Busch's actions draw ire of league

Kyle Busch's post-race demolition derby with Anthony Lazzaro on Sunday at Watkins Glen International cost the Nextel Cup rookie $10,000 and landed him on probation for the rest of the season.

Busch made contact with Lazzaro on the cool-down lap immediately after the Sirius at the Glen. Busch finished 33rd, five spots behind Lazzaro, a road-course specialist making his first start of the season and the second of his career in Sunday's race.

NASCAR announced the penalties late Tuesday after Busch's appearance on a national conference call. Busch was not available for comment on the reprimand.

HALL SITE TOURS: NASCAR officials have begun touring the proposed sites for the sport's Hall of Fame.

Officials started last week in Daytona Beach, Fla., and visited Atlanta on Tuesday, Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday and will visit Kansas City, Kan. today. The last stop is Richmond, Va., scheduled for next Tuesday.

Local government and business leaders met with officials at Georgia's governor's mansion Tuesday in Atlanta before touring the proposed site.

Protesters greeted the officials as well. Led by a state senator, the group voiced its dissent for the use of tax funds to lure the hall of fame to town. Atlanta's bid reportedly includes $25 million in state and local tax money.

ROUSH'S DECISION: Jack Roush told reporters Monday he is considering releasing Kurt Busch from his contract at the end of this season.

That would allow the defending Nextel Cup champion to take over for Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 car for 2006.

Roush made the comments Monday at Darlington Raceway, where he was filming the final episodes of a reality televeision series titled Driver X.

PIT STOPS: Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach became the latest retired football stars to announce the formation of a Nextel Cup race team Tuesday. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks have a sponsorship agreement for their car with Texas Instruments and will work in conjunction with Joe Gibbs Racing. They expect to have the team in place for next year's Daytona 500. ... Female driver Erin Crocker will make her Busch Series debut this fall driving for Ray Evernham, the car owner announced this week. Crocker, a sprint car champion, has driven in five ARCA races for Evernham this season and posted three top-threes and won two poles.