For the first time since the 2000 season, the season-opening Daytona 500 will not field one of the Busch brothers. Both Kurt and Kyle Busch are out of Sunday’s race.
Kurt was ruled out on Friday by NASCAR after reports came out following his civil case in Delaware that alleges he choked his ex-girlfriend, Patricia Driscoll, in his motorhome during the Dover race weekend in September. Driscoll filed the report in November, with the court case being held during January.
Driscoll was given a protective order which prevents Kurt from contacting her. The county commissioner released his findings as to why he decided to rule in her favor, citing that her story fit the evidence presented better than Kurt’s, and that it was possible he could become violent again.
Upon hearing that, NASCAR ruled that the 2004 Sprint Cup champion was suspended indefinitely for violating NASCAR protocol of “actions detrimental to stock car racing” along with “behavior incidents.” In the Daytona 500, Regan Smith, who races in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, will field the No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet. No interim driver has been named for after Sunday’s race.
Younger brother, Kyle, is out of Sunday’s race due to an accident in Saturday’s Xfinity race at Daytona. Late in the race he was involved in a multi-car accident, and Kyle’s No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota made contact with the inside wall entering the first turn, an area which was not set up with SAFER barriers.
Busch climbed out to the window, but needed assistance to get completely out. He was then put on a stretcher, and his right leg was stabilized. He was then transported to Halifax Medical Center, located a short distance from the Daytona International Speedway. It was there that doctors reviewed his injuries, and determined he had a compound fracture in his right leg, but also suffered a fracture in his left foot. He was in surgery on Saturday night, however the injuries and rehabilitation are going to take a while to heal.
It appears the usual driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota will be sidelined at minimum half the season due to his injuries.
Matt Crafton, who runs the No. 88 Menard’s Toyota Tundra in the Camping World Truck Series, will be the driver of the No. 18 car on Sunday, while no temporary replacement has been named for Atlanta and beyond.
Sunday’s Daytona 500 is set to go green shortly after 1 p.m.