LAS VEGAS –
NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch will miss the rest of this season with a concussion and will not compete full-time in 2023.
The 44-year-old made his announcement Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his home track and where he started his bullring career as a kid. He choked as he said the doctors told him “it’s best for me to turn it off”.
“I know I’m not 100% capable of racing at the highest level in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Busch said. “These are the best of the best drivers and I haven’t been feeling that good lately.”
Busch said Tyler Reddick will replace him in the #45 Toyota at 23XI Racing next season. Reddick has been signed with the team for the 2024 season but is no longer needed to fulfill his contract with Richard Childress Racing as RCR has signed Kyle Busch, Kurt’s younger brother and two-time Cup Champion, for next season.
“If I’m free, you might see me at a few select races next season,” Busch said.
Busch was injured in July in a routine accident that exposed a design flaw in NASCAR’s new next-gen car. He has missed 13 races in a row so far. Driver Alex Bowman, who was also injured this year, has missed two straight races and said he will miss at least three more this week.
Busch is the last active driver to face the late Dale Earnhardt in a Cup race, and the last driver to be part of the inaugural 10-driver hunt for the Cup in 2004, the year he broke the juggernaut of Hendrick Motorsports upset and won his only title.
Busch’s retirement leaves Kevin Harvick as the last active driver to drive when NASCAR’s premier series was called the Winston Cup Series.
23XI praised Busch’s contributions to the team as a sophomore.
“From the day Kurt Busch joined our team, we knew he would improve our organization in many ways,” the team said. “From the 23XI, our first place win in the playoffs, to his comfortable win at the Kansas Speedway, to the countless hours he spent off the track building our program, Kurt has made us better.
“This season took an unexpected turn with his injury. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Kurt has continued to be a true professional and a trusted teammate. We fully support Kurt’s decision to focus on his health and are grateful for his Guidance in building our team.” strong foundation for the future.”
He is in his second season with 23XI Racing and team co-owner Denny Hamlin said the organization and Toyota want Busch to remain part of the team. He is under contract with 23XI until next season.
“Certainly no one expected Kurt’s decision to retire from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition next year when we kicked off the season together and celebrated on the winning lane at Kansas Speedway earlier this year,” said David Wilson, President of Toyota Racing Development
“Unfortunate circumstances have led Kurt to make a difficult decision but we know he will continue to contribute to the overall program at Toyota, TRD and 23XI Racing. He brings a tremendous amount of first-hand knowledge and championship experience to his team and fellow Toyota drivers. We are here to support Kurt in this next chapter of his career and look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Busch made his cup debut in 2000 with Roush Racing in a Ford and then drove the full 2001 season as a rookie. He was fired after five tumultuous seasons with Roush – a period that included his 2004 title – and joined Team Penske to drive a 2006 Dodge.
His Penske relationship also ended badly after the 2011 season and Busch moved to Phoenix Racing to drive a Chevrolet for James Finch for a season, then moved to Furniture Row Racing in 2013 where he reignited his career – and started, over and over again Maturity to show the track with his notorious temperament.
Busch joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014 and was suspended from NASCAR for the first three races of 2015 over allegations of domestic violence from an ex-girlfriend. He later ended up with Chip Ganassi Racing and eventually 23XI to drive a Toyota in 2021.
He is one of the rare drivers to compete in all NASCAR manufacturers. Busch and his brother are the only siblings to have won cup titles, along with Bobby and Terry Labonte.
Busch won 34 races from 776 starts over 23 years, including the 2017 Daytona 500 with SHR and sponsor Monster, which remains with him to this day.
“For more than two decades we have had the privilege of watching Kurt Busch compete. He’s proven himself a champion on the track, but perhaps more importantly, he’s emerged as a true ambassador for the sport,” said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. “Kurt’s drive to improve the future of motorsport has set him apart. We are thrilled that he will remain in our sport as a leader and trusted resource. Kurt’s unparalleled passion for racing gives us hope that we will see him in a race car again.”