STATESVILLE, N.C. -- Points leader Kyle Busch can drive for the Sprint Cup title this season, but he couldn't drive away from the North Carolina District Court of Iredell County Courthouse on Tuesday.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver had all driving privileges revoked for 45 days as a result of his May 24 charge of going 128 mph in a 45 mph speed zone on a rural road near Mooresville, N.C.

Busch also was fined $1,000, placed on a year of unsupervised probation and ordered to do 30 hours of community service with the B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) program that he already had committed to with NHRA star Doug Herbert.

But Busch did avoid an automatic year's suspension of his driver's license after Judge Thomas Church offered a Prayer for Judgment Continued on the reckless driving charge.

For the latter, Busch and his attorney, Cliff Homesley, were grateful.

"We're appreciative the judge recognized that Kyle should be treated at least as close to how he would treat anybody else here in society,'' Homesley said outside the courthouse.

Homesley gave an eloquent 40-minute speech arguing that Busch has not been treated like most citizens charged with similar offenses. His most compelling argument was a July 25 case in which a convicted felon on supervised probation in the same courtroom walked away with his license and only a $300 fine after being charged with going 128 mph.