LAS VEGAS – In his own estimation, Kurt Busch holds a “PhD” when it comes to the world of NASCAR.
How else can you describe the comprehensive knowledge base that comes with having competed in NASCAR since 2000, earning a Cup championship, 43 wins across all three national series and doing so with four different manufacturers and six different Cup organizations?
That’s a lot to cram into 23 years.
And it’s a lot to have to close the door on, at least when it comes to racing on Sundays.
Three months after a wreck in qualifying at Pocono Raceway sidelined him with concussion symptoms, and 28 years after he took a “glamour shot” with his first racecar in the Las Vegas desert, the 44-year-old Busch put a period on a chapter of his life.
Early Saturday morning (Oct. 15) in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway media center, Busch read from a prepared statement. Due to continued issues with his vestibular movement as a result of his concussion, and at the recommendation of doctors, Busch will never again race full-time in NASCAR.
“Because I continue to focus on my health towards being cleared (by doctors), I’ll be stepping away … from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition in 2023,” Busch said with a quiver of emotion. “My long-term health is priority number one, and I don’t feel committing at this point to compete for a championship next year is in my best interest or the best interest of the team.”
However, Busch added a caveat. He still plans to put his NASCAR PhD to good use.
“Next year, my contributions to racing may look a little different,” Busch said. “But I’ll continue to give my best to this sport. And if I’m (medically) clear, maybe you’ll see me at a few select races.”
Even though nothing is set in stone, the last driver remaining in NASCAR who can say they raced against Dale Earnhardt has ideas about where he’d like to pop up. Like Jimmie Johnson, he has a bucket list both in and outside of NASCAR.
“My passion is what will continue to push me to find the other things that are still missing, whether it’s a win at Darlington. I never won at Darlington. That slipped through my fingers a bunch of times,” said Busch, who famously lost to Ricky Craven at Darlington in 2003 in one of the most famous finishes in NASCAR history.
“Watkins Glen, that was a tough one to not race there this year because that was a big one on my list,” Busch…
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