Kyle Busch injured in XFINITY Series race at Daytona, will NOT race in Daytona 500 (2nd Update)
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| Kyle Busch could be out for the season because ISC saved money by not installing a Safer Barrier on a wall that could be impacted head-on at high-speed. He is lucky to be alive. |
According to NASCAR, Busch was being treated for a right lower-leg compound fracture and a left mid-foot fracture, and would not compete in the season's biggest event. Joe Gibbs Racing reported that Busch underwent surgery on his right leg on Saturday night.
JGR also announced in a release that veteran Matt Crafton will serve as the interim driver for Busch's No. 18 Toyota during for the Daytona 500. An interim driver has not been released for the following March 1 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway or any future races.
02/21/15 Kyle Busch will miss Sunday's Daytona 500 following a hard crash in the closing laps of Saturday's Alert Today Florida 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Busch was caught up in a 10-car crash near the end of the frontstretch on Lap 112 of the 120-lap event, his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota careening head-on into a section of infield wall that had no SAFER barrier. After the crash, Busch was transported directly to Halifax Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach. Medical updates are pending. He is being evaluated for injuries to his right leg. Joe Gibbs Racing has not named Busch's replacement or indicated how long he will be out. FoxSports
02/21/15 Kyle Busch was placed on a stretcher and taken to Halifax Medical Center following a hard crash into the inside, concrete wall Saturday in an Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway. Busch, in obvious pain, had his right leg placed in an air cast before being transported. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is supposed to start fourth Sunday in the Daytona 500.
The accident occurred when Busch was racing directly behind JGR teammate Erik Jones. Jones got turned and Busch got clipped. Busch's car sped across an area of the track used as an entrance to the road course portion of the speedway and then slammed hard into a concrete wall. Busch climbed out of the car before laying down on the grass near his car.
The wall did not have a steel-and-foam energy-reduction barrier (SAFER), which NASCAR has had installed in the turns and other areas at tracks but has consistently been criticized for not having everywhere on the inside and outside walls on ovals.
If Busch cannot start Sunday's Daytona 500, he would not be awarded any points. NASCAR, which requires drivers to compete each week to be eligible for its season-long championship, would have to grant Busch an exemption to not start a race he qualified for as well as to miss any future events and still be eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. ESPN