Kyle Busch received his sentence following his arrest in January.
The NASCAR Cup Series driver was sentenced to three and a half years in a Mexican prison for bringing a gun and ammunition with him to Mexico.
According to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico, a man visiting Quintana Roo, Cancún, was arrested by the National Guard last month after security identified a handgun in his luggage. The man, identified as “Kyle Thomas B” of Nevada, “has been credited with full responsibility for the commission of the crime of carrying a firearm without a license and possessing cartridges for the exclusive use of the armed forces” .
The two-time Cup Series champion was arrested and detained while vacationing with his wife, Samantha.
Once the situation was resolved, Busch returned home to North Carolina. He released a statement on Monday.
“In late January, Samantha and I spent several days vacationing in Mexico,” Busch wrote. “When I left the country, my handgun was flagged during a routine check at the airport. I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and follow all gun laws fist, but I made a mistake by forgetting that it was in my bag.
“The discovery of the handgun led to my detention until the situation was resolved. I was unaware of Mexican law and had no intention of bringing a handgun to Mexico. When this was discovered, I fully cooperated with the authorities, accepted the sanctions and returned to North Carolina.
“I apologize for my mistake and appreciate the respect shown by all parties when we resolved the issue. My family and I consider this issue closed.
The Athletic’s Jordan Bianchi added that NASCAR had been made aware of the incident and “did not warrant a penalty”.
The 37-year-old is entering his first season behind the #8 car with Richard Childress Racing (RCR). He spent the previous 15 seasons with Joe Gibbs Racing