STATESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR points leader Kyle Busch lost his driver’s license for 45 days on Tuesday for driving 128 mph on a road close to a day-care centre and church in a nearly $400,000 car. His lawyer said his client was not treated “like any
other citizen.”

Busch, who doesn’t need a license to compete in NASCAR, also was fined $1,000, sentenced to 30 hours of community service and put on one year of unsupervised probation. He pleaded guilty to speeding and no contest to reckless and careless driving in North Carolina District Court in Iredell County.

Busch addressed the court before his sentencing by District Court Judge H. Thomas Church, apologising again for driving 128 mph in a 45 mph zone in a bright yellow 2012 Lexus on May 24.

“I think you’ll be different in the future,” Church said.

“I sure will, your honour,” Busch replied.

Busch and his wife, Samantha, were in the car when he was pulled over on a two-lane road in an area near a subdivision, a day-care centre and a church. The hand-built LFA sports car was on loan to Busch from Lexus for a 24-hour test drive.

Busch attorney Cliff Homesley argued that his client wasn’t being treated the same as other people in similar circumstances, citing a July case of a 21-year-old convicted felon who was caught doing 128 mph and received a $300 fine and no loss of license.