Former Rivals, Friends In NASCAR Community Mourn Kyle Busch: One of Racing’s “True Giants”
on May 22, 2026 • Updated May 22, 2026
At the age of 41, Kyle Busch, who won the NASCAR Cup Series twice, died on Thursday, May 21.
News of his passing has rattled the NASCAR community, with the driver being described in a joint statement released by NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family as “a future Hall of Famer.”
The statement goes on to note that Kyle, who competed in NASCAR races from 2001 to 2026, had “sharp wit and [a] competitive spirit” that would go on to spark “a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.'”
See the full joint statement, here:
A joint statement on behalf of the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7fYGjIqxoJ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026
Since word of his death, many stock car drivers and others in the racing community have expressed their condolences… even a former enemy.
RELATED: Kyle Busch Celebrated His Son’s Birthday In His Last Post – 3 Days Before His Death
Former Rival Kevin Harvick Shares Touching Post About Kyle Busch
Kevin Harvick wrote on Instagram of how he and Kyle “spent years pushing each other to the limit,” adding, “Kyle made me better because I had to be at my absolute best to beat him.”
Over the course of Kyle’s career, he had 63-career victories, with 33 of those being against Kevin Harvick, among others.
On the other hand, Harvick bested Kyle 28 times.
Presently, Kyle is 9th on the all-time win list, while Kevin Harvick is 11th, according to FOX Sports.
Harvick went on to say:
“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.”
For Harvick to say this is astonishing, as the two were once bitter rivals.
By 2019, Harvick had changed his tune — or, at least adjusted it — telling NASCAR, “Oh, man, I wanted to rip Kyle Busch’s head off for a long time, and now I enjoy being around Kyle and racing with Kyle … The reason I think that is, for me, there’s a respect that comes with what he does on the race track, so I enjoy beating Kyle.”
Harvick went on to say, “I know Kyle enjoys beating me, and I enjoy racing Kyle, but I also understand that when it’s all said and done, he’s going to be one of the greatest that goes through the sport.”
In that same NASCAR interview, Kyle said he began to feel a change in his interactions with Harvick in 2014, attributing the birth of Harvick’s son and the rise of social media to their arrival at a more amicable relationship.
Revisit one of their earlier heated moments, from 2011, here:
See Harvick’s full tribute to his late rival, here:
Other NASCAR Figures Remember Kyle Busch
Kyle’s status as a fierce competitor also made him the idol of some.
In an emotional post, Bubba Wallace shared some of the advice he once received from Kyle, writing, “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”
Powerfully, he went on to write, “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.”
Bubba added, “That’s what hurts the most. An icon and a legend that I looked up to…is no longer with us.”
See Bubba’s full post, here:
Responding to the news of Kyle Busch’s death, Denny Hamlin wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “Absolutely cannot comprehend this news. We just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.”
Hamlin’s comments come a matter of months after the tragedy he and his family faced when his father tragically died in a house fire.
Posting on Instagram, Jimmie Johnson wrote, “NASCAR lost one of its greatest talents today, and we’ve all lost a friend.”
The wife to Dale Earnhardt Jr., Amy Earnhardt, posted a photo on Instagram, writing, “I’m at a loss of words with the news of Kyle’s passing and truly heartbroken for Samantha, Brexton, Lennix Kurt and their families. Praying for their strength and peace.”
This is a developing story…
RELATED: Kyle Busch’s Wife Honored Him In Affectionate Birthday Post 19 Days Before His Death
