DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch hasn't given up hope of competing in the NASCAR Cup Series again.
Busch has been sidelined since suffering a concussion during a crash in qualifying at Pocono last summer.
0.002-second margin of victory stands test of time as Craven, Busch recall 2003 Darlington thriller
May 12, 2023 GMTDARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Ricky Craven wasn't sure what to expect at the Darlington Raceway starting line more than 20 years ago. By the end, he had his final NASCAR Cup Series victory, a lifelong friend in racing rival Kurt Busch and a place in the sport's history.
Concussion lingers for former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch
February 28, 2023 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kurt Busch might have received a proper sendoff this weekend in Las Vegas, where his hometown track treated him cruelly over 21 tries until he broke through for a win in 2020.
Updated Next Gen car to get real-world test in Daytona 500
February 17, 2023 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The latest version of NASCAR’s Next Gen car is still awaiting a real-world test. It’s sure to come in the Daytona 500.
Reacting to driver complaints and concussions to Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman, the sanctioning body made changes to the crumple zones in the backend of Cup Series cars in hopes of reducing the effects of rear-impact collisions.
Kyle Larson to try Indy 500-Coca-Cola 600 double in 2024
January 12, 2023 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Larson will attempt to race the Indianapolis 500 next year with McLaren Racing in a joint effort with NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick.
The surprise announcement Thursday by McLaren and Hendrick at last gives Larson a path into his dream race.
Watching from afar, Bubba Wallace’s lunch: ‘Humble pie’
October 23, 2022 GMTHOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Around the time that NASCAR drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway were getting into their cars for Sunday's race, Bubba Wallace was having lunch.
His selection: “Humble Pie," he tweeted.
Reddick wins pole at Las Vegas as RCR career winds down
October 15, 2022 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Tyler Reddick is determined to close his tenure at Richard Childress Racing on a high note, and hours after announcing he'll drive for 23XI Racing next season, won the pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Concussed NASCAR champion Kurt Busch to step away from sport
October 15, 2022 GMTLAS VEGAS (AP) — Kurt Busch, still trying to work his way through the concussion he suffered three months ago and advised by doctors to get out of a race car, will not compete full-time in 2023.
The 44-year-old NASCAR champion made his announcement Saturday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his home track and where he launched his career on the bullring as a child.
Kyle Larson added to candidate pool for Indianapolis 500
October 8, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has emerged as a candidate for an Indianapolis 500 ride and said Saturday he has permission from Hendrick Motorsports to run the iconic race if a deal can be completed.
NASCAR promises drivers safety changes on new car for 2023
October 8, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR says it had a productive test of its new car and promised drivers that solutions to some of their safety concerns should be implemented by next season.
NASCAR's top leadership held a 75-minute meeting ahead of Saturday's practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Bowman and Ware to miss Charlotte race with injuries
October 4, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Alex Bowman and Cody Shane Ware will miss this weekend's NASCAR race because of injuries suffered driving the new Next Gen car.
Bowman will miss a second consecutive race with a concussion.
Elliott: NASCAR’s new Next Gen car a step backward in safety
October 1, 2022 GMTNASCAR's most popular driver said Saturday the sport has taken an unacceptable step backward in safety with its new Next Gen car, a rare public offering of opinion by Chase Elliott.
NASCAR's top drivers essentially have turned into an angry mob as they head into Sunday's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway.
NASCAR drivers fuming over concussions suffered in new car
September 30, 2022 GMTNASCAR drivers are angry and concerned about their safety in the new Next Gen cars as the playoffs roar into one of the most chaotic and dangerous tracks on the circuit.
Alex Bowman will miss Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway with a concussion diagnosed four days after he crashed.
Bowman is 2nd driver to suffer concussion in Next Gen car
September 29, 2022 GMTAlex Bowman will miss Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway with a concussion the Hendrick Motorsports driver apparently suffered last week at Texas.
HMS said Bowman was evaluated Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina, and ruled out of this weekend's playoff race.
Kurt Busch hopeful he can return from concussion this year
September 27, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch said Tuesday he remains “hopeful” he will recover from a concussion in time to race again before the end of the NASCAR season.
The 2004 Cup champion has been sidelined since he crashed July 23 during qualifying at Pocono Raceway.
Hamlin applauds RCR’s recovery in signing Kyle Busch
September 15, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Denny Hamlin said Kurt Busch is under no pressure to hurry up his recovery from a concussion and that 23XI Racing is not pushing at this time to get Tyler Reddick in its cars a year early.
Hamlin chasing NASCAR driver’s title, owner’s championship
September 12, 2022 GMTKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Denny Hamlin the driver finds himself in the most enviable of positions heading into Saturday night's race at Bristol, his second-place run at Kansas Speedway over the weekend nearly ensuring his spot in the next round of the playoffs.
