NASCAR has confirmed two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will be able to race in the Daytona 500 despite his recent conviction.
On Tuesday, it emerged Busch had been charged by Mexican authorities following an incident in which a handgun was found in his luggage at Cancun International Airport.
In a statement, the Las Vegas-born driver said he mistakenly left the gun in his bag.
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Busch, who has a concealed carry permit in his local authority, was subsequently fined $1582 for the misdemeanour and handed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
In Mexico, a prison sentence of less than four years can be commuted. Given Busch was allowed to leave the country, that would suggest he paid reparations for the incident.
In a statement, the 37-year-old said the matter was resolved and he considered the issue closed.
According to the Associated Press, “The federal Attorney General’s Office said the judge decided to allow a conditional punishment and let Busch leave Mexico after he paid a bond.
“The office did not say how much he paid.
“Busch was brought Jan. 29 before a judge who ruled the arrest was legal and Busch was sentenced Feb. 3, according to the statement.
“The next step would be the judge scheduling another hearing to set the details of Busch’s conditional punishment and where he will pay the fine.
“He could avoid any additional jail time.”
Despite the incident, NASCAR has said Busch is not in violation of its conduct policy and will not face any sanctioning from the series.
“We do have a Member Conduct policy,” a NASCAR spokesperson told Autoweek.
“With the information we received, we did not feel that this warranted any disciplinary action.
“Kyle will be at media day. As long as drivers are present for media obligations and respond to the questions (even if it’s no comment), they are not in violation of the driver agreement.”
Busch, who raced in the season-opening Clash at The Coliseum on Monday, can continue competing.
The series veteran is in his first season with Richard Childress Racing after a 15-year spell with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Busch has 60 race wins in the NASCAR Cup Series.
He will race in the forthcoming Daytona 500, the first points-paying round of the 2023 season, on February 20.
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