SPARTA, KENTUCKY - JULY 07: Kurt Busch, driver of the #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Ford, talks to his crew chief, Tony Gibson during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway on July 7, 2017 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

Playoff driver is without his crew chief at Watkins Glen after a family emergency


Advertisement

Kurt Busch is racing without crew chief Tony Gibson for Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International.

Busch told NBCSN's Dave Burns that Gibson flew home Saturday night to be with his wife. Engineer Johnny Klausmeier will fill in for Gibson. He also filled in for Gibson and helped Busch pick up a win at Pocono in June of last year.

Related: Kurt Busch makes his first comments since Stewart Haas Racing didn't renew his contract

"(Gibson) texted me late last night that he had flown home, and I didn't know that he flew back to be with (wife) Beth, so all our best and love to Beth Gibson, everything should turn out OK," Busch said. "For Gibson, he left this team in a good spot. Johnny Klausmeier has done this before. He's our go-to guy when we need somebody to lead the team when Gibson is gone."

Busch qualified 18th at Watkins Glen, but hopefully everything is OK with Gibson's wife and hopefully he will be able to return next week.

Advertisement

(h/t NBC Sports)