NASCAR calls car fires ‘unacceptable’ after Harvick inferno
September 7, 2022 GMTNASCAR is investigating a spate of car fires that left one championship contender fuming after his Ford erupted into an inferno during the opening playoff race.
Kevin Harvick lashed out at NASCAR and the new Next Gen car after his inexplicably caught fire at Darlington Raceway.
Be Like Mike: NASCAR’s Wallace switching numbers like Jordan
August 31, 2022 GMTMOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Bubba Wallace is switching numbers, just like his famous car owner Michael Jordan did.
Wallace will drive the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing the rest of the season instead of his usual No.
Injured Kurt Busch to miss start of NASCAR playoffs
August 25, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch will miss the start of NASCAR's playoffs with concussion-like symptoms that have sidelined him six for weeks, meaning two spots in the 16-driver field will be open Saturday night in the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
Kurt Busch to miss final 2 races of NASCAR’s regular season
August 18, 2022 GMTMOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch said Thursday he’ll miss the final two races of NASCAR’s regular season, bringing it to six races the 2004 champion has been sidelined with concussion-like symptoms.
Busch to miss 4th NASCAR race with concussion-like symptoms
August 10, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch said Wednesday he pushed himself too hard trying to return to NASCAR competition and will miss his fourth consecutive Cup Series race because of concussion-like symptoms.
Ty Gibbs, grandson of Joe Gibbs, gets 5th Xfinity win of ’22
August 6, 2022 GMTBROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) — Ty Gibbs won his Xfinity Series-high fifth race this year and ninth of his two-year career Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
The 19-year-old grandson of team owner Joe Gibbs, in the No.
Busch to miss 3rd NASCAR race with concussion-like symptoms
August 4, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch will miss his third consecutive race with concussion-like symptoms when he sits out Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. He said his vision and hearing “are still not 100% to drive.”
Kurt Busch to miss Indy with concussion-like symptoms
July 27, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch will miss Sunday's NASCAR race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway with concussion-like symptoms and be replaced again by Ty Gibbs in the Toyota for 23XI Racing.
The team said Wednesday that Busch has not been cleared to race for a second consecutive week.
Reddick’s jump to 23XI a start for NASCAR driver shuffling
July 16, 2022 GMTLOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Tyler Reddick can add Michael Jordan to his contacts list. Reddick made the surprise jump -- his current Richard Childress Racing team bellyached it’s an ill-timed one -- to join Denny Hamlin and Jordan’s 22XI Racing in 2024.
23XI Racing makes surprise hire in Tyler Reddick for 2024
July 12, 2022 GMT23XI Racing got a jump on the 2024 Cup Series season with the surprising announcement Tuesday that it signed Tyler Reddick to join the NASCAR team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin.
Reddick, a two-time Xfinity Series champion, is in his third full season driving for Richard Childress Racing.
NASCAR’s finale headed to Phoenix for fourth straight year
June 3, 2022 GMTMADISON, Ill. (AP) — NASCAR is taking its championship weekend back to Phoenix next season, the fourth straight year that the Cup Series title will be decided in the desert, and the reaction from drivers this week has been decidedly mixed.
Hamlin takes pole for Coca-Cola 600; Larson starts in back
May 29, 2022 GMTCONCORD, N.C. (AP) — If Kyle Larson hopes to repeat as Coca-Cola 600 champion, he’ll have to do so starting from the back of the field — and chase down some Toyotas along the way.
Denny Hamlin will start on the pole Sunday for NASCAR’s longest race while Larson, the defending Cup Series champion, will begin 36th after crashing in practice.
Vision of Hamlin, Jordan comes into focus with win at Kansas
May 16, 2022 GMTKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin founded 23XI Racing with a vision that extended far beyond the race track.
The Hall of Fame basketball player and the three-time Daytona 500 champion looked around the sport a couple of years ago and realized that it needed to get younger and much more inclusive.
Kurt Busch takes Jordan Brand to victory lane at Kansas
May 15, 2022 GMTKANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kurt Busch was slowly driving his Jordan Brand-styled ride toward victory lane at Kansas Speedway on Sunday when car owner Denny Hamlin stopped him in his tracks, ducked his head through the window and said: “We did it.”
Logano takes NASCAR pole; Elliott, Harvick, Hamlin to rear
May 7, 2022 GMTDARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick will start at the rear of the field Sunday at Darlington Raceway.
Christopher Bell leads Toyota lockout of Talladega front row
April 23, 2022 GMTTALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Christopher Bell won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway by turning the fastest lap as the final driver to qualify on Saturday.
Bell bumped his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Martin Truex Jr.
Wallace, Busch vow to turn Jordan’s 23XI Racing into champs
February 17, 2022 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kurt Busch first met Michael Jordan in a board room last summer as the free-agent driver weighed his racing options. Busch was star-struck in an “awesome moment” when the 6-foot-6 NBA Hall of Famer stood and shook hands with his future 23XI Racing employee.
