Race Team Cancels Tribute For NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch
on Jul 11, 2026
NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch Dies At 41
On May 21, two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died at the age of 41. NASCAR confirmed the news in a statement, while the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR also released a joint statement honoring the longtime driver.
Busch had been scheduled to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24. However, earlier that same day, his family announced that the two-time Cup Series champion had been hospitalized with what they described as a “severe illness” and would no longer participate in any racing activities.
The statement did not provide any additional details about Kyle Busch’s illness. However, his family released a statement on Saturday (May 23), revealing that he died due to complications related to “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis.”
Kyle is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children Brexton (11) and Lennix (4). Busch was one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history. Nicknamed “Rowdy,” Busch won two NASCAR Cup Series championships (in 2015 and 2019) and became known for his aggressive driving style and record-setting success across NASCAR’s top divisions.
Busch held numerous NASCAR records, including the most combined wins across NASCAR’s three national touring series. He earned 63 Cup Series victories, more than 100 Xfinity Series wins, and nearly 70 Truck Series wins during his career.
On July 10th, NASCAR announced details of a celebration of the champion racer’s life to be held later this year. The memorial will take place on October 9th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race.
Race Team Cancels Kyle Busch Tribute
Earlier this week, a race team was forced to cancel plans for a special tribute honoring Busch, a team representative confirmed.
Mooresville, North Carolina-based Nitro Motorsports, which competes in the ARCA Menards Series, had planned to field a Kyle Busch-inspired paint scheme on driver Thomas Annunziata’s No. 70 Chevrolet. The design paid homage to Busch’s iconic yellow M&M’s car that became synonymous with his Hall of Fame-worthy NASCAR career.
The tribute was originally scheduled to debut during the ARCA Menards Series race at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut on Friday (July 10). However, the representative confirmed Thursday (July 9) that the team was forced to scrap the tribute before it could hit the track.
According to the representative, the concept came together quickly but there ultimately wasn’t enough time to complete the tribute before race weekend.
