(Video) “I Was in Outer Space!” Kurt Busch Recalls Career Ending 2022 Pocono Wreck

NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch recalled his horrific wreck at Pocono Raceway which ended his racing career.

(Video) “I Was in Outer Space!” Kurt Busch Recalls Career Ending 2022 Pocono Wreck

Kurt Busch (image via Reuters), Kurt Busch on Backstretch Banter Podcast (image via @RFKracing/X)

Kurt Busch is a NASCAR legend. The 46-year-old achieved incredible success during his long and illustrious career, making it to the prestigious Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2026. However, three years ago, Busch’s career came to a standstill after a massive life-changing wreck at Pocono Raceway. Now, the former Cup Series champion has opened up on his feelings during the time of the incident.

The wreck in Pocono happened during Qualifying. Kurt Busch was pushing his No. 45 Toyota to the limit when he lost the rear end and smashed into the wall. This brought his run to an immediate end, with the medical team taking him for tests as part of the NASCAR protocol. Busch has never raced in the sport since.

Kurt Busch recalled that his crash was a huge impact, comparing it to the feeling of being in outer space. Worryingly, the NASCAR Hall of Famer admitted that he didn’t remember hitting the front right of the car into the wall during the wreck. Busch recalled that when he was doing tests as part of the standard protocol, he was asked about the sequence of events on-track.

Yeah that run going for pole, qualifying that day and backin’ it in the fence. It was a hard hit like I was in outer space. And when the car smacked the right front, I don’t remember that hit and part of protocol with the infield care centers, a ton of tests that you have to go through. And one of them is explain your wreck.

Kurt Busch said on Backstretch Banter podcast.

However, the former Cup Series champion could not remember that the front right of his Toyota had incurred damage. This is when the officials and the team realized that he was not okay. This raised alarms over the severity of the wreck. This year, Busch made his way back to the circuit during the NASCAR weekend, honoring the track. He made it clear that accidents were nothing unusual in racing, and the track or the car could not be blamed.

And I said I was just going for pole, I backed it in the fence, what’s the big deal? And they’re like, ‘What about your right front?’ I’m like, ‘What about the right front? Go in the garage and look at it, it’s fine.’ That’s when we all started to learn that I was a bit off. it was nice to just kind of close it out, to purge, to you know show honor to the track. The track, it’s not at fault. The safety of the car is not at fault, It’s just that accidents happen

Kurt Busch explained.

Kurt Busch rediscovered his ‘purpose’ in NASCAR

Busch’s wreck at Pocono came at a time when he had made a big switch in his career. The NASCAR veteran left Richard Petty Motorsports to join 23XI Racing that year, the Cup Series team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. While Kurt Busch’s misadventure stopped him on-track activities, the former Cup Series champion has found a new role for himself at the team.

6. Kurt Busch
Kurt Busch

The NASCAR veteran is happy to serve as a mentor and coach to 23XI Racing’s exciting lineup comprising Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Riley Herbst. Kurt Busch was glad to find an outlet to give learnings from his two decades in the world of racing. He even claimed that the team’s co-owner Hamlin would soon join him in the Hall of Fame. Busch insisted that his new role at the team had enabled him to find a purpose in the sport again, something that he now enjoys with an overview of its operations.

To be a mentor, and to help out with 23XI. And to coach Bubba [Wallace], and Tyler Reddick, and Riley Herbst, to give my information from 20 years of racing to a race team. And to do it alongside a future Hall of Famer like Denny Hamlin, I felt like I found that purpose and then now I just kind of step back like I’m 30,000ft view on things going on with the race team. But still having fun doing different appearances.

Kurt Busch added.

Kurt Busch learnt how to carry forward his love for racing after being forced out of the field due to his wreck in Pocono. The 46-year-old went through a difficult period, something which would not be easy for anyone who has spent decades moving up the racing ladder. Nevertheless, the role of a mentor has allowed Busch to continue his passion everyday and help today’s generation of drivers. Though, fans can never forget the dark day when Busch crashed out three years ago.

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