NASCAR’s stars unify to create formal drivers’ council
February 11, 2022 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR's top drivers have once again unified to form an independent council to gain a collective voice in decisions that affect the sport.
The Drivers Advisory Council announced on Friday is a more organized effort than a previous attempt to unify in 2014.
AUTO RACING: NASCAR’s playoffs move to Richmond
September 8, 2021 GMTAll Times Eastern
NASCAR CUP SERIES
Federated Auto Parts 400 Salute to First Responders
Kurt Busch has multiyear deal with 23XI Racing, eyes charter
August 28, 2021 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kurt Busch has a multiyear deal with 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by basketball great Michael Jordan and fellow driver Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin released more details Saturday about the new partnership and said he is in the final stages of securing a charter for Busch's No.
Kurt Busch moving Monster to Hamlin and MJ’s team in 2022
August 27, 2021 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kurt Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a long expected expansion move for the first-year organization.
Kurt Busch holds off brother Kyle at Atlanta Motor Speedway
July 11, 2021 GMTHAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Kurt Busch asked for a final favor from Atlanta Motor Speedway's old, battered track.
Busch's wish came true on the track's farewell race.
Busch passed brother Kyle with 24 laps left and won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday to complete a sibling weekend Atlanta sweep.
Kurt Busch chases NASCAR playoffs with future uncertain
July 3, 2021 GMTELKHART LAKE, Wis. (AP) — Kurt Busch has welcomed the uncertainty of this season as he chases a playoff berth while pondering his future in NASCAR.
Busch posted the fastest practice time Saturday as NASCAR’s Cup Series returned to Road America for the first time since 1956.
The Latest: Harvick’s 50th Cup win ‘just weird’ without fans
May 17, 2020 GMTDARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on NASCAR's return at Darlington Raceway (all times local):
NASCAR putting its safety plan to test as racing restarts
May 15, 2020 GMTCHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Crew chief Chad Knaus won't get a look at the car Hendrick Motorsports built for Darlington Raceway until he gets to the track Sunday morning, a few hours before the race...
Bowman holds off Busch bros at Fontana for 2nd NASCAR win
March 2, 2020 GMTFONTANA, Calif. (AP) — Before Alex Bowman started looking for tattoo shops somewhere between Los Angeles and Phoenix, he celebrated a win that suggested even more permanent success ahead for the hard-working driver and his resurgent team...
AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance
August 14, 2019 GMTAll Times Eastern
Kyle Busch beats brother to grab 8th Bristol win
April 7, 2019 GMTBRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Busch was in the race Sunday at Bristol Motor Speedway, so of course, he won...
The Latest: Keselowski shakes off flu to win at Atlanta
February 24, 2019 GMTHAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — The Latest on the NASCAR race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (all times local):
Busch Wins, Sets Up Big Showdown
November 12, 2018 GMTKyle Busch won for the eighth time this season to tie Kevin Harvick for the most victories this season and set up a head-to-head battle for the championship.
Busch's victory at ISM Raceway outside of Phoenix was the final qualifying event for next week's finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Racing Royalty: Busch watches wife play polo with a prince
July 28, 2018 GMTLONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Kurt Busch found another sport that suits him: The former NASCAR champion traveled to England to watch his wife play polo with a prince.
The 2004 NASCAR Cup champ hit the sights in London and cheered on wife Ashley during a charity polo match with Prince Harry.
Kurt Busch, 4 other drivers top 200 mph in Texas qualifying
November 3, 2017 GMTFORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Kurt Busch earned the pole at Texas, going faster than anyone ever has gone in NASCAR Cup qualifying on a 1 1/2-mile track.
Busch averaged 200.915 mph on his only lap in the final round of qualifying Friday.
Kurt Busch wins 59th Dayton 500
February 27, 2017 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – His car damaged in a wreck on the backstretch and held together with tape, Kurt Busch grabbed the lead on the final lap of the 59th Daytona 500 on Sunday and took the checkered flag in the Great American Race as a capstone to a checkered career that has trended upward since Busch joined Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.
Busch moves on with new girlfriend at Daytona
February 15, 2015 GMTDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Kurt Busch has a new girlfriend, moving on in his personal life even as legal issues stemming from a dispute with his ex linger.
Busch posed for pictures with Ashley Van Metre at his No.
Ganassi finds speed in final Indy 500 practice
May 23, 2014 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Defending Indy 500 champion Tony Kanaan turned the fastest lap of Carb Day, leading a stable of Ganassi Racing teams that have finally found some speed after a slow week of qualifying.
Busch looks to reinvent himself with ‘The Double’
May 19, 2014 GMTINDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kurt Busch commanded his driver to step on the gas before the UPS truck sped away. Inside, he was hoping for a package from Italy holding the $2,495 firesuit he'll need for his latest — and wildest — racing endeavor.