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Kyle Busch’s widow: NASCAR race days remind her ‘how much it hurts’

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Kyle Busch’s wife Samantha is reflecting on her late husband’s impact on the racing world.

In a July 12 Instagram post, Samantha Busch opened up about the difficulty of witnessing another race day come and go without her husband, who died unexpectedly on May 21 following a brief hospitalization.

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“As another race day approaches I’m reminded again how much it hurts that we’re not there cheering on Kyle,” she said in the post. “It still feels surreal watching from the couch and I still catch myself looking for his name on the leaderboard. At the same time, I’m filled with gratitude.”

One of the most decorated drivers in NASCAR history, Kyle Busch was survived by his wife of 15 years, and their 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix. Following a difficult and public road to parenthood, the couple co-founded the Bundle of Joy Foundation, a nonprofit that provides financial support to couples undergoing fertility treatments.

In her Instagram post, Samantha Busch also extended her gratitude to loved ones and the entire NASCAR community, from the fans to the wives, for reminding her that “NASCAR isn’t just a sport, it truly is a family.”

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“Over the past weeks you’ve surrounded Brexton, Lennix and me in ways I will never be able to fully put into words,” she said. “You have honored Kyle’s life and legacy, shared your memories, prayed for us, cried with us and reminded us just how deeply he was loved.”

Kyle Busch was sick in weeks leading up to his death

Kyle Busch was battling pneumonia for “days to weeks” before he succumbed to the illness. According to previous USA TODAY reporting, his death was caused by bacterial pneumonia that turned into sepsis, a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection.

Busch’s sepsis caused disseminated intravascular coagulation, a rare blood-clotting disorder characterized by organ damage and uncontrollable bleeding, both of which occurred.

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While racing at Watkins Glen International on May 10, Busch, who was battling a sinus cold, requested to meet with track doctor Bill Heisel on the team radio after the competition. Busch finished eighth that day, his best result of the season, and also won a Truck Series race at Dover the following weekend.

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See the most heartfelt moments with Kyle Busch and his family.

Kyle Busch’s career left a lasting mark on NASCAR, with achievements and moments that defined his time in the sport.

Above, Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with daughter, Lennix Busch son, Brexton Busch and wife, Samantha Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on Feb. 21, 2026, in Hampton, Georgia.

(Sean Gardner, Getty Images)

Busch was one of the most accomplished drivers of his generation, winning Cup championships in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing and is ninth in NASCAR history for Cup Series victories. He had 63.

He dominated NASCAR’s lower series throughout his career, winning Xfinity and Truck Series races by the dozens while regularly competing at all three levels simultaneously.

He joined Richard Childress Racing ahead of the 2023 season and won in his first year with the team. Busch sat 24th in the standings prior to his death, with two top 10 finishes in 12 races and was in the final year of his contract.

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After the news broke of Busch’s death, tributes poured in from across the internet. Fellow NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski summed up everyone’s thoughts when he said he was in “absolute shock.”

Contributing: Kristie Ackert and Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyle Busch’s widow: NASCAR race days remind her ‘how much it hurts’



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