Speedway to expand SAFER barriers after Kyle Busch crash

Published: Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 10:03 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 1:09 a.m.

Kyle Busch will not race in today's Daytona 500 after fracturing his right leg in a violent crash into a concrete retaining wall during Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, a crash that led Speedway President Joie Chitwood III to say the Speedway did not live up to its responsibility today.

Chitwood, who was visibly shaken, said Saturday night that a temporary tire barrier would line the 850-foot stretch of concrete wall for today's 500.

He said steel and foam energy reduction (SAFER) barriers would be added to every possible contact point around the 2.5-mile tri-oval before NASCAR returns in July.

We should have had a SAFER barrier there today; we did not, Chitwood said. We're going to fix that. We're going to fix that right now. We don't want to see any competitors injured here. We have to fix that. We can't allow this to happen again.

Busch, 29, was stabilized by Speedway medics at the crash site, then transported by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center for treatment.

Busch sustained a compound fracture of the right lower leg and was in surgery Saturday night, according to a statement from Joe Gibbs Racing team.

He also suffered a midfoot fracture of his left foot in the wreck.

Busch's injuries will sideline him for an undetermined period of time, the release said. Veteran Matt Crafton will serve as the interim driver for Busch's No. 18 Toyota for the Daytona 500. Crafton is a two-time NASCAR Truck Series champion.

Gibbs Racing said an interim driver has not been determined for any Cup races beyond Daytona.

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Speedway to expand SAFER barriers after Kyle Busch crash