Is Kyle going to have to sit this one out?
We’re still months away from the release of the NASCAR Cup Series schedule for 2025, but rumors are already flying about some new tracks that we may see next year.
One of the big rumors, reported by Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic, is that NASCAR is going to take the show south of the border for a race in Mexico City.
And honestly, this wouldn’t be much of a surprise. NASCAR has raced in Mexico before, with the Xfinity Series taking the track at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez road course in Mexico City from 2005-2006. And it’s well known that NASCAR has been anxious to get to other countries to try to expand the sport’s reach in recent years, with rumored races in Canada also being on the table.
So while we wait to see if drivers do indeed need to dust off their passports for 2025, there’s another question on everybody’s minds: Is Kyle Busch even allowed in Mexico?
If you’ll remember back to January 2023, the driver of the #8 car for Richard Childress Racing revealed that he had been detained while boarding a plane in Mexico after a handgun was discovered in his bag.
At the time, Busch released a statement on the incident:
“In late January, Samantha and I enjoyed a several day vacation in Mexico. When departing the country, my handgun was flagged during routine screening at the airport.
I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and adhere to all handgun laws, but I made a mistake by forgetting it was in my bag.
Discovery of the handgun led to my detainment while the situation was resolved. I was not aware of Mexican law and had no intention of bringing a handgun into Mexico.
When it was discovered, I fully cooperated with the authorities, accepted the penalties, and returned to North Carolina.
I apologize for my mistake and appreciate the respect shown by all parties as we resolved the matter. My family and I consider this issue closed.”
According to Mexican authorities, Busch pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison:
“The detainee, who is originally from the State of Nevada, intended to travel to the United States of America, but when passing his luggage through the RX of the platform, a caliber pistol-type firearm was detected inside. 380 with magazine stocked with six useful hollow point cartridges.
Due to the foregoing, the Agent of the Federal Public Ministry presented it before the Control Judge, on January 29 of this year, who described the detention as legal, linked to the process and through an abbreviated procedure issued a sentence.”
And while Busch said he “accepted the penalties” and considered the matter closed, there was no word from either side on whether he would be required to serve his sentence or whether it was suspended in favor of a fine.
So the question remains: Is Kyle Busch a Mexican fugitive?
Obviously if Mexico is still looking to throw Busch in prison for three and a half years if he enters the country, there’s no way that he’ll be able to race there in 2025. And there’s no doubt that NASCAR would give him a waiver for the race if that were the case: They definitely don’t want to force a driver to risk arrest to compete in a race.
I guess we’ll just have to see whether Busch is even able to enter Mexico at this point, or whether he’s going to have an extra weekend off in 2025.
