Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

David Ragan steps in for Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing after crash

David Ragan will move across from Front Row Motorsports to stand in for the injured Kyle Busch at Joe Gibbs Racing from this weekend's Atlanta NASCAR Sprint Cup round

Busch sustained a fractured right leg and left foot in a crash during the Xfinity Series race at Daytona last weekend.

He was moved from a Daytona Beach hospital to one nearer his Charlotte home on Wednesday.

No timetable has been set for Busch's return to racing.

Harvick: Busch's crash a wake-up call

Ragan will temporarily switch allegiance from Ford to Toyota as he moves to JGR to drive its #18 Camry in Busch's absence, joining Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards.

Team owner Joe Gibbs said: We appreciate being able to work with Front Row Motorsports and [sponsor] CSX for David's availability.

"We are fortunate to be able to have someone of David's calibre behind the wheel while Kyle recovers.

"We appreciate all the support we have received from the NASCAR community including our fans and we look forward to getting Kyle back in the car as soon as possible."

Ragan spent five seasons racing for Roush Fenway from 2007-11, during which he won his first Cup race in the July '11 Daytona round.

He subsequently switched to Front Row, where he led home team-mate David Gilliland in a shock one-two for the underdog team at Talladega two years ago.

Teenager Erik Jones (pictured), who races for Busch's team in the Truck Series and was already scheduled to do three Xfinity rounds for JGR, will drive Busch's car in the second-tier series at Atlanta.

Gibbs said 18-year-old Jones was also in line for Cup appearances.

"Erik is a big part of our future at JGR and we will be increasing his schedule in the Xfinity Series beginning this weekend in Atlanta and seeking the earliest opportunity to provide him Cup experience," he said.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Busch Daytona crash a NASCAR wake-up call - Harvick
Next article NASCAR Atlanta: Joey Logano tops controversial qualifying day

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe