Kurt Busch and Travis Pastrana will fly the Stars and Stripes when the Race of Champions heads to Australia in March.

Busch makes his return to racing, having retired in 2023 after sustaining a concussion in qualifying for the 2022 NASCAR Cup race at Pocono. The injury kept him out for the rest of that season and his ride was filled by Tyler Reddick for 2023. Although he would have liked to return eventually, he was unable to receive medical clearance and eventually retired from full-time competition, ending a 24-year Cup career that saw him win 34 race and the 2004 championship.

Unlike NASCAR and most disciplines, ROC is a non-contact motorsport in which two cars race on their own paths—typically overlapping and merging—to set the fastest time. Thus, it is a fairly safe option for Busch to race competitively again without the risk of another injury.

“We were very happy when Kurt confirmed that he has received his medical clearance and will be making his return to racing as part of Team USA with Travis Pastrana at the Race Of Champions,” commented ROC president Fredrik Johnsson. “From my discussions with Kurt the past few months he sounds ultra motivated. Kurt and Travis are aiming to win it all for Team USA and I’m sure they will put on fantastic show for the Australian fans.”

He is no stranger to ROC, representing the United States in 2014 alongside Ryan Hunter-Reay and teaming up with his younger brother Kyle in 2017. The 2014 tandem was knocked out of the Nations Cup in the group stage while Busch was eliminated by Jamie Whincup in the quarterfinals of the individual tournament. The Busch brothers lost to Team Germany in the 2017 Nations Cup while the elder Busch couldn’t make it out of his group.

Pastrana was also present at the 2017 ROC, one of his nine appearances. He and Tanner Foust comprised the American contingent at the most recent edition in 2023, where they were swept by Thierry Neuville in the Nations Cup.

The 2003 Race of Champions marked Pastrana’s first time competing in rallying, when he was still in the midst of a decorated motocross career. Since then, he has been one of the most iconic names in rally and rallycross, the latter including being the creator of Nitrocross.

“I’ve talked to Kurt a few times over the past months and pleaded with him to come out of retirement since his crash in NASCAR,” said Pastrana. “I would have loved to see another ultra talented driver like Kyle Larson come to Race of Champions as well, but he has a NASCAR race the same weekend. I said if I’m going all the way to Australia then it has to be with someone that can help me win it all for Team USA.

“Hopefully Kurt can teach me how to drive on tarmac. I’m so stoked that he has confirmed and we are going to do everything we can to win ROC Sydney for the USA.”

The 2025 ROC will take place on March 7–8.

Featured image credit: Race of Champions