As Cup Series drivers jockey for playoff positions in NASCAR's final regular-season race of 2022, Kurt Busch said he will miss at least the start of the playoffs as he continues to recover from a July wreck in Pocono.
Busch and 23XI Racing announced Thursday that the 44-year-old will not be in the No. 45 Camry for the start of the playoffs and said the team has withdrawn the medical waiver request that would have allowed him to race in the playoffs if he was cleared to drive in time.
The regular-season finale is Saturday's Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, and the playoffs begin with the Southern 500 at Darlington on Sept. 4.
Here is the latest news on Busch's injury recovery, as well as when fans can expect to see him back in the driver seat of the No. 45 car.
MORE: NASCAR schedule 2022
Kurt Busch injury update
Kurt Busch released a statement Aug. 18 saying he would miss the final two regular-season races at Watkins Glen and Daytona, and he followed it up a week later with his acknowledgement that he will not be ready to return for the playoffs:
As much as I wanted and hoped to be able to get back in the No. 45 car to make a playoff run with our team, it’s still not the right time for me. In addition to not being cleared to return to racing, I know that I am not ready to be back in the car. I respect the sport of NASCAR, my fellow drivers and the fans too much to take up a playoff spot if I know I can’t compete for a championship this season.
The decision was not an easy one, but I know it is the right thing to do. I will continue to take time to heal and strengthen as I prepare to be back in the car and will do all I can to help 23XI continue the success we have had this season.
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Steve Lauletta, president of the 23XI team, reiterated the final point, saying Busch "will continue to play a vital role in the organization as he works with our competition group to keep improving and strengthening the team."
When will Kurt Busch return?
As of this weekend's race at Daytona, Busch will have missed six consecutive races since wrecking in qualifying at Pocono on July 23.
The latest statements stop short of declaring Busch finished for the 2022 season, but there is no clear timetable for his return.
Who will drive the No. 45 car with Kurt Busch out?
Ty Gibbs will continue to man Busch's No. 45 Camry at Daytona and entering the playoffs. Though Busch is out of contention for a title, the 45 car will continue to complete for the Owners' Championship.
The 19-year-old Gibbs, the grandson of Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Gibbs, has impressed during his spell in the big time. Gibbs notched three top-20 finishes, including a 10th-place showing at the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan on Aug. 7. He finished 26th at Watkins Glen.
Gibbs is a rising prospect in the NASCAR ranks. With Tyler Reddick set to join 23XI in 2024 and Kyle Busch's contract still up in the air for 2023, Gibbs may be one of the hottest commodities on the Cup Series circuit. Only time will tell, though.
When do the Cup Series playoffs start?
The Cup Series playoffs kick off with the Southern 400 on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. ET.