Following a hard crash yesterday, 23XI Racing driver Kurt Busch will miss Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono. Ty Gibbs will make his first career start in relief of Busch.
During his qualifying run on Saturday, Kurt Busch spun and tagged the wall. The 23XI Racing team had enough damage done that they will have a backup car for Sunday’s race. However, it won’t be Busch driving the No. 45.
Sunday morning a release by both Busch and 23XI Racing revealed he had not passed concussion protocol to be able to race in the event. Busch will be replaced by Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs in Sunday’s M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono. 23XI stated that the NASCAR Medical team made a decision to hold Busch out of the event due to concussion symptoms still remaining for Busch Sunday morning.
Kurt Busch has not been cleared to compete in today’s race at @PoconoRaceway after this crash in qualifying.@TyGibbs_ will make his @NASCAR Cup Series debut in the No. 45 today. pic.twitter.com/aTS8vM8YSp
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2022
“NASCAR has done a great job of putting the driver’s health before competition and I respect the decision they have made,” Busch stated on Twitter Sunday morning. “I’m still having concussion-like symptoms from yesterday’s impact in qualifying. The tests demonstrate I am still recovering. I will continue to follow the medical team’s recommendations, and appreciate everyone’s support. Thanks to 23XI and their efforts, let’s get back to racing in Indy!”
Busch entered the weekend 14th place in the points standings and earned a berth into the playoffs by winning at Kansas Speedway in May. NASCAR has stated they will give Busch a waiver if he qualifies for the postseason.
Ty Gibbs will make his first career Cup Series start in the No. 45 McDonald’s Toyota for 23XI Racing. Grandson of Joe Gibbs, Ty holds eight career Xfinity Series race wins. Gibbs is third in Xfinity Series points but leads the Xfinity playoff grid with four wins this season.
