Kurt Busch to miss NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono; Ty Gibbs in

LONG POND, PA. — NASCAR announced Kurt Busch was not cleared to run the M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway following a pre-race medical evaluation Sunday morning.

Busch will be relieved by Ty Gibbs who will make his NASCAR Cup Series debut driving the No. 45 Toyota for 23XI Racing.

Busch was not medically cleared to race after being involved in a crash during qualifying Saturday. He was reportedly experiencing concussion-like symptoms and was granted a medical waiver to ensure his playoff eligibility is maintained.

Kurt Busch crashes HARD in qualifying at @PoconoRaceway!

The @23XIRacing driver made it into the final round, but this crash likely puts them in a backup and at the rear of the field. #NASCAR

📺 : @USA_Network pic.twitter.com/aTS8vM8YSp

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 23, 2022

Busch has 776 career NASCAR Cup Series starts and last missed a race in March 2015 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Busch is virtually locked into the playoffs with his win at Kansas Speedway in May.

Gibbs finished second Saturday in the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ Explore the Pocono Mountains 225. He will start from the rear as the 2970th driver to make a NASCAR Cup Series start since the series’ inception in 1949.