Kyle Busch will compete this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, but not with primary sponsor M&M’s on his race car.
Mars Inc., the parent company of M&M’s, announced late Thursday that it would not be on the No. 18 Toyota for the final two races of this season, Phoenix and next week’s finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. According to NASCAR’s entry list, Busch’s vehicle was supposed to feature M&M’s colors at Phoenix, but all that changed after he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday under caution in a Camping World Truck Series event last Friday at Texas Motor Speedway, an action that has since engulfed Busch in a firestorm of controversy.
As a result, Busch was parked for both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup events at Texas, and the sanctioning body also fined him $50,000 and placed him on probation through the end of the year. Although NASCAR allowed Busch to finish out this season, the question soon became whether his race team or his car sponsor would present a barrier to him getting back on the track.
Busch will not drive an M&M’s car again until 2012, when he will be reunited with his primary sponsor with the expectation that no future incidents take place, the company said. Interstate Batteries will fill in as primary sponsor for the final two weeks of this season, according to the Gibbs team. Interstate is JGR’s longest-serving corporate partner, having been with the organization since its inception 20 years ago. These days it typically fills an associate sponsorship role, acting as primary sponsor for only about six events each year. NASCAR.com
And though Busch is losing M&M’s for these two races, it appears the company will be back on his hood in 2012, presuming Busch stays out of trouble. In a statement released late Thursday evening, Mars stated, “The car will not run with the M&M’s paint scheme until 2012, at which time Kyle Busch will be the driver with the expectation that no future incident take place.”
That’s good news for Busch and his Joe Gibbs Racing team.
“We strongly support Mars’ decision,” team owner Joe Gibbs said. “This gives us all time to work together to foster a positive change where Kyle can continue racing in a way we can all be proud of.” Yahoo! Sports
Busch, who seemed unrepentant after the accident, admitted he lost his cool on the track.
“I’ve been wrecked four weeks in a row, and I’ve had enough of it, and I retaliated,” he said. “So it’s certainly my fault for doing that. If everybody wants to say, ‘Hornaday is racing for a championship, roll over,’ that’s not my fashion. That’s not anybody else’s fashion out here.”
It’s been a tremendous fall for the 26-year-old Busch, who just two months ago was the favorite to win his first Sprint Cup championship.
He opened the 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup tied with rival Kevin Harvick for the top seed based on his four regular season victories. But he again faltered in the opening Chase races and was never a serious title contender.
Busch is one of NASCAR’s most successful and polarizing drivers. He has 104 victories spanning NASCAR’s top three national series, and consistently dominates in both the Nationwide and Trucks Series. USA Today
Click Here to Read More:
NASCAR Fines Kyle Busch; Places Him On Probation For Remainder Of Year
NASCAR Suspends Kyle Busch For Texas Weekend For “Aggressive Driving”
| 
|