The NASCAR world suffered a devastating loss on Thursday with the tragic passing of Kyle Busch at 41 years old. Ahead of what’s meant to be an iconic weekend for racing, drivers are now paying their respects to a fallen legend.
From Denny Hamlin, Jeff Gordon and Bubba Wallace to Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson, here are how current NASCAR drivers and Hall of Famers paid their respects to one of the best racers ever.
Jimmie Johnson
Jimmie Johnson, once Kyle Busch’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, honored his fallen friend on Thursday with reflections on both how driven he was to be great and how talented Busch was behind the wheel. More than that, Johnson is grateful for the moments they had together off the track.
“Kyle Busch wasn’t just one of the fiercest competitors our sport has ever seen, he was one of the most talented race car drivers I’ve ever shared a track with. We spent years as teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, and even as competitors, there was always a deep respect for what he could do behind the wheel. Kyle pushed all of us to be better. His passion, intensity, and love for racing were unmatched, and his impact on this sport will be felt forever. I’ll always remember the many laughs and conversations away from the spotlight, and most importantly the way he cared so deeply about his family. My heart goes out to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, Kurt, his parents, many teammates across the industry, fans and everyone who loved Kyle.”
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Denny Hamlin
Kyle Busch’s former teammate, Denny Hamlin was one of the first to react on X to his peer’s sudden passing. “Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.”
Hamlin also appeared on Good Morning America on Friday morning to talk about Busch’s legacy. Asked “As a race fan, every race that he was in, was more exciting to watch than the ones that he wasn’t. He kept our fans entertained, he kept our media members on our toes at all times. Just as a competitor, I can tell you that there’s no way I’d have the wins that I had had I not had Kyle Busch as a teammate to push me to be better.”
Related: Denny Hamlin Credits Kyle Busch for Huge Development in His Career
Jeff Gordon
A long-time competitor and friend of Kyle Busch, NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon reacted to the tragic passing on X. In the statement, he highlighted Busch’s unmatched competitiveness and passion for racing.
“This is a devastating loss and one that is hard for the NASCAR community to process. Kyle was a fierce competitor who demanded the very best from himself each time he put on the helmet. As teammates, I saw firsthand the passion and intensity he brought to the sport every single day. He was a champion and prolific racer who made a tremendous impact on NASCAR and was a lifelong advocate for all forms of motor sports. But beyond the track, he loved his family deeply and was incredibly proud of Samantha, Brexton and Lennix. My thoughts are with the entire Busch family during this extremely difficult time.”
Kevin Harvick
Just hours after initially getting to celebrate being inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Kevin Harvick had to reflect on the iconic battles he had with Kyle Busch during their legendary careers and the sudden void that will be left in the lives of Busch’s family, friends and racing fans.
“Kyle Busch and I spent years pushing each other to the limit. We raced hard, traded paint and fought for every inch because all either of us wanted to do was beat the other. What people may not realize is how much that rivalry drove us both. Kyle made me better because you had to be at your absolute best to beat him. Over time, that fierce competition turned into a mutual respect. “As our careers evolved, so did our conversations. We talked over building race teams, life beyond the racetrack, and our families, especially raising young sons who want to be racers themselves. I’m deeply saddened for Samantha, Brexton and Lennix. There’s nothing that can replace a husband or a father. I’m also saddened for our sport. NASCAR lost one of its true giants, whose impact is almost beyond measure.”
Kyle Larson
In a season that has already proven to be challenging for Kyle Larson, he now finds himself dealing with the sudden loss of an idol whom he both watched growing up and has since had the chance to have great battles against, both at the Cup Series and lower levels. Larson released a statement on X in remembrance of Busch.
“Completely heartbroken to hear the news of Kyle’s passing. I have so many memories of great battles with him throughout my career that I’ll cherish forever. It’s hard to even put into words what he meant to me and my career, whether he knew it or not. He was the bar we all measured ourselves against. Just a pure racer to the core. As real as they come. I hate this so much for their family, Samantha, Lennix, and especially Brexton. The bond Kyle and Brexton shared, and everything he poured into his racing and his family, was incredible. RIP KFB.”
