“It’s concerning for sure,” Denny Hamlin opens up about Kurt Busch’s medical status and return to the track
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Kurt Busch and Denny Hamlin
The 23X1 Racing team has been one of the most impressive at the same time unluckiest teams of the 2022 season. The team was able to secure their first win of the season through Kurt Busch but now the veteran is side-lined due to a concussion. While his No:23 teammate Bubba Wallace has been coming close to wins but is yet to have either the luck or the perfect run.
Due to the concussion, he sustained during his qualifying drive at Pocono, Kurt Busch missed the final four cup races of the 2022 season. Ty Gibbs, the young JGR prodigy who will undoubtedly replace Kurt at Watkins Glen this coming Sunday if he fails to recover this 100% and obtain NASCAR clearance, took his spot in the No. 45 vehicle.
The absence of the veteran though gave 23X1 Racing the opportunity to try out a younger driver such as Kurt Busch the cost they are paying or going to pay is much higher, and they don’t have any alternative solution to the issue also. That will be the main thing that is bugging Denny Hamlin, the 23X1 Racing co-owner with Michael Jordon, for whom Kurt Busch is first a best friend than an employee.
Find out what Denny Hamlin said
Denny Hamlin acknowledged that the concussion is a concerning matter especially when his health status is taken into account more over the No:45 teams status. He pointed out that the 23X1 organization wants Kurt Busch back at his 100% doing the right things to his body.
“It’s concerning for sure. Mostly concerning for his health, not really for the race team. We want to give him all the time he needs, and this is proof that he’s doing his doing right by his body and making sure he’s back to 100%,” Denny Hamlin said on Saturday.
Denny Hamlin went on to say that in the past drivers would have been able to just get some tests to pass and get back to racing. He then pointed out that Kurt Busch doesn’t want it to happen that way as he hopes to get back to his 100% as his health long-term is more important than any race or championship.
“I think that other drivers in the past probably maybe would have just kind of been able to get some tests passed and gone out there and race. But he wants to be 100% because no one race or season or whatever it be is as important as your overall health and long term,” Denny Hamlin added.
Denny Hamlin went on to explain that they are worried about the situation of the No:45 team and is as forward-thinking as you can possibly be as a race team but added that they can’t rush Kurt Busch’s health. He went on to point out that the 23×1 team has contingency plans for any other scenario that might get thrown at them.
“We’re always thinking about it. We’re as forward-thinking as you can possibly be as a race team. But ultimately, we are not, and we can’t rush Kurt’s health, but we always are trying to come up with contingency plans based on any other scenario that might get thrown our way,” Denny Hamlin explained.
Should NASCAR take away the waiver given to Kurt Busch if he fails to get back to the track before the playoff starts?
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Justin P Joy
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