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Busch lifted by warm reception from race team upon return

FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2014, file photo, Kurt Busch looks from the garage after practice for the NASCAR Bank of America Sprint Cup series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. NASCAR lifted its suspension of Kurt Busch on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, and ruled the former champion can compete in the title Chase should he qualify. Busch missed the first three races of the season when NASCAR suspended him for an alleged domestic assault on his ex-girlfriend. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File) FILE - In this Oct. 9, 2014, file photo, Kurt Busch looks from the garage after practice for the NASCAR Bank of America Sprint Cup series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. NASCAR lifted its suspension of Kurt Busch on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, and ruled the former champion can compete in the title Chase should he qualify. Busch missed the first three races of the season when NASCAR suspended him for an alleged domestic assault on his ex-girlfriend. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)

By Associated Press March 13, 2015 1 min read

AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Kurt Busch was back in a car Friday preparing for his first race of the season.

NASCAR this week reinstated Busch from a suspension that covered the first three races of the season. He called his time out of the car “torture” and seemed buoyed Friday by the warm reception he received from his Stewart-Haas Racing team.

Busch said the garage area feels like a fraternity, and he was pleased to be back among his peers.

NASCAR suspended him for an alleged domestic assault of an ex-girlfriend. Delaware authorities last week declined to charge Busch, which helped clear the way for his reinstatement.

Busch will be allowed to race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship should he qualify under a NASCAR waiver.