NASCAR star Kurt Busch formally announces retirement
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kurt Busch, a NASCAR series champion who took a break from racing last year after suffering a concussion, formally announced his retirement on Saturday.
Busch, 45, who won the 2004 NASCAR series championship and had 34 victories on the circuit, made the announcement at Daytona International Speedway, NASCAR.com reported. That was the venue where Busch won the 2017 Daytona 500.
Busch posted a video on social media thanking “everyone who helped me accomplish my dream.”
Busch had not competed since his crash in July 2022 during qualifying at Pocono Raceway, Sports Illustrated reported. He announced in October that he was stepping away from full-time racing, according to NBC Sports.
“Dreams, we all have them,” Busch said in his video. “Those beautiful things that scare us and excite us and drive us forward. Sometimes dreams change over time and sometimes they take a lifetime to achieve, but me I only ever had one dream and I chased mine with 100 percent of who I am every single day.
NASCAR star Kurt Busch steps away full time from racing due to concussion
“Racing requires 100 percent of focus, heart, stamina and determination, and I’ve never raced a day without all of that in mind. But sometimes Father Time can catch up to your dreams. My incredible team of doctors and I have come to the conclusion that at this point in my recovery there are just too many obstacles for me to overcome and get back to 100 percent.”
Busch made 776 starts in the Cup Series, which ranks 12th overall, and was the inaugural winner of NASCAR’s playoff format in the Cup series, Sports Illustrated reported.
He won the Coca-Cola 600 and All-Star Race on consecutive weekends in 2010 and was a six-time winner at Bristol Motor Speedway, where he notched his first Cup series win in 2002, according to NASCAR.com.
Busch went from NASCAR’s Truck Series to the Cup in 2000, moving to the circuit full time the following season, NBC Sports reported.
He won at least one Cup race in 19 of his seasons on the circuit, finishing in the top five 161 times, according to the news outlet. He finished in the top 10 339 times.
Check out these memorable photos of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch through the years.
2003: Kurt Busch waits behind the wheel during a rain delay at the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 practice at North Carolina Speedway on Saturday, November 8, 2003.
2004: Kurt Busch competes Sunday, April 18, 2004, in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
2006: Kurt Busch with his wife before a practice session before the start of the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 5, 2006, in Indianapolis.
2007: Kurt Busch before the NASCAR Subway Fresh Fit 500, at Phoenix International Speedway, April 20, 2007, in Phoenix.
2008: Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, sits in his car during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway on August 30, 2008, in Fontana, California.
2009: Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates by firing two Beretta’s into the air on victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on November 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.
2010: Kurt Busch, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Dodge, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 7, 2010, in Hampton, Georgia.
2011: U.S. President Barack Obama (third left) poses for a group picture with NASCAR drivers (from left) Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch during an East Room event September 7, 2011, at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama hosted the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson to honor his win.
2012: Kurt Busch, driver of the #51 Phoenix Construction Chevrolet, talks to the media after an incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Good Sam Roadside Assistance 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on October 7, 2012, in Talladega, Alabama.
2013: Kurt Busch, driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Sealy Chevrolet, takes part in pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks at Dover International Speedway on June 2, 2013, in Dover, Delaware.
2014: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series STP 500 at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, 2014, in Martinsville, Virginia.
2015: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet, answers questions from the media during a press conference announcing Monster Energy as a co-sponsor on the #41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at Stewart-Haas Racing on October 21, 2015, in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
2016: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Axalta "We Paint Winners" 400 at Pocono Raceway on June 6, 2016, in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
2017: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the 59th Annual DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 26, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Florida.
2018: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Monster Energy/Haas Automation Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on August 18, 2018, in Bristol, Tennessee.
2019: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 Presented by Walmart at Kentucky Speedway on July 13, 2019, in Sparta, Kentucky.
2020: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 Monster Energy Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 27, 2020, in Las Vegas.
2021: Kurt Busch, driver of the #1 GEARWRENCH Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway on July 11, 2021, in Hampton, Georgia.
2022: Kurt Busch, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 15, 2022, in Kansas City, Kansas.
