Roush continues recovery at home

LIVONIA, Mich. -- NASCAR team owner Jack Roush -- who has already visited several of his racing facilities -- continues his impressive recovery from serious injuries suffered in an airplane crash on April 19.

	Jack Roush

On Thursday, Roush, 60, spent some time in meetings at his stock car complex in Concord, N.C., that houses his four Winston Cup teams. Earlier in the week he visited the Craftsman Truck Series operation in Livonia.

The only thing left is for Roush to return to a race track, and it's a safe bet that will occur sometime in the next 10 days at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

While a spokesperson said there are no definitive plans for Roush to visit the track for The Winston on Saturday -- which would be the second straight year he's missed the Winston Cup all-star race -- she would not rule out his attending next week's Coca-Cola Racing Family 600.

She said Larry Hicks, the former U.S. Marine who saved Roush's life by diving into a lake in Troy, Ala., to rescue him from his inverted light aircraft planned to be at the 600 as well. Hicks attended his first race at Richmond International Raceway May 3.

"I'm not going to say he'll be in Charlotte, however it would not surprise me if he shows up," Roush driver Jeff Burton said. "I don’t think he’ll be here for the Winston but the 600 is some time away and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he’s at the Coke 600."

Roush is concentrating at this time on strengthening his upper body and right leg while maintaining flexibility in his left leg, which suffered massive damage including a compound fracture of the femur.

Roush was transferred from the University of Alabama/Birmingham Medical Center on May 1, to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor for rehabilitation work. From there he was released to his Michigan home on May 8.

Roush was in his Livonia office, located in the same complex as the Roush engine building operation, for some time on May 9 and has been there every day this week, a Roush Industries spokesperson said.

He has also done a spot on the Fast Times with Benny Parsons radio show and has other media appearances planned. He also has done some driving.

"I've seen him a couple times and he's doing great," truck program manager Max Jones, a long-time Roush employee, said. "He's pretty much the same old Jack -- he's getting around on a walker and he's getting around pretty good.

Jones formerly drove in Roush's successful sports car program before moving into a management role with the team owner that has programs in NASCAR's three national touring series.

"I didn't really think I was an emotional guy," Jones said, "but when I saw Jack for the first time last week it was pretty emotional for me. Everything you have heard about this -- him being tough, it being amazing and a miracle -- is true and more.

"He was pretty pleased with how everything is going, but not as pleased as I was to see him. It was really a big deal."

Roush spokesperson Lori Halbeisen had to laugh when she talked about the only downside to Roush's remarkable rebound.

"I had to laugh when I saw him this morning," she said. "This really doesn't look good for any one of us who gets a head cold or the stomach flu and has to take a day off."