Notebook: Busch comes prepared to discuss separation from wife

Notebook: Busch comes prepared to discuss separation from wife

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

(June 30, 2011)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.—When questions about his personal life came up during his media availability Thursday at Daytona International Speedway, Kurt Busch was ready.

Busch acknowledged that he and his wife Eva are separated and seeking to end their marriage. The split, which was known in racing circles, was reported after Busch was accompanied at Sunday's Sprint Cup event by Patricia Driscoll.

Busch's victory at Sonoma brought Driscoll's presence in victory lane—and Eva's absence—into sharper focus. Anticipating possible questions about his marital status, Busch brought a prepared statement to his question-and-answer session with reporters and read from his notes when the subject was broached.

"I appreciate the fact that, until now, the media has been extremely professional in respecting the privacy of my personal situation with Eva and I," Busch said. "And although those in the NASCAR community have been aware for some time now that we are no longer together and that we are legally separated. …

"While we go through this process, it's been tough. In the upcoming weeks, we'll work at formally terminating our marriage. But we do so with most respect for each other, and we'll always be friends. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions about the racing side of it. It's just the personal side is just that."

Judging from the statistics, personal issues haven't affected Busch's skills behind the wheel. Though the victory in Sonoma was his first of the season, Busch won poles for the three events immediately prior to the Infineon race.

"As I've said, performance on the track is always the best antidote for putting all that aside," Busch said.

Busch has been married to Eva (maiden name Bryan ) since 2006. They have no children. Busch did not characterize the nature of his relationship with Driscoll in Thursday's media session.

Harvick: Handshake doesn't end issues

Though Kyle Busch said there was nothing more than met the eye, Kevin Harvick still doesn't know what to make of last Sunday's post-race handshake at Infineon Raceway.

Busch climbed from his car, walked over to Harvick and extended his hand, simultaneously congratulating Harvick on a good race. With a quizzical look on his face, Harvick shook Busch's hand.

Strange behavior for two drivers who were involved in a post-race row May 7 at Darlington and drew five weeks probation for their respective offenses—Harvick for climbing from his car and attempting to punch Busch through his car window, Busch for pushing Harvick's car into the pit-road wall.

Handshake or no handshake, Harvick said his issues with Busch remain unresolved.

"I wouldn't call it good to go on that (after the handshake)," Harvick said. "I mean, we raced together for a lap and a half (at Infineon). I was as confused about all that as everybody else."

Busch said the handshake was a sincere expression of respect.

"I felt like we had a really good race with each other," Busch said. "So, just wanted to let him know that. We gave each other great room and raced each other hard and clean. And that's all there is to it. You all are reading way too much into things."

Denny Hamlin, Busch's teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, doesn't need convincing.

"I would consider it genuine," Hamlin said. "Kyle is just not a ‘head games' type of guy."

Danica still coy about NASCAR plans

Despite persistent rumors that have Danica Patrick in NASCAR racing as a full-time Nationwide Series driver next year, Patrick herself says a deal isn't done.

She also left open a possible return to the IndyCar Series, where Patrick is running a full schedule this year while competing in selected Nationwide races.

"Obviously, I'm racing in NASCAR, and I've not made anyone wonder whether or not I like it," said Patrick, who will make her sixth Nationwide start of the season in Friday's Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona. "Other than that, these things—as I've said from the beginning of the year—are complicated, and they take time.

"Whether I'm coming here or not is yet to be signed, sealed and delivered—and might not be. Only time will tell, and that timeline on my side of things is. … I'm really not sure. All I know is that I just am told that I have a job to do in the car, and 'You do your job and we'll do our job,' and they fill me in from time to time, but it's still only July."

Patrick did say that the impetus for her decision will come from personal preference.

"It comes down to my gut and my desire and where I feel like I'll be the happiest and where I feel like I'll be able to have the most success, and then from those thoughts, my team explores the options," she said. "But it always starts with where I want to be."

Patrick, who scraped the wall in Thursday's rain-shortened practice session at Daytona, posted her best Nationwide finish to date March 5 at Las Vegas, where she ran fourth—the best-ever result for a female driver in any of NASCAR's top three national series.