NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch Returns to Pocono as Grand Marshal

LONG POND, Pa. — Kurt Busch, the 2004 NASCAR Cup Series champion, will return to Pocono Raceway as the Grand Marshal for The Great American Getaway 400 on Sunday, marking an emotional homecoming to the track where a devastating 2022 crash ended his racing career.

The 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee’s appearance at the “Tricky Triangle” is a moment of closure and celebration for fans and the racing community.

On July 23, 2022, Busch’s No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing spun in Turn 3 during the final round of qualifying for the M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400. The car slammed rear-first into the outside wall before whipping back and striking the right front. Busch walked to the ambulance but was later diagnosed with a concussion and vestibular issues that sidelined him for the remainder of the season and unfortunately, his career.

NASCAR ruled him out of the race, and Ty Gibbs, then a Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity driver, made his Cup Series debut in the No. 45, finishing 16th with no prior laps in the NextGen car.

The crash marked the end of Busch’s competitive career, which included 34 Cup wins and three Pocono victories.

The 2022 wreck was a jarring moment for Busch, who had earned a playoff spot with a win at Kansas earlier that year and looked poised to make it far in Steve Phelps and Elton Sawyer’s NASCAR Cup Series ‘survive and advance’ playoffs.

The injury required extensive recovery, with near-daily doctor visits for vision, hearing, and balance checks. Busch later shared that the vestibular effects lingered but had significantly improved, allowing him to embrace this return to Pocono, both as grand marshal and an intelligence crew member for 23XI, assisting Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace and Riley Herbst.

As Grand Marshal, Busch will deliver the command to start engines, a role that resonates deeply given his history at the 2.5-mile triangular track. Pocono Raceway is honoring him with “TY KURT” painted on the start/finish line and a $10,000 donation to Vet Tix by the Mattioli Foundation, recognizing his contributions to NASCAR and his ongoing work as a 23XI Racing consultant and Monster Energy ambassador.

Busch’s return is bittersweet. The track that halted his driving career now celebrates his legacy. Fans will see a champion who overcame adversity, with Busch hinting at seeking a “light duty” racing clearance in 2025. For now, his presence at Pocono offers a moment to reflect on his resilience and impact on the sport.

The Great American Getaway 400 is set for Sunday, with Busch’s command to start engines signaling not just the race’s beginning but also a poignant chapter in his NASCAR journey.

It’s Kurt Busch, making a chilling return to Pocono Raceway, where he saw his Cup Series career come to a close in the Summer of 2022.

Here’s how to watch all the action from Pocono Raceway!

The post NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch Returns to Pocono as Grand Marshal first appeared on easySportz.

The post NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch Returns to Pocono as Grand Marshal appeared first on easySportz.