Kyle Busch to undergo 2 surgeries during offseason

Newly crowned Sprint Cup Series champion Kyle Busch will undergo a pair of surgeries next month related to serious leg injuries he sustained in a February crash at Daytona International Speedway.

Busch broke his right leg and left foot in a crash during an Xfinity Series race, the day before the Cup Series’ season-opening Daytona 500. The accident saw the 30-year-old spin and strike an unprotected wall nearly head-on, which caused him to miss the first 11 races of the season rehabilitating. He eventually returned to win five times and captured the championship by winning Sunday’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The operations are scheduled for either Dec. 14 or Dec. 15 -- Busch hopes to undergo both on the same day -- and will remove the rod from Busch’s right leg and the plates and screws from his left foot that were inserted to stabilize and help heal the bones.

Busch is expected to be healthy in time for the start of the 2016 season, which begins Feb. 21 at Daytona.

“When I get the foot surgery done, I haven’t heard exactly how long I’m supposed to be off of that,” Busch said. “But the doctor made it seem as if once the plates and screws come out, I’ll be able to walk on it right away.

“The leg, though, you know, I’m going to be down for probably they said about four weeks with the leg. Just having to re-go through the knee and to cut the knee open again in order to pull the rod out, that’s going to be the most traumatic part -- just having that have to heal and go back together and let the muscle get back together, and of course the tendon, as well.”

Although doctors said he would be able to return by the end of the summer following the February accident, Busch admitted after winning his first championship he thought his career was over and contemplated needing to pursue another profession.

But spurred by the desire to be alongside wife Samantha, who was due to give birth to the couple’s first child in late May, Busch committed fully to an arduous rehabilitation process, which began 10 days after his crash. He ended up coming back May 16, with son Brexton born two days later.

“I knew instantly that the right leg was broken, the left foot was broke, and I was really worried,” Busch said. “I don’t know if it flashed before my eyes or if I just thought it, but it was like, ‘Man, I’m going to have to go back to laying decals. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to get back in a car again.’

“I just didn’t know how severe it was. But fortunately for me it wasn’t that bad, and I was able to put it all back together and be here (Sunday). Everything has kind of gone really well, and to be back in this place that I am right now is even better than I was before.”