Samantha Busch reminds us that grieving is a part of loss and the best way to remember those we loved is to remember them. She took to Instagram on June 10 to delve into the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Kyle Busch, and her son, Brexton’s return to the racetrack. Brexton’s return to racing is both “heartbreaking and beautiful,” per Busch’s own words.
The notable point is that Brexton Busch was back racing on Tuesday, June 10, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event was the Cook Out Summer Shootout. Fans came out to “Watch racing’s future stars battle in Legend Cars and Bandoleros on the frontstretch quarter-mile.” It was Brexton’s first race since his father’s passing on May 21, 2026.
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Brexton raced in the Young Lions Division, finishing in 2nd place after Landon Thrasher made an impressive last-lap pass. Busch raced under the iconic bright green No. 18 paint scheme, which his father often sported when racing for Joe Gibbs Racing in the NASCARCup Series.
Samantha Busch Posts Heartbreaking Instagram Message
Brexton (Son) and Kyle (Father) Busch. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
“In the hospital, I made Kyle a promise. I promised him that I would do everything I could to help our children pursue their dreams no matter what,” Samantha shared on Instagram.
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Brexton is only 11 years old, but he now has a legacy he will carry for years to come, whether he wants it or not. It is only natural that the son of a future Hall of Famer has the spotlight on him. That was relevant before and even more so now, after Kyle’s death.
Nonetheless, Brexton has stood strong in the face of the adversity brought on over the past few weeks. The Busch family was acknowledged at the Coca-Cola 600 by NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell in a pre-race ceremony in memory of Kyle and in support of Samantha, her kids, Brexton, and Lennix, and the family beyond.
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The Busch’s could stay silent in this time of grief, but they have not. The family has stayed strong in this time of adversity. Brexton has notably been out there doing what he loves — racing. “It wasn’t a dream Kyle chose for him (Brexton). It was something they shared,” Samantha further shared.
The No. 8 is saved for Brexton by Richard Childress, and the racing community fully expects that at some point over the next many years, Brexton will be racing in a NASCAR Series and just perhaps, the NASCAR Cup Series.
Not only does Brexton race, but his little sister, Lennix, may do the same one day. Samantha explained that they just bought her a kart for her 4th birthday. That is up to her whether she pursues racing as the years go on, but one thing is for sure: Kyle’s blood flows competitively.
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The weeks and years to come will be tough, but the NASCAR community is behind the Buschs wholeheartedly. Samantha Busch’s referenced Instagram post has 131,000 likes as of Wednesday evening (June 10), plus 2,400 comments, 3,500 reposts, and 6,200 shares.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Racing section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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