Kurt Busch, driver of the No. 45 car for 23XI Racing, will miss his fourth consecutive Cup Series race Sunday because of a concussion he suffered last month at Pocono Raceway.
Ty Gibbs, the 19-year-old grandson of Joe Gibbs Racing team owner Joe Gibbs, will fill in for Busch once again. The Cup Series is at Michigan International Speedway this weekend for the FireKeepers Casino 400.
Busch offered a statement Wednesday afternoon indicating that although he is back in the car, he's not in the condition to return to the Cup Series yet.
"I am making progress and pushing hard each day," Busch said. "I am encouraged by my team of doctors, and we will continue to do everything it takes to get me to 100% to return to competition."
What is Busch's injury? How much longer will he be out? What is the potential significance of the injury going forward? The Sporting News has answers.
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What is Kurt Busch's injury?
Busch suffered a concussion as he wrecked during qualifying for the M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono on July 23. Sunday's race at Michigan International Speedway will be the third consecutive race he has missed since then.
Who will drive Kurt Busch's car at the FireKeepers Casino 400?
For the fourth week in a row, 19-year old Ty Gibbs will drive Busch's No. 45 car. Gibbs impressed in the first two races, cracking the top 20 both times. He added a top-ten finish at Michigan last week and has seemingly established himself as one of the top young prospects in NASCAR.
When will Kurt Busch return?
Busch didn't give a timetable for his return, but be mentioned that he plans on returning to competition at some point. He has already secured a spot in the Cup Series playoffs, so it gives Busch a little more time to work his way back.
What could this mean for Kurt Busch going forward?
Busch is currently locked into a Cup Series playoff spot after taking the checkered flag at the AdventHealth 400 in May. The 2004 Cup Series champion is the longest-tenured active driver in the Cup Series, but there has been speculation about his future in recent months.
Busch, who turns 45 on Aug. 4, is one of two drivers for 23XI Racing, a joint venture between Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Busch and Bubba Wallace carry the torch for the upstart team, which has two Cup Series victories to its name.
The team recently agreed with Richard Childress Racing driver Tyler Reddick on a deal to bring him into the fold for the 2024 season. The 26-year old is one of the hottest commodities in the racing world with two wins this season, including last weekend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. 23XI has not said what its plans are for 2024.
There is speculation that Kurt's brother, Kyle, could step into the No. 45 car in 2023. Kyle Busch's contract with Joe Gibbs Racing is expiring after the 2022 season. That could pave the way for Ty Gibbs — one of the Xfinity Series' most exciting drivers — to race for his grandfather.