MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Kurt Busch will remain on the sidelines for the next two NASCAR Cup Series races at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) Int’l and Daytona Int’l Speedway.
The two events are the final races of the 26-event Cup Series regular season.
According to a statement the No. 45 driver put out on Twitter, he plans to return to the series for the playoffs, which begin Labor Day weekend at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
“Over the last few weeks, I have focused all my efforts on getting better,” Busch wrote. “This decision was not an easy one, but the right one. I need to be racing at 100 percent.”
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) August 18, 2022
It has been nearly four weeks since Busch suffered a concussion at Pocono Raceway on July 23.
This weekend will be his fifth consecutive missed race.
In Busch’s absence from the 23XI Racing’s No. 45 Toyota Camry, Ty Gibbs will continue to fill in behind the wheel.
The 19-year-old Xfinity Series regular has raced to respectable finishes in his Cup Series starts so far, including a 16th, 17th, 10th and a DNF.