Kyle Busch returns to racing ... as best he can
While Denny Hamlin won Sunday's STP 500 and Joe Gibbs Racing had three of the top five finishers at Martinsville Speedway, sidelined JGR driver Kyle Busch continues to prepare for his eventual return to the team.
Kyle Busch, the pilot of the No. 18 JGR Toyota, was injured in the season-opening NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway, when his car hit an unprotected concrete barrier nearly head on. Busch suffered a compound facture of his lower right leg and mid-foot fracture of his left foot, both of which required surgery.
He has not raced since, and there is no timetable for Busch's return yet.
Out of action temporarily, Busch has turned his attention from winning races to overcoming his injuries and preparing for the birth of his first child, who is due in May.
Along with wife, Samantha, Busch has posted photos on social media accounts showing the driver assembling baby strollers, walking gingerly with his legs in medical boots and visiting the Kyle Busch Motorsports shop.
No pit crew needed, I got this! Putting together our @Nuna_USA car seat and stroller. ?#DaddyDuty pic.twitter.com/njwAOS5eD8
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 24, 2015
Busch also sent his well wishes to Kyle Larson, who missed Sunday's race at Martinsville Speedway after fainting during an autograph session the day before.
Hey @KyleLarsonRacin get well bud. Thinking about U. No Kyles racing today. ?
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) March 29, 2015
Last week, Busch's activities went a little bit further as he returned to racing -- at least in some capacity.
"Kyle came to our meeting on Tuesday, and he looked good," team owner Joe Gibbs said after Denny Hamlin's win at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday. "He's standing up on his right foot now and kind of showing some of that energy and stuff that he's got going. He drives a mean wheelchair. We're excited about him coming back."
The JGR competition meeting was not Busch's only venture out to get his racing fix.
Busch also made the trip in his wheelchair to Southern National Speedway this weekend for the inaugural CARS Racing Tour Super Late Model race. KBM had two cars entered in the event with drivers Kaz Grala and Christopher Bell behind the wheel. Bell finished second in the event.
Team owner Kyle Busch, still in his wheelchair, watches as his CARS Tour Super Late Models undergo adjustments. pic.twitter.com/333HIugNlb
— Matt Weaver (@MattWeaverSBN) March 28, 2015
#CARSTour: @KyleBusch is back at the track! He's checking out @KBMteam drivers @CBellRacing21 & @KazGrala pic.twitter.com/If0t2QZOtA
— Speed51.com (@speed51dotcom) March 28, 2015
With no return date set as of yet, Busch remains active with his family life, as well as keeping up with JGR and KBM, all while trying to heal up and get back behind the wheel as soon as possible.
