After being sidelined for nearly three months due to injuries he suffered in an accident at Daytona International Speedway, Kyle Busch is scheduled to return to racing in this weekend's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
On Tuesday, Busch, the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Sprint Cup Series, made the announcement of his return on Twitter, stating, "I'm back. #RowdyReturns." Also included in Busch's announcement was a 24- second video of him suiting up in his race uniform, putting the visor down on his helmet and then walking out of his team hauler before ending with "#RowdyReturns May 16th."
Joe Gibbs Racing also announced that Busch has received medical clearance to return to on-track activity, beginning with Saturday's all-star race at Charlotte. He will participate in Friday's practice sessions for the event.
Busch sustained a fractured right leg and left foot when his car slammed head- on into an inside retaining wall during the closing laps of the Feb. 21 Xfinity Series race at Daytona. The wall did not have an energy-absorbing (SAFER) barrier installed on it. Busch underwent two surgeries to repair his broken bones. He has missed the first 11 Sprint Cup races this season.
Matt Crafton drove Busch's No. 18 car in the Feb. 22 season-opening Daytona 500 and then David Ragan took over the wheel for the next nine races before Erik Jones made his first career Sprint Cup start in the car this past weekend at Kansas Speedway.
JGR never revealed a timetable for Busch's return to racing, but he recently practiced in a Late Model car.
Busch turned 30 years old on May 2. He and his wife, Samantha, are expecting their first child later this month.
[SportsNetwork.com]
