Before Retiring From NASCAR, Kurt Busch Sought to ‘Try his Hand’ in the NHL Once

NASCAR is no stranger to sporting crossovers, and in 2018, it was the National Hockey League’s turn. Ahead of that year’s South Point 400, Kurt Busch and NHL player Deryk Engelland, teamed up. Both athletes gave the other a brief glimpse into their worlds. To be precise, Engelland had a few rounds in a NASCAR Cup car. Meanwhile, Busch traded his racing gloves for a hockey stick and puck.

Busch said, “Aw man! I was way out of my element there. I’m just trying to skate, and with the puck-handling skills and the stick. Mad respect for those guys out on the ice. The amount of danger and the elements there, I was trying to show them a little bit out on the track. But it’s fun, it’s a really unique sport that I need to learn more about, because I know nothing about skates.”

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How did Engelland feel, stepping into the shoes of Kurt Busch?

The defenseman confessed that it was quite the experience for him and was a bucket list item. He truly appreciated experiencing the moment with a driver of Busch’s caliber. Without a doubt, this will be one memory that he will never forget. Meanwhile, Busch was thrilled to entertain a player from the Vegas Golden Knights. According to him, Las Vegas never really had a pro sports team when he was a little boy. Since then, the Knights managed to reach the Stanley Cup final in their first year.

Kurt Busch was glad to see the city of Las Vegas really embrace sports, as a whole. He also revealed that he managed to get Engelland racing at around 155 mph. Of course, coach Busch confessed that there was room for the hockey player to grow and he did not want to overwhelm Engelland. The then 36-year-old admitted that he felt more comfortable driving than being in the passenger seat.

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