Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, has been on a journey of recovery and reflection since his career-altering crash during qualifying for the 2022 M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway.
The incident, which occurred on July 23, 2022, left him medically disqualified and eventually led to his formal retirement from full-time NASCAR competition in August 2023 due to lingering concussion symptoms.
Reflecting on his career, Busch expressed gratitude for the opportunities he had: “As I transition out of the driver’s seat, I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed to have spent the amount of time I did as a driver in NASCAR,” he said.
Alongside Kyle, Kurt is one-half of the most successful brothers to race in NASCAR. However, as time progresses, it appears his days of racing on ovals are becoming limited.
This sentiment is echoed by Busch himself, despite his recent return to the track. The former 23XI Racing driver is partnering with Travis Pastrana to compete in the Race of Champions, marking Kurt’s first major event since being sidelined from NASCAR.
For Kurt Busch fans, this is an encouraging development, and it raises the possibility of him eventually returning to a Cup car.
Kurt Busch on the Possibility of a NASCAR Comeback
While a NASCAR return is conceivable, Busch is exploring various racing avenues. “It’s to get back into anything, whether it’s an opportunity to do sports car stuff, rally, drag racing like I did before.
We’ll see. We’ll see what my body tells me and the fun level; you can’t beat that here at Race of Champions,” the Las Vegas native stated in an interview with Speedcafe.
He added, “I poured my heart and soul into it for 23 years, won a bunch of stuff, wrecked a bunch of stuff, and all in all, I was fulfilled.
And so whether it ended there or I get back in the car later on, who knows? It was a good career that I can look back on and go, you know what? Two thumbs up.”
Kurt Busch boasts 34 Cup Series wins, a Daytona 500 trophy, and the 2004 Championship title, cementing his spot in the Hall of Fame.
While his NASCAR story is largely complete, a potential appearance or a fairytale ending with one final race might still be on his agenda.
Discussing his recovery, Busch opened up about the aftermath of the Pocono crash. Although the initial phase was challenging, he eventually made significant progress. “I still feel the lingering effects, but it has calmed down, and it has been through all the physical therapy and all the great doctors who have helped me.
I’m feeling much, much better since the summer wreck in 2022 and all of the different physical therapy, different neurologist visits,” he shared.
While NASCAR ovals may no longer be in Busch’s immediate future, he is eager to reignite his racing passion at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.
The Race of Champions is a two-day event where top drivers from multiple motorsport disciplines compete head-to-head in nation-versus-nation and individual battles.
With competitors like Sebastian Vettel, Mick Schumacher, and Valtteri Bottas participating, Busch faces a formidable challenge.
Notably, the Busch brothers previously competed in the Race of Champions in 2019 at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. Despite a strong performance, Team USA settled for a runner-up finish in the Nations Cup, with Juan Pablo Montoya claiming the Champion of Champions title. Kurt Busch undoubtedly has unfinished business at the Race of Champions and will be aiming for the top spot this time in Australia.
