KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Despite qualifying sixth and posting the third-fastest single lap speed in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice on Saturday, Kurt Busch’s race weekend at Kansas Speedway has not gone according to plan.
As the clock wound down to zero in the 50-minute session Saturday afternoon, the back end of Busch’s No. 41 monster Energy/Haas Automation Chevrolet kicked out from underneath him as he exited turn four, sending the former champion and current Chase contender careening through the grass on the frontstretch.
Coming to a halt, Busch radioed to the crew, “It was a tire,” in regards to what caused the incident.
The impact with the turf caused significant damage to the front splitter and fascia of Busch’s car, with both right side tires visibly flat as Busch climbed from his machine and surveyed the damage.
Once the car returned to the garage area, the team — along with the NBC Sports broadcast crew — confirmed that Busch would utilize a backup car for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, the second race in round two of the Chase playoffs.
Busch had made a 30 lap race run earlier in the session, and was on the 28th lap of his second race run when the incident occurred exiting turn four.
Despite the crash, Busch’s combined total of 58 laps completed was the most of anyone in Saturday’s final practice session.
Busch has never won at Kansas Speedway in his Cup career, but has a career-best mark of second in the fall of 2013, driving for Furniture Row Racing. On that day, he also had to start from the rear of the field.
The Hollywood Casino 400 goes green at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, with live coverage on NBC, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
About the Writer
Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.
Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.
The 22-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.
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