‘Secret Santa’ Kurt Busch ends up with a setback as his big effort to surprise a fan didn’t go as planned

Kurt Busch shared on social media a failed 'Secret Santa' surprise for a fan. Busch went to see the fan but the fan wasn't home to receive a gift commemorating a special moment in his racing career.

Busch is a 46-year-old former NASCAR driver who last drove for 23XI Racing in the Cup Series. His racing career prematurely ended after a crash at Pocono Raceway in 2022, where he sustained injuries.

Despite being away from NASCAR, Kurt Busch continues to give back to his fans. His most recent fan service was for an individual named Don who sent him items to sign. However, the driver decided to add a special diecast car as he returned the items himself.

"Alright, so it's a Saturday before Christmas, and I got all the fan mail done, and I've always prided myself on trying to get it all out before Christmas," Busch said.

Busch went to Don's house in Phoenix with the signed items and a diecast of his Daytona 500-winning car. Since Don wasn't home to receive his gift, the former NASCAR driver just left the presents at the front door.

"Alright, Don must not be home. We tried to catch him on a Saturday but a NASCAR fan in Phoenix is going to get a nice surprise. I'm Santa Claus," Busch said.

The former driver concluded:

"Merry Christmas everybody."

The Daytona 500-winning diecast car was from the 2017 season where Kurt Busch drove for Stewart-Haas Racing. Driving the No. 41 Ford, Busch took the lead from Kyle Larson on the final lap after the latter driver ran out of fuel.

Kurt Busch won the 2017 Daytona 500 in the No. 41 SHR Ford - Source: Imagn

The 2017 Daytona 500 victory was Busch's only win in the "Great American Race" at Daytona International Speedway. He concluded his racing career with 34 wins including one Cup Series championship in 2004.

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Kurt Busch hinted at return to racing after pleading guilty

After Kurt Busch pleaded guilty to an arrest in August, the former driver released a statement showing an interest in returning to racing. Busch said he won't make the same mistake before hinting at his future racing plans.

The 34-time Cup race winner stated:

"I take full responsibility for my recent DWI arrest and deeply regret my actions. I voluntarily completed a pre-trial assessment and followed all recommendations ahead of my court date."

“I’m committed to making amends, ensuring this never happens again, and returning to racing with a renewed focus. Thank you to everyone who has supported me," Busch concluded.

While the details of his possible return to racing are still scarce, Kurt Busch could partner with 23XI Racing for the plan. He is still participating in the team events including joining its Christmas party last week.

Busch congratulated team co-owners Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin during the party for a strong 2024 season. He also sent love to the team drivers Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst, the newest addition to the lineup.

23XI Racing also considers Busch part of the team, saying "@kurtbusch is still here" on its Instagram bio.