Former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch was arrested on Tuesday night ... after authorities say they caught him driving drunk.
The 46-year-old was pulled over at around 11:30 PM in Iredell County, North Carolina ... following allegations he was driving 18 MPH over the posted 45-MPH speed limit, this according to the Iredell Free Press.
The outlet, citing court documents, reported Busch told officers he had been drinking prior to the stop -- and elicited signs of being wasted, including having "red glassy eyes.