NASCAR: Another driver change announced for 23XI Racing
By Asher Fair
Ty Gibbs is set to compete for 23XI Racing in this Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, again as the replacement for Kurt Busch.
Ty Gibbs, who competes full-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, made his Cup Series debut this past Sunday afternoon at Pocono Raceway, when he was called upon as the last-second replacement for the injured Kurt Busch at 23XI Racing.
On Saturday afternoon, Busch, who had made 269 consecutive Cup Series starts going back to March 2015, advanced to the second round of qualifying for Sunday afternoon’s 160-lap race around the three-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) Tricky Triangle in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.
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But he crashed hard in the second round, leaving him with concussion-like symptoms and preventing him from getting back behind the wheel of the #45 Toyota on Sunday.
Gibbs finished Sunday’s M&M’s Fan Appreciation 400 in an impressive in 18th place, and he was promoted to 16th after Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin, a co-owner of 23XI Racing, and Kyle Busch were disqualified.
He finished in 16th place despite having to start in the rear of the field, due to not only the fact that a backup car was used but the fact that a driver change took place as late as it did.
It was announced on Wednesday that Kurt Busch is set to miss a second consecutive race.
Gibbs is again set to fill in for him behind the wheel of the #45 Toyota.
Gibbs, who is widely considered one of the top young prospects not yet competing full-time in the Cup Series, is set to make his Cup Series road course debut in this Sunday’s Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.
The 19-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native is set to begin his weekend on Saturday afternoon in the Pennzoil 150 at the Brickyard, the Xfinity Series race at the 13-turn, 2.439-mile (3.925-kilometer) road course in Speedway, Indiana.
Busch, who has been granted a playoff waiver for his extended absence, was not medically cleared to return to action this weekend. The earliest race for which he can return is now the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 7.
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The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard is set to be broadcast live on NBC from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course beginning at 3:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 31. For those who have not yet begun a free trial of FuboTV, now would be a great time to do so!