Kurt Busch given Pocono NASCAR Cup Series honour as he's named grand marshal

NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch has been named grand marshal for The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway.

Busch, who became part of the 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame class earlier this year, will call the famous command for the Cup Series drivers to start their engines on Sunday.

“We’re honored to celebrate Kurt’s Hall-of-Fame career with our fans during The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM race weekend,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May commented.

“Pocono Raceway is proud to be a small part of that illustrious career with Kurt being a three-time race winner and two-time polesitter at ‘The Tricky Triangle.’”

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is also set to serve as the Honorary Starter and will wave the green flag.

Busch retired from Cup Series racing after a devastating crash during qualifying for the 2022 Pocono Cup race, which left the 23XI Racing driver with a concussion and vestibular issues. The 2004 Cup Series champion provided an update on his recovery at the end of 2024. 

"I'm feeling much, much better since the summer wreck in 2022 and all of the different physical therapy, different neurologist visits," he told Racer.com at the time.

Retired NASCAR driver Kurt Busch

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

"It was taxing for a while. Basically, every other day it was a doctor visit somewhere and going to get hearing checked, eyes checked, balance checked.

"The vestibular movements were what was greatly affected. I still feel the lingering effects but it has calmed down, and it has been through all the physical therapy and all the great doctors who have helped me.

"Right now for 2025, I'm still endorsed with Monster Energy. I'm hopeful to get a light duty type of clearance to race with my neurologist, which would then open up some opportunity for me."

The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, 22 June. Practice will take place at 12.30 p.m. ET on Saturday, 21 June, ahead of qualifying at 1.45 p.m. ET.