Kurt Busch Bids Farewell to NASCAR Career with Official Announcement

At age 45, Kurt Busch has concluded an extraordinary journey that included 776 starts in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series.

From the year 2000 until 2022, Busch clinched 28 pole positions and amassed 34 race victories while driving for an assortment of five race teams. His illustrious trophy case features some of the sport’s most coveted wins: the Daytona 500 in 2017, along with both the Coke 600 and the All-Star Race in 2010. Oh, and let’s not overlook the over 10,000 laps he led during this period—clearly, the man enjoyed being in the fast lane.

In 2004, Busch etched his name into NASCAR history by capturing the Cup championship, marking the first year the series employed a playoff system. But the title didn’t come easy; Busch had to fend off legends like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, even after losing a wheel in the high-stakes final race. Drama much?


Busch’s final triumph behind the wheel occurred in May of the preceding year at Kansas Speedway. Sadly, an unfortunate qualifying crash at Pocono Raceway just two months afterward benched him indefinitely.

Despite sustaining a concussion, Busch remained hopeful about his return to racing. Initially, he indicated he wouldn’t be coming back as a full-time driver, but never ruled out selective appearances. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, even left the proverbial door ajar for Busch’s potential return to the team.

Tyler Reddick was tapped to replace Busch in the No. 45 Toyota. And let’s not forget that emotional moment when Busch joined the COTA broadcast to celebrate Reddick’s first victory with the new team.

Busch hasn’t strayed far from the racetrack, offering mentorship to young drivers like Reddick and Bubba Wallace, while also moonlighting as a brand ambassador for Monster Energy—because obviously, he’s too revved up to fully step away.

Earlier in 2023, Busch was honored as one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers, receiving due accolades at a ceremony at Darlington Raceway.


Throughout his recovery, Busch has been transparent with the media about his progress. During a February update, he stated, “Life for me is pretty much back to normal. Although I’ve had to modify my physical therapy routines, switching to balance-oriented exercises to regain core strength and improve my overall mobility.”

There was initially some chatter that Busch aimed to retire by the end of 2023, but his accident expedited those plans. Busch himself acknowledged, “Things have just unfolded a year sooner than I had anticipated, and I’m at peace with where I stand.”

He also added that while he might be okay for a casual go-karting session, racing at the top-tier NASCAR level wasn’t feasible given his current physical state.

Kurt Busch’s career was marked by a remarkable level of consistency. He notched a victory in 19 of his last 21 seasons, a feat that stands as a testament to his driving prowess.

Busch wasn’t just a one-trick pony either; in 2014, he competed in the Indianapolis 500, finishing an impressive sixth and grabbing Rookie of the Year honors for the event.

As he closes this chapter, Busch ranks 25th on NASCAR’s all-time wins list, sharing that spot with another Cup champion, Martin Truex Jr. Talk about going out in style.

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More about Kurt Busch retirement

• Kurt Busch’s Official NASCAR Profile
• History of NASCAR Cup Champions
• 2023 NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers Ceremony at Darlington Raceway
• Pocono Raceway Crash Updates
• 23XI Racing Team Information
• Tyler Reddick’s Racing Profile
• The 2014 Indianapolis 500 Results
• Monster Energy’s Brand Ambassadors
• NASCAR’s New Playoff Format Explained