Buddy Kofoid shared an update on the health issue that sidelined him through much of January and even caused him to miss the Chili Bowl.

Ahead of the Chili Bowl Nationals it was revealed by car owner Keith Kunz that Kofoid was suffering some kind of illness and that he would not be competing.

Kunz told FloRacing’s Tyler Burnett, “Buddy went to Australia over the winter, was really good over there. Got home. We we were on the way here and he came down with an illness here in just the last couple of days and he’s too sick to get here.”

Kofoid initially shared a press release on January 20th noting that he was “officially on the road to recovery after a recent illness and is grateful for the support of his team and fans as he turns his focus back to racing.”

Additionally, the team shared that he will be competing with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, “Roth Motorsports is pleased to announce that Buddy will return to competition on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series in 2026, as the team looks ahead to another season at the highest level of sprint car racing.”

“I’m more excited than anything,” Kofoid said as part of the press release. “I feel like we have the car in a really great place and I feel better than I’ve ever been. With that combination I’m looking forward putting it to work this year.”

Now, during a media appearance for the World of Outlaws, Kofoid shared additional details on what sidelined him. As reported by TJ Buffenbarger at TJSlideways.com, Kofoid said, “I feel back to normal and a lot better. “I had some sort of bacterial, I don’t want to say infection, but parasite type thing. Long story short, found out it came from, most likely, some sort of water or ice or something like that, that I had while I was in Australia and that caused appendix inflammation and small bowel inflammation that they’re really worried about.”

“I lost a decent amount of weight that I can’t afford to lose and just had no energy. I was trying to make Chili Bowl, honestly, and just didn’t get cleared in time to be able to justify racing Friday,” he continued. “I feel a lot better now and just spent three days at TPC in North Carolina working out all three days and felt good. I feel back to normal, putting the weight back on again.”

With the illness behind him, he’s focused on chasing a World of Outlaws Sprint Car title, “I feel like everyone uses the word excited, but I really am excited. You know, it’s especially, you know, coming off the year we had. Just to get back with the people I enjoy being around with Roth Motorsports and racing sprint cars with the World of Outlaws is one of the best things, if not the best thing, I’ve ever been able to do. I’m just excited to continue that journey. Being considered a favorite to win a championship, it’s hard to not be excited. Hopefully we can just keep doing what we’re doing, I can get better, and we can make that next jump.”

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