Kurt Busch won't race full time in 2023 following July concussion

LAS VEGAS — NASCAR champion Kurt Busch will miss the rest of this season with a concussion and will not compete full time in 2023.

The 44-year-old made his announcement Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his home track and where he launched his career on the bullring as a child. He choked up when he said doctors told him «it is best for me to 'shut it down.'»

«I know I am not 100% in my ability to go out and race at the top level in the NASCAR Cup Series,» Busch said. «These are the best of the best drivers, and lately, I haven't felt my best.»

Busch said Tyler Reddick will replace him in the No. 45 Toyota at 23XI Racing next season. Reddick was signed to the team for the 2024 season, but is no longer needed to complete his contract at Richard Childress Racing because RCR signed Kyle Busch for next season.

«If I'm cleared, maybe you'll see me at a few select races» next season, Busch said.

Busch was injured in a routine crash in July that exposed a design flaw in NASCAR's new Next Gen car. He's so far missed 13 consecutive races. Driver Alex Bowman, who was also injured this year, has missed two straight and said this week he'll be out at least three more.

Busch is the last active driver who competed in a Cup race against the late Dale Earnhardt, and the last driver who was part of the inaugural 10-driver Chase for the Cup in 2004, the year he upset the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut and won his only title.

Busch's retirement leaves Kevin Harvick as the last active driver who raced when NASCAR's top series was called the Winston Cup Series.

23XI praised Busch's contributions to the second-year team.

«From the day Kurt Busch joined our team, we knew he was going to elevate our organization in many ways,» the team