Needed a little help from his amigo?
Since his passing on Thursday, there’s been an outpouring of tributes to the legendary two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch from his fellow drivers, friends, and members of the NASCAR community.
While Kyle had a (well-earned) reputation as a fierce competitor on the track, those who knew him also recalled a loving father and someone who was always willing to take the time to help his fellow drivers get better at their craft.
One of those drivers who was especially emotional about Busch’s passing was Daniel Suarez, the driver of the #7 car for Spire Motorsports. Suarez spent two seasons early in his career driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series, the team started by Busch before eventually being sold in 2023.
As it turns out, KBM was sold to Spire Motorsports, which currently operates out of the race shop built by Busch for his Truck Series team. And over the weekend, Suarez recalled Busch as someone who was always willing to help mentor him when he first entered NASCAR:
“In 2015, I used to call Kyle once a week for his help and guidance as I started going to racetracks for the first time. He gave me a hand when I was brand new to this.”
As fate would have it, Suarez ended up scoring his first win of the season – and his first win with Spire Motorsports – last night in the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. And afterwards, the Mexico-born driver recalled not only all the help he got from Busch throughout his career, but also the time when Kyle reached out to Suarez for help…after he had been arrested in Mexico:
“Kyle was one of the few drivers out there that I never had an issue with. We always got along amazing. One time he got in trouble in Cancun, he called me, Samantha called me. I mean, some of you guys know what happened there.”
The incident Suarez is referring to happened back in 2023, when Busch was detained while traveling back from Cancun when authorities discovered a handgun in his backpack while going through security at the airport.
In a statement at the time, Busch said that he forgot the gun was in his bag:
“In late January, Samantha and I enjoyed a several day vacation in Mexico. When departing the country, my handgun was flagged during routine screening at the airport.
I have a valid concealed carry permit from my local authority and adhere to all handgun laws, but I made a mistake by forgetting it was in my bag.
Discovery of the handgun led to my detainment while the situation was resolved. I was not aware of Mexican law and had no intention of bringing a handgun into Mexico.
When it was discovered, I fully cooperated with the authorities, accepted the penalties, and returned to North Carolina.
I apologize for my mistake and appreciate the respect shown by all parties as we resolved the matter. My family and I consider this issue closed.”
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Mexico later released a statement announcing that Busch had been sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison and fined the equivalent of US $1,100.
“According to the investigation folder, the arrest took place on January 27 of this year, when the man sentenced today was detained by elements of the Quintana Roo National Guard, derived from the direct signaling of private security personnel from the Airport. Cancun International, who are assigned to guard the platform of the FBO terminal for private flights.
The detainee, who is originally from the State of Nevada, intended to travel to the United States of America, but when passing his luggage through the RX of the platform, a caliber pistol-type firearm was detected inside. 380 with magazine stocked with six useful hollow point cartridges.
Due to the foregoing, the Agent of the Federal Public Ministry presented it before the Control Judge, on January 29 of this year, who described the detention as legal, linked to the process and through an abbreviated procedure issued a sentence.”
The court ultimately agreed to a conditional sentence, which meant that Busch would not be required to serve the jail time as long as he didn’t commit any further offenses in the jurisdiction, and he was ultimately allowed to leave the country after posting a bond.
(Kyle also had a great response when a reporter would later ask him why he feels the need to carry a gun: “Doesn’t matter.”)
Busch would later return to Mexico with NASCAR last year, when the Cup Series raced at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. And Suarez says that Busch even partied with them after the race:
“After the race in Mexico City, we partied together, he came to my party.”
Now, who knows whether Suarez was actually able to help Busch with his legal troubles, or if he was just looking for advice on how to deal with the Mexican authorities. But either way, it’s clear that Suarez and Busch had a special relationship in the Cup Series garage – one that made last night’s win all the more special.
