NASCAR Cup Series
Why This Isn't Exactly Retirement for Kurt Busch
Oct 15, 2022
Kurt Busch, a 34-time winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, has officially announced his retirement from competition at NASCAR's top level, effective immediately.
The Las Vegas, Nevada native made the official announcement on Saturday, in the form of a two-plus minute social media video, where Busch narrated a thank you message to everybody who has supported him throughout his nearly 25-year career in NASCAR.
Last July, while qualifying for a NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway, Busch was involved in a significant crash into the outside wall with his 23XI Racing Toyota Camry. The next morning, Busch was sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.
Over the last 13 months, the 45-year-old has been working diligently in an attempt to return to the NASCAR Cup Series, but was unable to return to the condition he would need to be in, to drive a racecar.
"My incredible team of doctors and I have come to the conclusion that at this point in my recovery, there are just too many obstacles for me to overcome and get back to one hundred percent," Busch said in the video. "So, after 23 years behind the wheel, and 45 years living and breathing this dream, I am officially announcing my retirement from NASCAR Cup Series competition."
In October, at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Busch announced that he would be no longer pursuing a full-time schedule in the NASCAR Cup Series, but was hoping to return to the series on a part-time basis with 23XI Racing. However, after this latest announcement, a part-time schedule appears to be out of the question for the 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series champion.
Busch will finish his tenure in NASCAR with 34 victories in 776 NASCAR Cup Series starts, as well as a championship in 2004, where he became the first champion to win under any kind of playoff format.
