AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kyle Busch got a change of scenery this week when he left his home to visit his race shop.
Sitting in a wheelchair with removable plastic casts on both legs, he posted a video on Twitter from Kyle Busch Motorsports that thanked his fans for their support the last month. Busch broke his right leg and left foot on Feb. 21 at Daytona and is indefinitely sidelined.
"I’m doing good, just out and about, trying to get out and get some different sights," Busch said, noting his recovery is going well but will take time. "It just is what it is. It’s going to be the way it is from 2,000 years ago — bones only heal so fast."
With his wife, Samantha, by his side, Busch said they were excited about the upcoming birth of their first child. They are expecting a boy in May.
"We’ve got plenty of things to look forward to in the next few months. Baby Busch is on his way," Busch said as he leaned over and kissed Samantha’s stomach.
She also addressed the fans, thanking them for their well wishes and said she’s enjoyed taking care of her husband.
"It’s been a learning and bonding experience," she said. "We’re hanging in there."
Meanwhile, at the race track, Busch’s teammate said his absence is felt at Joe Gibbs Racing.
The team this year expanded to four cars with the addition of Carl Edwards, but the foursome has not had any time to work together. Busch was injured in the season-opening Xfinity Series race, one day before the Daytona 500. David Ragan has been driving his car the last two weeks; Matt Crafton ran the 500 in the No. 18 Toyota.
"It’s a shame because we just had our driver lineup right where we wanted it with the four of us," Denny Hamlin said of a team that also includes Matt Kenseth.
"You definitely miss (Busch’s) feedback. Until the fourth car came this year, (Busch) was 33 per cent of the information that went through that race team and it’s just a little different there without him for sure."
Hamlin said Busch’s spirits have been good when he’s talked to him, and that he’s following the racing from afar.
"He’s somewhat chatty through the texts that we have. He’s definitely paying a lot of attention to the races and what he sees from the outside," Hamlin said. "I think he’s very engaged and obviously making the best of the situation that he’s got."
Busch’s older brother, Kurt, said he visited Kyle when he was transferred from Daytona Beach, Florida, to Charlotte, North Carolina, for a second operation.
"He wants to get back to the track as soon as possible, but he can’t rush the healing of bones and surgeries," Kurt Busch said. "We’ve got to hopefully see him progress at the right pace and then show up back at the track and try to get the best out of 2015 that he can. Overall, he’s taking it very well."