Denny Hamlin Drops Crucial Kurt Busch Update Amid Potential Changes in Michael Jordan Owned $150 Million NASCAR Team

Earlier this year, Kurt Busch announced that he would not be racing full-time in the Cup Series next year. In a heartfelt letter to his fans on Twitter, Busch said that his ‘long-term health is priority number one.’ After suffering concussions-like symptoms due to a collision at Pocono, concerns surrounding the safety of the Next Gen cars have plagued many drivers.

Due to a crash at the qualifying race at Pocono, Busch struggled with balance and coordination whenever his heart rate is elevated. Due to this, the 23XI Racing driver missed almost the entire second half of the 2022 season as he could not get a medical clearance.

Currently, Kurt Busch would not be racing at all next season. However, this doesn’t mean that his fans and colleagues aren’t upset by his absence. Hoping for their favorite driver to recover fast, many want Busch to get back on track as soon as possible.

In a recent clip shared by NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass, 23XI Racing’s co-owner Denny Hamlin opened up on the latest updates of Kurt Busch racing next year. Explaining how the doors of the team are open for the driver whenever he is ready, Hamlin said that they are waiting for Busch to get a medical clearance.

He said, “We just wanna get him cleared first. And then, let him decide whatever he wants to do. But certainly yeah, there will always be an opportunity, a car for him whenever he wants.”

READ MORE: “I’m Hopeful” – Kurt Busch Breaks Silence and Aims to Return to Racing, Days After Announcing Shock Retirement

However, Busch is not the only driver to suffer a concussion this season. Alex Bowman too was concussed due to a wreck at Talladega. Moreover, NASCAR drivers like Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, and Dale Earnhardt Jr have expressed their concerns about the new cars. Since these concerns came to light, NASCAR has been involved in finding ways to make the Next Gen cars safer for the drivers.

Denny Hamlin on why NASCAR has not conducted the tests yet

In October 2022, NASCAR held a meeting with its teams at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Aimed at addressing driver safety concerns, the governing body talked about the increasing number of concussions and injuries among drivers. Although not all teams and drivers were satisfied with the meeting, the event did propel some major developments.

NASCAR admitted that the Next Gen cars do need some changes, especially a new rear bumper and clip. The sanctioning authority assured that more crash tests would be performed. With the 2022 season to an end, questions surrounding the performance of these crash tests have begun to surface.

During his conversation with Bob Pockrass, Hamlin explained, “Well, I think it’s certainly good to give these teams and drivers a break. It is a long off-season.”

WATCH THIS STORY: “It Kills Him..” – Bubba Wallace Gives an Insider Look on Kurt Busch’s Painful Absence From NASCAR

Furthermore, he continued, “Typically, we do have some testing, do work on the aero packages or whatever. But that does still put a strain on the teams during holiday time and everything. So, it’s a tough balance but I think that having it this way, where you are giving people truly some time off is good. “

What do you think about the safety of the Next Gen cars? Let us know in the comments below.