Kurt Busch not medically cleared for Richmond; Ty Gibbs to sub again

LONG POND, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 24: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #45 McDonald's Toyota, poses with Monster Energy models on the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway on July 24, 2022 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Ty Gibbs will once again be behind the wheel of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota for his weekend’s NASCAR Cup race at Richmond Raceway.

The team announced Wednesday that Kurt Busch has not been cleared to return to competition for the 4th consecutive week.

The 44-year-old suffered concussion-like symptoms after a qualifying crash on July 23 at Pocono Raceway; Ty Gibbs was tapped to take the seat for the 23XI Racing team’s No. 45 at Pocono, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course, and at Michigan last week. The Xfinity series star has finished 16th, 17th, and a career best 10th at Michigan.

Though Busch will miss his fourth race of 2022, he has been granted a waiver to compete for the championship if he qualifies for the 16-driver playoff field. In current playoff standing, he is locked in by virtue of his win in May at Kansas Speedway.

Busch will undergo another evaluation next week prior to the Cup race at Watkins Glen.

Greg Engle