Kurt Busch Update: Racer will miss Watkins Glen and Daytona as he continues to recover

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Kurt Busch announced Friday he’s not only missing Watkins Glen this weekend, but will also miss the regular-season finale next week at Daytona.

Busch has been dealing with concussion symptoms since a July 23 crash during qualifying at Pocono. He has missed the past four races and will extend his absence to six through next Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, a race he’s never won during a career that includes 34 Cup Series wins and the 2004 championship.

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“As much as I want to be back in the car, the time is still not right,” Busch said in a Friday statement. “Over the last few weeks, I have focused all my efforts on getting better. And in order to fully focus my recovery on trying to be back for the playoffs, I will not be competing in the next two races at Watkins Glen and Daytona.”

Kurt Busch hasn't driven his No. 45 Toyota for nearly a month.
Kurt Busch hasn't driven his No. 45 Toyota for nearly a month.

Busch drives the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing, a team owned by fellow racer Denny Hamlin and basketball legend Michael Jordan. He won earlier this season at Kansas to presumably earn a spot in the 10-race playoffs, which begin Sept. 4 at Darlington.

“Presumably” is used for two reasons. With 15 different winners so far this season, and a 16-driver cap for the playoffs, two more new winners would eliminate from the playoffs the one-time winner with the fewest points through 26 races — that would likely be Busch, since he hasn’t earned any points during his leave.

Kurt Busch has been sidelined with concussion symptoms since this crash during July 23 qualifying at Pocono.
Kurt Busch has been sidelined with concussion symptoms since this crash during July 23 qualifying at Pocono.

Also “presumably” because there’s no guarantee Busch will be ready to race when the playoffs crank to life at Darlington.

“The decision was not an easy one, but the right one,” he said in his statement. “I need to be racing at 100%.”

In Busch’s absence, the No. 45 has been driven by Xfinity Series regular Ty Gibbs, 19-year-old grandson of fellow Toyota team owner Joe Gibbs. Ty Gibbs had engine trouble last week at Richmond and finished 36th, but in three prior starts, he finished between 10th and 17th.

“I know Ty will continue to do a great job in my absence,” Busch said, “and I appreciate the competitiveness he’s brought to the track.”

Busch, who turned 44 earlier this month, began his full-time Cup Series career in 2001. The Las Vegas native has made 776 Cup Series starts and 834 total starts among NASCAR’s top three national series — including Xfinity and Trucks.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Kurt Busch Update: NASCAR racer will also miss Watkins Glen, Daytona