Kurt Busch will not race full-time in 2023 following July concussion

LAS VEGAS — NASCAR champion Kurt Busch will miss the remainder of this season with a concussion and won’t compete full-time in 2023.

The 44-year-old made his announcement Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his residence monitor and the place he launched his profession on the bullring as a baby. He choked up when he mentioned docs instructed him “it’s best for me to ‘shut it down.'”

“I do know I’m not 100% in my means to exit and race on the prime degree within the NASCAR Cup Collection,” Busch mentioned. “These are the perfect of the perfect drivers, and these days, I have never felt my finest.”

Busch mentioned Tyler Reddick will change him within the No. 45 Toyota at 23XI Racing subsequent season. Reddick was signed to the workforce for the 2024 season, however is not wanted to finish his contract at Richard Childress Racing as a result of RCR signed Kyle Busch for subsequent season.

“If I am cleared, possibly you will see me at a number of choose races” subsequent season, Busch mentioned.

Busch was injured in a routine crash in July that uncovered a design flaw in NASCAR’s new Subsequent Gen automobile. He is up to now missed 13 consecutive races. Driver Alex Bowman, who was additionally injured this 12 months, has missed two straight and mentioned this week he’ll be out not less than three extra.

Busch is the final lively driver who competed in a Cup race towards the late Dale Earnhardt, and the final driver who was a part of the inaugural 10-driver Chase for the Cup in 2004, the 12 months he upset the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut and gained his solely title.

Busch’s retirement leaves Kevin Harvick because the final lively driver who raced when NASCAR’s prime collection was referred to as the Winston Cup Collection.

23XI praised Busch’s contributions to the second-year workforce.

“From the day Kurt Busch joined our workforce, we knew he was going to raise our group in some ways,” the workforce mentioned. “From incomes 23XI our first playoff berth together with his commanding win at Kansas Speedway to quite a few hours spent off the monitor serving to to develop our program, Kurt has made us higher.

“This season took an surprising flip together with his harm. Regardless of the unlucky circumstances, Kurt has not stopped being a real skilled and a trusted teammate. We totally assist Kurt’s choice to deal with his well being and are grateful for his steering as our workforce builds a powerful basis for the long run.”

He is in his second season with 23XI Racing and workforce co-owner Denny Hamlin mentioned the group and Toyota need Busch to stay a part of the workforce. He is underneath contract by means of subsequent season to 23XI.

“Kurt’s choice to step away from full-time NASCAR Cup Collection competitors subsequent 12 months is actually not one thing anybody anticipated once we began the season collectively and celebrated in victory lane at Kansas Speedway earlier this 12 months,” mentioned David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Growth

“Unlucky circumstances led Kurt to a tough choice, however we all know that he’ll proceed to contribute to the complete program at Toyota, TRD and 23XI Racing. He brings an amazing quantity of data and firsthand championship expertise to his workforce and fellow Toyota rivals. We’re right here to assist Kurt on this subsequent chapter of his profession and look ahead to persevering with to work alongside him.