Kyle Busch
Kyle Busch, center, is taken to an ambulance on a stretcher after he was involved in a multi-car crash during the Xfinity series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2015, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
(John Raoux)
NASCAR star Kyle Busch will miss Sunday's Daytona 500 after suffering major leg injuries in a violent crash near the end of Saturday's Xfinity Series season-opener at Daytona International Raceway.
The Associated Press reported that Busch suffered a right lower leg compound fracture and left mid-foot fracture in the crash with eight laps remaining. Joe Gibbs Racing released a statement that the star driver underwent surgery and remained in the hospital.
Busch's injury occurred when his car careened head-on into an interior wall that did not have an energy-absorbing SAFER barrier.
See video of the crash:
Matt Crafton, a two-time Truck Series champion, will replace Busch in the No. 18 Toyota in Sunday's Daytona 500. Busch was set to start fourth.
The Xfinity Series' season-opening Today Florida 300 featured two major crashes. The first saw Regan Smith barrel-roll, and Busch was involved in the second. Ryan Reed, a 21-year-old, won the season-opening Xfinity Series race.
Here's video of the Regan Smith crash: