Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch doesn't expect to complete Sunday's Cup race at Fontana
Joe Gibbs Racing's Kyle Busch (above) will use David Gilliland as a substitute driver in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Auto Club Speedway. // Jeff Robinson, NASCAR Scene
FONTANA, Calif. – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Kyle Busch is feeling worse Sunday morning and is not expected to drive the entire Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in California, team president J.D. Gibbs said Sunday morning. David Gilliland will be his replacement.
Busch, who is battling a fever, lasted only 39 laps in the Nationwide Series race Saturday before Denny Hamlin took over.
“He’s struggling this morning,” Gibbs said. “He felt pretty good [Saturday] morning and did the Cup practice and felt worse. He might have been able to make the Nationwide race if he pushed it [Saturday], but he tried to save it for today. This morning, he feels worse. I’d be surprised if he went the whole way.”
Gilliland is driving for TRG Motorsports but he is not expected to drive the complete race. JGR is putting Gilliland in the No. 02 Cup car for three upcoming Cup races.
“David will be the guy to get in there, depending on how far and how long [Busch] goes, how he feels, we’ll have David ready to jump in there,” Gibbs said.
As long as Busch starts the race, he will earn the points for wherever Gilliland finishes. Busch is 13th in the points but can’t finish in the top 12 among the Chase For The Sprint Cup drivers.
