“My Time Was Getting Short”: Kurt Busch Comes Clean on Regret Over Lack of a Proper Farewell After Abrupt End to NASCAR Career

Kyle Busch is currently grappling with a winless streak stretching back 63 races. It’s something his brother, Kurt Busch, also experienced, along with the injuries and setbacks that ultimately led to his retirement from racing.

After announcing his retirement in August 2023 following an accident at Pocono that led to medical issues from concussions, Kurt recently made a return to compete at the Race of Champions. Gaining medical clearance for this year’s event marked a big milestone for Kurt.

In a conversation with Speedcafe, he expressed enthusiasm about his return. Kurt said that the race on March 7-8 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium has opened the door to more racing opportunities. He was excited about getting behind the wheel again to dust off his driving skills and reignite his passion for racing.

And Kurt left things open-ended, saying he’s ready to jump back into “anything” if the opportunity arises, be it drag racing or stock cars. However, the Las Vegas native admitted that he isn’t planning to jump back into a Cup car for a 500-mile race with the pack just yet.

Kurt was then asked whether he had hoped for a formal send-off similar to what Kevin Harvick or other racing legends got.

“No, not at all. My time was getting short anyhow. I was at the end of what I would call my last contract,” he replied.

“I poured my heart and soul into it for 23 years, won a bunch of stuff, wrecked a bunch of stuff, and all in all, I was fulfilled,” added the 46-year-old.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Kurt Busch (@kurtbusch)

“And so, whether it ended there or I get back in the car later on, who knows? It was a good career that I can look back on and go, you know what? Two thumbs up,” concluded Kurt.

Throughout his 24-year NASCAR career, Kurt won 34 races, secured 28 pole positions, and racked up top-10 finishes in 339 races, across 776 starts. He drove for several top-tier teams, including Team Penske, Roush Racing, Furniture Row Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing, before closing out his active driving days with the 23XI Racing team.

Following his crash at Pocono, Kurt transitioned as a consultant and a mentor with 23XI Racing, guiding teammates Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick.

It is a role he is keen to continue into the foreseeable future. Busch also continues to engage as a brand ambassador for Monster Energy, linking his personal brand with that of his longtime sponsor.

About the author

Neha Dwivedi

Neha Dwivedi is an experienced NASCAR Journalist at The SportsRush, having penned over 5500 articles on the sport to date. She was a seasoned writer long before she got into the world of NASCAR. Although she loves to see Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch win the races, she equally supports the emerging talents in the CARS Late Model and ARCA Menards Series.. For her work in NASCAR she has earned accolades from journalists like Susan Wade of The Athletic, as well as NASCAR drivers including Thad Moffit and Corey Lajoie. Her favorite moment from NASCAR was witnessing Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. win the championship trophies. Outside the racetrack world, Neha immerses herself in the literary world, exploring both fiction and non-fiction.

Read More