Kurt Busch had a miserable qualifying session yesterday, wrecking his car and giving his team an extra night of work, which they did by getting a backup car ready for him. However, the veteran driver was still deemed ineligible to take part in the race.
Why was that?
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Well, Busch had taken a decent hit during his wreck in qualifying, leaving him with some concussions that didn’t properly heal in time. And following the protocol in these situations, NASCAR decided he couldn’t take part in the race.
This surely surprised some fans, but what surprised them, even more, was the replacement driver for Busch. The driver from within the Joe Gibbs Racing umbrella, Ty Gibbs.
Now, ideally, Gibbs swapping Busch should’ve excited most fans considering how talented he is, and how he’s driven so far this season.
But that wasn’t the reaction from the fans because they felt, Gibbs wasn’t experienced, ready, or simply deserving enough of the seat in a Cup car yet.
Is he gonna be able to reach the pedals? Kurt is like 2 feet taller than he is isn’t he
— BIGDOGXXL🇺🇸🏁🐊🐆 (@bigdogxxl) July 24, 2022
Should have went with someone with more experience. Like John Hunter Nemechek… already wrecked one car this weekend. Dont wanna put in someone who has never drove a cup car before and wreck another
— Kyle Martin (@kmart128) July 24, 2022
Hopefully his booster seat will fit in the cup car 🤣
— Johnny_LEAD (@Johnny_LEAD) July 24, 2022
Wait what?
— . (@trippie140017) July 24, 2022
I like Ty Gibbs but they shouldn’t be able to put a rookie in as a replacement driver.
— 🇺🇸R.E.D. Patriot🇺🇸 (@jeffanderson42) July 24, 2022
Papa Joe went and "made sure" he was hurt. All "God's plan" I'm sure
— Pontiac TransMan (@WWGJuanWGA) July 24, 2022
I’m gonna needa further explanation. 😥
— Mandy Rose (@ShortCake11148) July 24, 2022
Bro wasn’t aloud to drive super speedways in arca 2 years ago but now your letting him in the cup car? Doesn’t make any sense
— Kaiden (@22Gummies) July 24, 2022
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What did Kurt Busch say after being ruled out of the race at Pocono?
In a statement posted on his Twitter account, Kurt Busch appreciated the “great job” NASCAR has done by putting the health and safety of drivers ahead of everything. This was something that the veteran wrote he respects.
“I’m still having concussion-like symptoms from yesterday’s impact in qualifying. The tests demonstrate I am still recovering. I will continue to follow the medical team’s recommendations, and appreciate everyone’s support,” the statement continued.
“Thanks to 23X1 and their efforts, let’s get back on track in Indy!”
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DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 16: Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Monster Energy Toyota, sog during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series 64th Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 16, 2022 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
It’d be interesting to see how, despite the backlash, the young Ty Gibbs fares in the place of Kurt Busch. He came close to winning the race less than 24 hours ago in a Xfinity Series car.
Can he do so again, this time in a Cup car?
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