Raising them right.
Kyle Busch‘s family was at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 yesterday, their first public appearance since the NASCAR legend suddenly passed away on Thursday at the age of 41.
Along with Busch’s parents Tom and Gaye, and his brother Kurt, his wife Samantha was on hand with their two children, 11-year-old Brexton and 4-year-old Lennix for an emotional pre-race ceremony to honor the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
And as Samantha and her kids made their way to pit road, Brexton was greeted by one of his own friends in a heartwarming moment.
In a touching scene, cameras caught Owen Larson, the son of NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson and his wife Katelyn, quietly stepping out of the crowd and walking up to his friend Brexton to give him a hug.
Kyle Larson’s son Owen going up to give his friend Brexton Busch a hug. Hits you right in the feels. pic.twitter.com/Llc9sj3cBy
— Whiskey Riff (@WhiskeyRiff) May 24, 2026
Owen is 11 years old himself, the same age as Brexton, and both are accomplished racers themselves even at their young age. Kyle Busch often spoke about his desire to someday race against his son in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and there’s no doubt that Owen and Brexton could someday find themselves on the track together as competitors – but in that moment on pit road, it was just one friend trying to comfort another.
During the tearjerking tribute, NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell reminded the Busch family that their racing family was there to support them:
“Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you. And that you and your children are NASCAR family forever. And Brexton and Lennix, your dad loved you with all his heart. Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everybody watching on TV, and all those people up in that grandstand are your family, and we’ve got you.
Kyle Busch is NASCAR. He was one of a kind, and there will never be another. And I’d ask everybody now to join us in a moment of silence for Kyle.”
The appearance by the Busch family was one of many tributes to the winningest driver in NASCAR history. Ahead of the race, Kyle’s older brother Kurt walked to the infield to lay 8 white roses on the tribute that had been painted in the grass.
An emotional pre race at the Coke 600. Kurt Busch lays down 8 flowers on the infield No. 8 for his late brother Kyle Busch. Not a dry-eye in the speedway. pic.twitter.com/cEsnm3VhBV
— Joey Ellis (@Jellis1016) May 24, 2026
And on lap 8, the broadcast went silent as the entire crowd stood and held up 8 fingers in honor of the driver of the #8 car, a scene reminiscent of the tributes to Dale Earnhardt after he passed away in 2001.
A tribute to Kyle Busch on Lap 8. pic.twitter.com/9ULu49vOk7
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 25, 2026
Richard Childress Racing announced earlier this week that they would be suspending the use of the #8 that was driven by Kyle Busch and would instead renumber his car to the #33 – at least until Brexton is old enough to drive it:
“Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond. Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry. No one can carry it forward to the level that he did. The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
Busch has piloted the #8 car since 2023, when he moved to RCR after 15 years in the #18 car for Joe Gibbs Racing. He won three races during his first season with the team, en route to becoming the winningest driver in NASCAR history with 69 Truck Series wins, 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins, and 63 Cup Series victories.
