NASCAR Cup champion Kurt Busch comes out of retirement for Race of Champions

The 2004 NASCAR Cup champion Kurt Busch will symbolize Group USA within the 2025 Race of Champions, making a return to competitors after asserting his retirement in August 2023.

Busch will make his third RoC look, partnering distinguished stunt performer Travis Pastrana at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on 7-8 March.

This comes after receiving medical clearance as Busch suffered a concussion throughout a crash in qualifying at Pocono Raceway in July 2022.

After sitting out the remainder of that season and the beginning of the 2023 marketing campaign, the now 46-year-old elected to call time on his NASCAR career, stating that there have been “too many obstacles for me to beat”.

However Busch will make a one-off look on the RoC, his first look within the invitational occasion since 2017 when he and youthful brother Kyle completed second to Group Germany within the Nations’ Cup.

“Race automotive drivers at all times push the boundaries to be the perfect and drive to win,” mentioned Busch.

“That’s what I’ve strived for my complete profession and to obtain one other invite from Race of Champions is an opportunity to go up in opposition to the perfect of the perfect from all over the world.

“What an honour. Thanks RoC. Go Group USA.”

The RoC is a two-day occasion that pitches the highest drivers from varied motorsport disciplines in head-to-head nation versus nation and particular person battles, with 2025 being the primary time it has visited the southern hemisphere.

“There is no such thing as a one which I’ve seen at previous Race of Champions from America that’s been capable of soar within the automobiles and carry out like Kurt Busch,” mentioned Pastrana, who’s a four-time Rally America champion and set for his first RoC look since Dusseldorf in 2011.

“I’ve talked to Kurt a couple of instances over the previous months and pleaded with him to come back out of retirement since his crash in NASCAR.

“I’d have beloved to see one other extremely proficient driver like Kyle Larson come to Race of Champions as effectively, however he has a NASCAR race the identical weekend.

“I mentioned if I’m going all the way in which to Australia then it must be with somebody that may assist me win all of it for Group USA.”

Drivers will battle on a purpose-built 1km asphalt observe round Accor Stadium, with 13 opponents up to now introduced.

4-time Formulation 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel will compete for Germany alongside Mick Schumacher, with fellow F1 expertise Valtteri Bottas representing Finland.

The defending Nations’ Cup champions Petter and Oliver Solberg will return for Norway, whereas one other rally legend in nine-time World Rally champion Sebastien Loeb will make an look, the four-time RoC winner competing for France.

Different drivers to be introduced embrace the seven-time World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson, his fellow Excessive E champion Molly Taylor and two-time Dakar winner Toby Worth, with Supercar champions Will Brown and Jamie Whincup (Brown’s present workforce principal) additionally competing for hosts Australia.