Bubba Wallace
For Bubba Wallace, as with several other drivers in the Cup Series, the loss hits particularly close to home because their careers came up through Kyle Busch Motorsports. Wallace, age 32, shared on Instagram how “monumental” Busch was in shaping who he is today.
“My eyes hurt from all the crying, my heart hurts from the pain. Just Sunday, mid race I thought about Kyle Busch and the one of many lessons that he had taught me. “Is it loose? Drive thru it and trust it. Kyle was a monumental factor in who Bubba Wallace is today. I sit here and look at all things around me and all the things I’ve been able to accomplish..Kyle played a role in every aspect. That’s what hurts the most. An icon and a legend that I looked up to…is no longer with us….Honored to have shared the same race track with one of the best to ever do it. Thank you for all you’ve done for me. I will miss my drafting buddy on the plate races. Rest easy my brother. Love to you and your family!”
Dale Earnhardt Jr
The tragic and sudden passing of Kyle Busch unfortunately has brought back many of the same feelings experienced when Dale Earnhardt passed away in 2001. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., the loss this week isn’t just about NASCAR losing an all-time great but also an even better person, father, husband, and brother.
“Kyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years. But we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible. We did some media together also to laugh through some of the things we put each other through many years ago. Most recently we had even been discussing him running my Late Model at Wilkesboro this summer. He seemed extremely happy and we had planned to meet up next Thursday to get his seat to the shop. He laughed over the idea of his fans and JRM fans having to cheer in unison during that race. Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. No one can deny that. But he was also a father, a husband, brother, son, and a friend to many. My heart is broken for the Busch family. I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends.”
William Byron
William Byron, one of the many drivers who Kyle Busch mentored and helped become a top racer in the Cup Series, released a statement on Instagram paying his respects to his mentor and sharing everything Busch meant to him.
“I’m so sad and stunned to hear the news about KB. He meant so much to a lot of people, not just myself. Kyle was the best mentor you could ever have. He was incredibly unselfish, cared about his people and his family deeply. And helped shaped my career to what it is. I’m heartbroken. Thinking and praying for the Busch family during this time.”
Carson Hocevar
Earlier this season, Carson Hocevar helped Kyle Busch win a Truck Series race at EchoPark Speedway with Busch finishing second behind Hocevar weeks later in the Truck race at Texas Motor Speedway. In his memorial post, Hocevar shared his relationship with the all-time great driver he grew up watching and later competing against. Hocevar also included photos of the two together, including when he was a kid.
“Every day is a privilege and today is a truly sad reminder of that. This little boy in this picture hated you on sunday’s. but he loved to hate you, and you made it very difficult to hate and not become a fan when your passion for racing showed, when you would show up to his home town to race at his home tracks. he will be forever grateful for that. From a fan, to a hater, to a competitor, to a teammate, and to even maybe a friend. i share that story because this little kid in the picture was not anywhere near the true number that you impacted for the better just through racing. You will be deeply missed. both on the race track, but certainly off.”
Brad Keselowski
One of the best modern rivalries in NASCAR has been Brad Keselowski vs Kyle Busch. After the sudden passing of the future Hall of Famer, Keselowski shared how he felt like he’s lost his roadrunner that he always got to chase and shared the respect and appreciation he had for Busch.
“I made him earn every victory and stole a few from him along the way. We took our shots at each other, in the media and on the track. But I’d like to think that somewhere deep down there was an appreciation that we pushed each other to perform at the highest level, even if neither of us would’ve admitted it. Tonight, I feel a little like the coyote with no more roadrunner to chase. His loss is all of our loss, but none more so than his family’s. Thinking of Samantha, and Brexton and Lennix who lost their father today.”
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