LONG POND, Pa. — Kurt Busch was not cleared by NASCAR medical personnel to compete in Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway, and the 23XI Racing driver was replaced by 19-year-old Ty Gibbs.
Busch, 43, who has hinted that next season will be his last drive in NASCAR, tweeted that he suffered “concussion-like symptoms” from a hit during Saturday’s qualifying session.
“Tests indicate I’m still recovering,” Busch wrote.
pic.twitter.com/0YTMEVFQpx
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) July 24, 2022
Busch, who has made 776 Cup starts, is the 2004 series champion and is in his first season driving for a team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. His No. 45 Toyota spun Saturday and crashed into NASCAR’s safest guardrails.
23XI selected Gibbs, grandson of Joe Gibbs Racing owner and former NFL coach Joe Gibbs, to make his first start. Gibbs finished second in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race and is third in the series points standings.
Ty Gibbs said Sunday he had to pull over on the side of the speedway and collect his thoughts when he got the call Saturday to replace Busch. Gibbs was already back in North Carolina and got on a racing simulator until 1 a.m. to prepare for his debut.
Gibbs has eight wins in 36 career Xfinity starts driving for a team owned by his grandfather.
“I’m so grateful just to get into all of this,” he told his carrier. “I didn’t expect it at all. It means a lot. I’m going to be very disciplined in these situations.” Gibbs also thanked Jordan for the opportunity — “I’ve always admired him” — but he hadn’t spoken to the owner of the NASCAR’s most famous team.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.