Kyle Busch parked at Texas, out of Cup, Nationwide races

Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas

Kyle Busch finally went too far for NASCAR, even in the era of “Boys, have at it.”

The often volatile Busch was barred Saturday from driving in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide races at Texas this weekend, a rare step taken by NASCAR after he deliberately wrecked championship contender Ron Hornaday Jr. during a caution in the Truck Series on Friday night.

On Saturday night, Busch issued a letter in which he said he wanted to “sincerely apologize” to fans, his sponsors, Hornaday and his team, as well everybody associated with Joe Gibbs Racing and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

“I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend. NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions,” Busch wrote. “As a racecar driver, the hardest thing to do is to sit on the sidelines listening to cars on the track when you know you should be out there competing. For this, I have no one to blame but myself.”

NASCAR President Mike Helton announced the penalty Saturday morning after a meeting with Busch and Joe Gibbs, his Sprint Cup and Nationwide car owner.

“The responsibility that over the past two or three seasons we’ve given back to the drivers came I think with a very clear understanding that there could be a line that got crossed,” Helton said.

Busch is the first driver since Robby Gordon in August 2007 to be taken out of a Cup race for actions in another NASCAR race the same weekend.