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Reuters
Kurt Busch, who is eyeing a return to the playoffs, will miss the final two races of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season at Watkins Glen and Daytona due to the lingering effects of a concussion.
"As much as I'd like to get back in the car, the time just isn't right yet," Bush said in a social media statement Thursday. "The last few weeks I have been very focused on getting better. I will not be competing in the next two races at Watkins Glen and Daytona to fully focus on getting back into the playoffs."
Busch's decision means he will miss the final six races of the regular season. He was injured in a qualifying crash at his Pocono raceway on July 23 and missed the next day's race. He then raced at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road He Course, Michigan and Richmond.
Xfinity Series driver Ty Gibbs will continue to replace Busch in his #45 car for 23XI Racing. Gibbs, 19, is the grandson of NASCAR team owner Joe Gibbs. Ty Gibbs' first of his four NASCAR Cups and his best finish in the series was his 10th-place finish at Michigan.
Bush, 44, is in the middle of his season in his 22nd full-time as a NASCAR driver. He was the series race champion in his 2004 and won the Daytona 500 in 2017.
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin on September 4 with Cook out his Southern 500 in Darlington.
– Field Level Media
