Fans disappointed Busch brothers will miss hometown race
LAS VEGAS — The home boys aren't home.
For the first time since 2000, a Sprint Cup race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will get the green flag today without a Busch brother in the field.
The Kobalt 400 is minus Kyle Busch, recovering from leg and foot injuries suffered last month at Daytona International Speedway, and Kurt Busch, under suspension by NASCAR. The Busches are natives of Las Vegas and learned to race on short tracks in the Southwest.
David Ragan will start Sunday's race in Kyle's No 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, and Regan Smith is Kurt's replacement in the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet. Kurt was suspended after a Delaware Family Court Commissioner issued a protective order against the driver three weeks ago after his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, alleged she was assaulted by Busch at Dover International Speedway last September. It was announced this week that Busch won't face criminal charges in the matter, but he has not completed a program required by NASCAR for reinstatement.
"It's a big disappointment," said Las Vegas resident Roger Guinther, relaxing in the track's Neon Garage fan area before Saturday's Xfinity Series race. He said he's been a Kyle Busch fan for years and has been attending LVMS races since 1999.
"I'll still root for his car and hope Ragan can bring it in in the top 10," he said. "Still rooting for M&Ms (Kyle's sponsor). Even though Kyle's not here, we wish him the best. He's a young guy, so hopefully he can get back real quick."
Guinther, a cashier at the Excalibur casino in Las Vegas, said he also hopes to see Kurt racing again soon. "Now that he's been exonerated of all charges, he should be back," he said. "He and Kyle are really good drivers. You want to see them in the field."
David Stearns and his wife, Debbie, traveled 1,500 miles from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, to watch Kyle race. They were roaming the Neon Garage Saturday morning in their M&Ms finery.
"It's unfortunate, but we're still here cheering for him," David said. "We got into NASCAR about three or four years ago and just hooked on to Kyle as our driver."
Debbie said she follows Kyle and Kurt on Twitter and has used several of the recipes Kyle's wife Samantha shares online. While in Las Vegas, the Stearns made a swing by the huge M&Ms store along the Vegas strip to pick up some new Kyle Busch sponsor paraphernalia.
"We went to a meet-and-greet with Kyle here last year and got him to autograph a cap," Debbie said. "We just like him. And he's pretty rowdy on the radio."
