Kurt Busch to miss final 2 races of NASCAR's regular season

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch will miss the final two races of NASCAR's Cup regular season, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing announced Thursday on social media.

“As much as I want to be back in the car, the time is still not right,” Busch said on Twitter. ”This decision was not an easy one, but the right one."

The former Cup champion was injured in a crash during the final round of qualifying at Pocono in late July and has missed four races suffering from concussion-like symptoms. Ty Gibbs has been filling in for Busch and will continue to do so at Watkins Glen on Sunday and in the regular-season finale at Daytona the following week.

Busch said he hoped to be cleared to compete when the playoffs begin in September at Darlington.

“I need to be racing at 100%. I owe that to everyone at 23XI, all of our partners, my fellow competitors, and the fans,” Busch said. “It’s my goal to be back ... to start the playoffs.”

Busch is one of 15 drivers with a victory this season, winning at Kansas Speedway in May. NASCAR has granted him a medical waiver that will allow him to qualify for the playoffs despite missing so many races.

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