During NASCAR's recently concluded Watkins Glen Cup Series race, Go Bowling at The Glen, Kyle Busch mentioned Dr. Bill Heisel on the radio. This has left fans wondering who Heisel is and how he is related to the Richard Childress Racing driver. Well, here is what we know about him.

Sharing the incident on X, NASCAR journalist Dustin Long wrote, "NASCAR… In an even & measured voice Kyle Busch asked his team to find Dr. William Heisel and that he will need him after the race. Dr. Heisel has extensive work with teams, drivers and pit crew members. Busch did not elaborate on the radio for why he is making the request."

Widely known as Dr. Bill in NASCAR, the veteran doctor is the one who keeps NASCAR drivers and crew healthy. He is an OrthoCarolina physician assistant and the director of motorsports.

Often found at NASCAR races, Heisel has grown his love for the sport. However, not as a fan, but the role he plays for the drivers and the crew. Per OrthoCarolina's website, he has a team of six, which preps the drivers and crew before the race and stays on standby during race weekends.

"We probably see more injuries associated with pit crews than we do drivers in the grand scheme of things," Dr. Heisel told Spectrum Local News in May 2023. "They didn't have access to the same resources that traditional stick and ball sports had access to relative to athletic trainers and physical therapists."

He also shared how he gets "great personal satisfaction out of the care of professional athletes." Per OrthoCarolina, Heisel has over 30 years of medical experience and more than a decade in motorsports.

Kyle Busch reportedly asked for him to nurse the sinus sickness that has been troubling him since last week, including during the recently concluded Go Bowling at The Glen.

Kyle Busch reacts after his comeback at Watkins Glen

Following the conclusion of the Watkins Glen race, Kyle Busch shared his thoughts as he came home in eighth place and picked up 35 important points. He told the media after the race:

"Strong day for the No. 8 zone Jalapeño Lime Chevrolet team. We were a top-10 car for the majority of the race, and ended eighth here at Watkins Glen International. We made the adjustments and strategy calls we needed to drive forward and make up track position after qualifying 21st, despite battling a car that trended tight throughout the race."

Having started his day in 21st place, Busch fell back to 24th by the end of Stage 1. However, he recovered brilliantly to finish Stage 2 in fifth place, and in the final stage, Busch came home in eighth place. Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing won the race ahead of Tyler Reddick.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Yask Kotak