Kyle Busch scoots back into racing at Coca-Cola 600

CONCORD, N.C. – Reporters in the Charlotte Media Center turned their heads at the sound of an electric whir and were surprised by the smiling face who looked back at them.

There, driving a Skittles-branded scooter that resembled a converted cooler, was Kyle Busch. As he wheeled past them toward the dais, he nodded and said, "Hello."

This is how Busch is getting around the infield these days while still recovering from a broken right leg and left foot.

On the racetrack, though, he'll have a different Skittles-themed vehicle: His No. 18 Toyota will be going door-to-door with 42 other drivers in today's Coca-Cola 600.

Racing at 200 m.p.h. is quite a feat for a man who isn't even up to 3 m.p.h. on his feet yet.

"It still takes me a little longer than I'd like to get from Point A to Point B within the garage area, but my Skittles scooter would certainly speed up that process," he said. "Really appreciate them hooking a brother up."

Though he walks slowly and gingerly, he can't afford to do anything slow in today's race. Busch's difficult march toward the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup begins in NASCAR's longest event.

Busch missed the first 11 races of the season after suffering injuries in a February crash at Daytona International Speedway during the Xfinity Series opener. NASCAR waived the requirement that he participate in every race to be eligible for the Chase.

This version of the format, now in its second year, makes it easier to catch up than it would have been a decade ago.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver needs to do two things to qualify for the 10-race playoff: Win one of the next 15 races and climb into the top 30 in the points standings.

It's the latter requirement that seems more difficult on paper. Busch is 179 points behind the current 30th-place driver — Tony Stewart — and would likely have to average a 16th-place finish to get within range of the top 30 by the cutoff race at Richmond.

"I'm probably most nervous of getting a race victory," he said. "I know how hard it is to win these races in this series.

"I feel like the top-30 is relatively achievable. I don't think it's going to be too hard."

First, he'll have to prove he can make it 600 miles. Erik Jones (Byron) is on standby for Busch today in case he needs to get out of the car.

Whether on track or foot, Busch has to pick up the pace.

Coca-Cola 600

On track: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, N.C.; 12th of 33 races.

On TV: 6 tonight, Fox (Channel 2 in Detroit).

On pole: Matt Kenseth.

Overview: Jimmie Johnson won last year's 600 for the fourth time and could add another. He'll have to take care of Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski (Rochester Hills), Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the process.

Mike Brudenell's picks: 1. Johnson; 2. Kahne; 3. Keselowski.