NASCAR driver Kyle Busch was arrested in Mexico in January for gun possession

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch was arrested and detained in Mexico in January after a handgun was found in his pocket as he and his wife Samantha boarded a private jet to leave the country after vacationing.

According to Mexico’s attorney general’s office, a Nevada man identified as “Kyle Thomas B” has been “attributed to full responsibility for committing the felony of carrying a firearm without a license and possessing cartridges for the exclusive use of the armed forces.” “

The attorney general’s office said Busch was arrested Jan. 27 and sentenced Monday to 3.5 years in prison and a $1,100 fine. Information on how to deal with Busch’s judgment was not given in the statement.

Busch, 37, said in a statement that he “considers this edition closed” and finished third in Sunday night’s NASCAR Clash exhibition race. He said he “complies with all handgun laws,” but also admitted in the same statement that he was unaware of Mexican law, which prohibits possession of a gun in the country without a Mexican permit.

“In late January, Samantha and I enjoyed a multi-day vacation in Mexico,” Busch said. “When I left the country, my handgun was marked during routine airport checks. I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and comply with all handgun laws, but I made a mistake by forgetting it was in my pocket.

“The discovery of the pistol led to my imprisonment while the situation was being resolved. I was unfamiliar with Mexican law and had no intention of importing a handgun into Mexico.”

According to the attorney general, Busch’s pistol had six hollow-point cartridges inside.

Busch is entering his first season with Richard Childress Racing after spending the majority of his Cup Series career with Joe Gibbs Racing. Busch has the most wins in NASCAR’s top three series with 223, but couldn’t agree to continue his career at JGR after longtime sponsor M&M Mars decided to leave NASCAR after the 2022 season.

Busch won his two Cup Series titles with JGR and scored 56 of his 60 Cup Series wins with the team. Busch’s 60 Cup wins tie him with Kevin Harvick among active full-time Cup Series drivers, and Busch and Joey Logano are the only active full-time drivers with more than one Cup Series title.

Kyle Busch was arrested in Mexico on January 27 for possession of a handgun. He finished third in Sunday’s clash. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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