NASCAR: Busch trying to stay patient over legal issues

Ahead of this weekend's beginning of NASCAR Speedweeks at Daytona, Kurt Busch says he is trying to stay focused amid his ongoing legal troubles.

Kurt Busch told the media on Thursday at Daytona that he has no timetable for a resolution to the allegations of domestic assault brought by his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, that have dogged him throughout the offseason, but said that his Stewart-Haas team has a contingency plan in place should the matter impact his racing career.

"The days in court – and now that we're going close to Day 100 as far as all of the proceedings go – normal situations that happen around these type of situations take 30 minutes, so sometimes preferential treatment can go the wrong way," Busch said. "So we all have to be patient, we all have to understand that there's a process that we have to respect, and the fact that no announcement has come out, each day that goes by continues to be good news.

"And with the team and their support – they've been fantastic, (team co-owner) Gene Haas especially – it's amazing to have the comfort level that I have, as well as to have told them the truth and understanding of everything, it's easy to be here and be pumped up about the season that's 10 days away."

The Delaware state attorney general's office has yet to rule whether any charges will be filed against Busch relating to the alleged altercation between Busch and Driscoll at Dover last September. Team co-owner Tony Stewart confirmed that the squad has a contingency plan if he does so.

"We're kind of waiting to see, and I'm very hopeful that we won't have to worry about it," Stewart said. "I feel bad that he's in that situation right now – that they're both in that situation – so we have to be smart and we have to have a plan in place if it doesn't work out for whatever reason."