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Kyle Larson’s son, Owen Larson, comforted Brexton Busch with an emotional hug moments before his late father, Kyle Busch, was honored at the Coca-Cola 600
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The legendary NASCAR driver died at age 41 on Thursday, May 21, from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis
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Following the race, Daniel Suárez dedicated his victory to Kyle Busch by pointing up to the sky in honor of his late mentor
Brexton Busch was surrounded by support as his late father, Kyle Busch, was honored at the Coca-Cola 600.
Moments before the late NASCAR driver was honored with a speech led by NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, Owen Larson — the 11-year-old son of racer Kyle Larson — walked up to Brexton, 11, and his family before pulling his friend into an emotional hug, as seen in a video shared by Prime Sports.
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To honor his legacy on what was supposed to be a major race day for him, Kyle’s wife, Samantha Busch, and their children, Brexton and Lennix, 4, made an emotional appearance at the race alongside his parents, Tom and Gaye Busch, and brother, Kurt Busch.
“This was Kyle Busch’s home. Every racetrack was Kyle Busch’s home,” O’Donnell said in a tribute to the two-time Cup Series champion. “He competed like he had something to prove every single race, when in reality he had already proven everything.”
“What I think we’ll miss the most isn’t the wins,” he continued. “It’s the guy who quietly wanted to help a teammate, give some advice, who was the husband, the father, the guy who quietly did things for others when no one was watching.”
Kyle Busch’s family honors him at the Coca-Cola 600
Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty
Upon winning the race, Daniel Suárez dedicated his victory to Kyle by pointing up to the sky in honor of his late mentor.
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“Kyle, he was special, man,” Suárez said after the race, as seen in a video shared by Prime Sports. “This one is for Kyle. For Kyle, for Samantha, for Brexton, for Lennix — for all his family.”
“Every win is special,” he continued. “But definitely, this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This one is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion. I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup Series. To be able to win this race for him is unbelievable.”
The legendary NASCAR driver died at age 41 on Thursday, May 21, from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, according to his family.
Kyle Busch, Samantha Busch and their kids, Lennix and Brexton
Credit: Sean Gardner/Getty
In the wake of his tragic death, Richard Childress Racing announced that it would suspend use of Kyle’s No. 8 car and reserve it for future use by Brexton.
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“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,” the organization said in a social media post. “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.”
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