Kyle Busch prepares for first race since off-season surgery

Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch's recovery from off-season leg and foot surgery is apparently going according to schedule.

The best evidence yet came this week when Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that the 2015 Sprint Cup Series champion will compete in a 200-lap ARCA/CRA Super Series Late Model event on Jan. 31 at Crisp Motorsports Park in Cordele, Georgia.

Busch — who underwent two surgeries on Dec. 17 to remove two metal plates in his left foot and a metal rod and screws in his right leg — will drive a No. 51 KBM Toyota Camry in the race, which is part of SpeedFest 2016. It was expected all along for Busch to be fully healed in time for Speedweeks 2016 at Daytona International Speedway, where he suffered a compound fracture of his lower right leg and a mid-foot fracture of his left foot in last year's NASCAR XFINITY Series opener.

Busch was victorious at SpeedFest in 2009 and 2010 when the event was held at Lanier Speedway in Braselton, Georgia, and most recently won the event in 2012, the first year it was held at its current location.

William Byron, the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion, will join his new team owner at this year's event in a second KBM entry. Byron will compete full time in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for KBM in 2016.

"I've always enjoyed racing at SpeedFest, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity to go back this year thanks to the support from Rheem Heating and Cooling and JEGS.com," Busch said. "Everything went well with my latest surgery, and I feel really good. Without an opportunity to get in a Sprint Cup Series car before we get to Daytona, running this race will be a good tune-up prior to Speedweeks." Jared Turner/Fox Sports