In the early hours of May 22, the NASCAR Cup Series garage opened, and instead of the normal 40-team pandemonium, Kyle Busch’s re-branded No. 33 team was the only team unloading, and every driver, crew member and team executive gathered around the No. 33’s hauler, standing and watching, in a rare moment of silence in a community of constant noise.
On May 20, Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, was found unresponsive in the Chevrolet simulator, and was hospitalized the following day.
On May 21, Busch suddenly passed away. Busch was hospitalized earlier in the day due to a “severe illness,” as per a NASCAR press release. Busch was 41 years young.
On May 22, Busch’s family released a statement explaining that Busch had pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, and complications from sepsis lead to his hospitalization and eventual death.
Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha, his older brother Kurt, his son Brexton and daughter Lennix.
Busch won the ECOSave 200 at Dover Motor Speedway, six days before his passing. In the post-race interview for FS1, Busch was quoted as saying,
“You never know when the last one will be.”
The quote has quickly become a reassurance for “Rowdy Nation,” Busch’s loyal fanbase.
Busch is NASCAR’s all-time wins leader, with 234 combined wins across NASCAR’s three national series. Busch had 63 Cup Series wins, 102 O’Reilly Series wins and 69 Truck Series wins.
Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was the first Cup Series race without Busch since May of 2015 at Kansas Speedway.
Prior to the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR Chief Executive Officer Steve O’Donnell walked down Pit Road, alongside Busch’s family, in commencement of Busch’s career and influence on the industry.
Following O’Donnell’s commencement, Busch’s brother Kurt placed eight white roses on the stylized number eight painted on the frontstretch turf.
Busch won the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series championships, both with Joe Gibbs Racing, who put out the following statement following Busch’s death.
“Our hearts are broken for Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, and the entire Busch family. Kyle was a fierce competitor, an incredible teammate, and, far more importantly, a devoted husband, father, and son. His impact on our organization and on the sport of NASCAR will never be forgotten. During this unimaginable time, everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and the Gibbs family are lifting the Busch family up in prayer.”
Motorsport pundits, media members, fans, drivers, teams and crew members alike all posted memorials of Busch throughout social media and outside the Richard Childress Racing (RCR) shop.
At the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway held a silent lap 18 of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, in memory of Busch.
Busch is the first Cup driver to die while in-season since Dale Earnhardt in 2001, and the first to die off-track since Davey Allison in 1993.
Austin Hill drove the re-branded No. 33 Chevrolet for Busch’s former No. 8 team. As Richard Childress Racing did in 2001 for the late-Dale Earnhardt, the team will retire the No. 8 until Brexton Busch, Kyle’s son, is ready to race in NASCAR. Brexton turned 11 years old earlier this month.
The entire NASCAR world is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch, one of the greatest drivers of all time, and a future first-ballot NASCAR Hall of Fame member.
