LONG POND, Pa: Following an accident in qualifying Saturday afternoon at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, 23XI Racing driver Kurt Busch has been sidelined for Sunday’s M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 after suffering concussion-like symptoms following his crash in Turn 3 in the final round of NASCAR Cup Series time trials.
NASCAR Xfinity Series standout Ty Gibbs, 19, will replace Busch as the driver of the No. 45 McDonald’s Toyota Camry. Sunday’s race will mark Gibbs’s Cup Series debut.
23XI Racing was unable to repair Busch’s primary car. Gibbs will drive a backup car with no laps on the track. He finished second in Saturday afternoon’s Pocono Mountains 225 NASCAR Xfinity Series race in a nail-biting finish with rival Noah Gragson. Busch was slated to start 10th but with a backup car and driver change, Gibbs will restart at the rear.
In a statement, NASCAR said, “This morning, Kurt Busch met with doctors in the infield care center for further evaluation following his accident during yesterday’s qualifying session. Following the evaluation, Kurt Busch has not been cleared to race in today’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.”
Busch released his own statement on social media, “NASCAR has done a great job of putting the drivers’ health before competition and I respect the decision they have made. I’m still having concussion-like symptoms from yesterday’s 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, lets’s get back on track in Indy!”
Busch has already locked himself into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with a win earlier this season at Kansas Speedway but stands 14th in the championship standings entering the 21st Cup race of the season.
NASCAR has granted Busch a medical waiver for Pocono allowing him to remain Playoff eligible.
https://t.co/UJnKUvUhyg pic.twitter.com/0YTMEVFQpx
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) July 24, 2022
Based on the decision by the @NASCAR medical team this morning regarding @KurtBusch, @TyGibbs_ will drive the No. 45 @McDonalds Toyota Camry TRD for today’s race at @PoconoRaceway. #TeamToyota https://t.co/zc6LCBWekE
— 23XI Racing (@23XIRacing) July 24, 2022
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
