They certainly made each other better.
Yesterday, Kyle Busch, the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and winningest driver in NASCAR history, tragically passed away. His death was announced by NASCAR, after his family had revealed earlier in the day that Busch had been hospitalized and would miss the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend. Busch was just 41 years old, and is survived by his wife, Samantha, and his two young children, a son, Brexton, and a daughter, Lennix.
Following his death, a joint statement was released from his family, NASCAR, and his Richard Childress Racing team:
“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.
Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’
Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.”
His death comes less than a week after his final NASCAR win, in the Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover last Friday.
A joint statement on behalf of the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7fYGjIqxoJ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026
Of course, the tributes for Kyle have been pouring in, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of Kyle’s longtime rivals, shared a beautiful tribute to his friend. Tons of drivers have offered their condolences to the Busch family, and one of Kyle’s longtime teammates, Denny Hamlin, took time to reflect on his life and legacy this morning. The two of them spent 15 seasons together (2008–2022) as the powerhouses of Joe Gibbs Racing, and there’s no doubt they made each other better drivers.
During an appearance on ABC, Hamlin explained that Kyle made racing fun, and he wouldn’t have wont he was he has if it wasn’t or Kyle being there to push him:
“I just know that as a race fan, every race that he was in was more exciting to watch than the ones that he wasn’t. So just simply put, he kept our fans entertained, he kept our media members on their toes at all times, and just as a competitor, I can tell you, there’s no way that I would have the wins that I have had I not had Kyle Busch as a teammate to push me to be better.”
They talked about how Kyle could be a polarizing figure at times, but he matured a lot once he got married and started a family, as most people do, and Hamlin says that is obviously the most heartbreaking part in the fact that two young children are now without their father:
“Just the maturity… you know, he met Samantha. They had some kids together, which is fantastic, and that’s the most heartbreaking part about this, right, is he’s been so invested in his son‘s future and career that surely will be ahead of him. But, you know, the guy he wasn’t always the most mature when I was teammates with him. He was only a few years younger, but man, it just seemed like he was just so brash and he wasn’t for everyone when it came to his off track personality.
What was for everyone was his talent behind the wheel, and that’s why everyone wanted him. And so I just know that he really went through a time right around when he was 30-years-old where it was like, man, he started this family and he just changed, just like all of us do that have kids one day. And so it definitely change those peaks and valleys of his emotions it seemed like, and you had a more steady Kyle Busch.
And really, the best Kyle Busch. And so over these 11 years since he had his first kid, you saw the evolution of him, and he became a man, and he became a great teammate. And you know, RCR, that poor organization had to go through the death of Dale Earnhardt, and now Kyle Busch, and just can’t imagine being in in the position that his family and his race team are in.”
Hamlin also reflected on his favorite memory of Busch, which occurred during a test when they first became teammates at JGR:
“My first memory with him, and my favorite is, we were at a test the very first time he was my teammate. And he walked over to my stall and he says, ‘We’re gonna see how good you really.’ And I said, ‘Alright.’ He was coming over from Hendrick Motorsports, and and at that time, we were gonna be testing with the same race team.
And we just kept getting in the car, he would go P1. I’d up him, I’d make a quicker lap. He’d go out, he’d make a quicker lap. And we just kept going, like, three or four times overtaking each other. And I knew right then, I was like ‘Okay, this guy‘s gonna push me pretty hard to get the best out of me.’ And there’s no doubt, you know, one of my strengths right now is mile and a half race tracks, it’s because of Kyle Busch.
I got to watch him, and study him. He was just a master and getting speed at a race cars on those types of race tracks. And I just was in awe of his talent, and to me personally, I feel like he’s the most talented, gifted and talented, race car driver that ever stepped in a car.”
It’s just heartbreaking, and while Denny and Kyle had their moments, they are two of the best drivers and Kyle will surely be missed by so many fans.
You can watch the full interview here:
