NASCAR Michigan 2015: Kyle Busch wrecks in practice, forced to backup car

If Kyle Busch is to win Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, he’ll have to do so in a backup car following a crash mere minutes into Saturday’s final practice. It’s an accident that will require him to forfeit his starting spot near the front in the Pure Michigan 400.

Busch lost control off Turn 4 and spun through the infield grass along the front-stretch. The slide caused extensive damage to the front nose off the No. 18 car and forced Joe Gibbs Racing to pull out a backup for Busch, who’s won three of the past five races.

“I was just running along, everything was fine and I was actually feeling pretty good about it. Just started to get a little free up off of (Turn) 4,” Busch said. “It started stepping out like it did here in the spring. I over-corrected and hit the wall so this time around I just kind of made it keep rotating and head down towards the infield.”

Because of the switch in cars, NASCAR mandates Busch fall to the rear of the grid Sunday. He had qualified sixth Friday.

Sections of grass near the racing surface are a safety concern many drivers would like to see addressed. Busch was injured in a February crash at Daytona International Speedway when his car spun through a grassy area and slammed into an unprotected concrete wall, breaking his right leg and left foot. The accident sidelined Busch for 11 races.

Drivers would prefer the removal of grass and the area paved over to give them a better chance to correct in case of a spin and to scrub speed before impacting a wall.

“I think we should have more grass and it should be taller,” Busch said sarcastically. “All these racetracks need more grass -- it would be beneficial.”