Kyle Busch’s Team Pays Tribute to Racer at Charlotte Motor Speedway
The motorsport community is still in mourning for NASCAR icon Kyle Busch following his unexpected and tragic passing.
“A quiet garage pays tribute as the No. 33 @RCRracing Chevrolet is unloaded at @CLTMotorSpdway,” the official NASCAR account posted on X on Saturday, May 23, featuring a video of Busch’s team unloading his vehicle at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Chevrolet, decorated in blue, white, and red with the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen logo, was unloaded in solemn silence to honor the driver who passed away on Thursday, May 21, at age 41. The car’s number was switched from No. 8 to No. 33, though a small No. 8 decal was visible on the door.
On Friday, May 22, NASCAR announced that the RCR team had decided to shelf the No. 8 car that Busch last drove and would be using car No. 33 for the foreseeable future. The team mentioned it would retain the No. 8 for Busch’s son, Brexton, “when he’s ready.”
NASCAR confirmed the two-time Cup Champion’s passing on Thursday, just hours after his family revealed he had been hospitalized due to a “serious illness.” He was 41.
Kyle Busch Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of the sport’s greatest drivers,” the organization expressed in a statement shared via X. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing, and the entire motorsport community.”
The racer is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children: Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
On Saturday, May 23, a spokesperson for the Busch family confirmed to NBC News that the beloved athlete succumbed to pneumonia, which progressed “into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications.”
In his final weeks, Busch faced multiple health challenges while trying to keep up with his demanding NASCAR Cup Series schedule. During a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen in New York on May 10, he requested medical assistance to his bus via his racecar radio following the event.
“He’s the kindred doctor guy,” the racer was heard requesting. “Please let him know I need him after the race.”
Busch also mentioned to his team that he would “need a shot,” but he managed to finish the race in eighth place. At that time, FOX’s commentary team informed the audience that Busch was “suffering from a sinus cold,” which was intensified by the G-force he experienced during the race.
On Thursday, his family shocked NASCAR fans by announcing that Busch would be stepping back from his racing duties due to health problems. The late racer had not skipped a race since 2015 when he missed the first 11 events of the season due to a severe leg injury.
