CONCORD, N.C. — As Kyle Busch took the podium Friday in the Charlotte Motor Speedway media room, the first words from reporters weren’t in the form a question.

Instead, the driver of the No. 18 Toyota was greeted with two words: Welcome back.

In his first NASCAR action since breaking his right leg and left foot in the Xfinity Series opener Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway, Busch returned to the driver’s seat in full force in the lone practice for today’s All-Star Race — posting the day’s top speed at 188.884 mph.

“It felt really good,” Busch said. “I was obviously optimistic about coming back and getting some laps in here. I was excited to get back in and see my guys and just kind of get the taste of all of that again.”

Friday marked the first time Busch was able to drive a Sprint Cup car under the 2015 rules package. He said adjusting to the changes proved to be his most difficult hurdle.

“These race cars have been changing quite constantly with setups and things like that,” Busch said. “Just trying to get a feel for what all was going on there for what I had to drive.”

After missing the first 11 races of the Sprint Cup season while rehabbing, Busch announced Tuesday he had been cleared to participate in tonight’s race, which pays $1 million to the winner.

NASCAR issued a waiver Wednesday that made Busch eligible to compete for a spot in the Chase. He will need to win a race and finish the regular season in the top 30 in points in order to qualify.

“I think it’s great,” said Busch about NASCAR’s decision. “It gives us a legitimate chance to try to qualify for the Chase and to be able to race for a championship. That’s all you can ask for.”

Also on Friday:

Kahne holds off Jones in photo finish trucks victory: CONCORD, N.C. — Kasey Kahne edged Erik Jones by 0.005 seconds after a contact-filled, final-lap duel in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Kahne passed Jones on a green-white-checkered finish that ended with his truck wobbling across the line a few feet ahead of Jones.

Pagenaud posts best lap before Indy qualifying: INDIANAPOLIS — Simon Pagenaud was the fastest driver in the final full practice before Indianapolis 500 qualifying begins today. If he can duplicate that feat two more times, he will put team owner Roger Penske within striking distance of a May sweep. The French driver posted the best lap, going 230.698 mph late in the day. Six drivers topped 230 on Friday, the most this week after series officials gave each car a boost of roughly 50 horsepower.

More fuel, more noise in F1: PARIS — In a bid to become more attractive and win back disgruntled fans, Formula One will see a return to refueling in 2017 along with more aggressive-looking cars, louder engines and faster lap times. Last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix highlighted some of the current problems faced by the sport, with Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg winning almost unchallenged from pole position and with Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel — Mercedes’ main rival — crossing the line 45 seconds behind Rosberg and 28 behind second-place Lewis Hamilton. Refueling, in order to maintain a maximum race fuel allowance, was ditched five years ago.