at Phoenix International Raceway and subsequent events has not been determined.