Busch Sidelined For Undetermined Period Of Time
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida Two-time and defending NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) champion Matt Crafton will replace the injured Kyle Busch in Sunday’s 57th annual Daytona 500.
The decision was made by Joe Gibbs Racing Saturday night after Busch suffered a right leg injury in the NASCAR XFINITY Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
In a statement from Joe Gibbs Racing, the team says Busch sustained a compound fracture of the right lower leg in the accident. Additionally, Busch suffered a mid-foot fracture of his left foot in the accident.
The statement also said that as of 9:20 p.m. Saturday night, Busch was undergoing surgery on his right leg. Furthermore, Busch’s injuries will sideline him for an undetermined period of time.
Busch was injured in a Lap 112 incident, which started when Busch’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Erik Jones lost control of his No. 20 Toyota Camry on the frontstretch.
Busch slid across the grass on the frontstretch and slammed hard into the inside wall. Busch gingerly climbed from his car and immediately signaled for assistance from safety and medical personnel. Busch was placed on a stretcher and his right leg stabilized.
The Las Vegas, Nevada native was transported directly to Halifax Medical Center where an NASCAR spokesperson said shortly after 6:00 p.m. that he was awake and alert and undergoing further evaluation for a leg injury.
Crafton, a close friend of Busch competed in Friday night’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 for ThorSport Racing, a Toyota team, finishing eighth after starting 31st.
The 39-year old Crafton attempted to make his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series debut last August at Indianapolis Motor Speedway driving for RAB Racing with Brack Maggard but failed to qualify.
Crafton, a native of Tulare, California has 15 NCWTS starts at the “World Center of Racing,” including a track best of fifth in 2010. In addition to his one top-five, he holds six top-10 Truck Series runs.
Busch hasn’t missed an NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race since being sat by NASCAR at Texas Motor Speedway for his retaliation against former NCWTS champion Ron Hornaday Jr. in the Truck Series race on November 4, 2011.
Busch’s brother, Kurt was suspended indefinitely from all NASCAR activities late Friday amidst domestic violence allegations made by ex-girlfriend Patricia Discroll. NASCAR made their decision after the release of a supplemental disposition by the Family Court of the State of Delaware delineating the reasons for the court’s decision, announced Monday, to grant an order of protection to Driscoll.
With both drivers now absent from the starting grid, it will end a streak of 15 seasons where a Busch brother has competed in the Super Bowl event dating back to 2000.
An interim driver has not been determined for the following race March 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, or for any future races.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
