During a tribute to Kyle Busch, the son of one of his competitors took time to comfort the late NASCAR driver’s surviving son, Brexton.
Kyle was honored before the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 24 — a race that he was preparing to compete in before he died unexpectedly last week. His wife, Samantha, kids Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4, as well as his parents were all on the track for the ceremony.
As Kyle’s family appeared overcome with emotion, Owen Larson, also 11 and the son of NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, stepped out of the crowd to put his arm around Brexton in a moment that quickly went viral.
Brexton wore a hat with his dad’s No. 8 on it and a t-shirt with the words “Battle of the Busches.” Samantha, 39, wore the same shirt.
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Kyle Busch died on Thursday, May 21, the day after being rushed to the hospital with what his family called a “severe illness” in a statement.
NASCAR announced on Thursday afternoon that he had died. Kyle Busch’s family revealed on Saturday, May 23 that his cause of death was from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis.
“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the family said in a statement. “The Family asks for continued understanding and privacy during this difficult time.”
On Sunday, NASCAR honored the late driver before the event he was preparing to compete in.
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“Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and that you and your children are NASCAR family forever,” the Charlotte Motor Speedway PA announcer said during the ceremony.
He continued, “Brexton and Lennix, your dad loves 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.”
The speedway observed a moment of silence for Kyle Busch before beginning the race, which Danny Suárez won. The Amazon Prime broadcast also went quiet on lap 8, matching his number, as a tribute.
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Richard Childress Racing announced last week that it would retire the No. 8 car until Brexton is old enough to go pro and he elects to use it.
“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 team said in a statement on Friday, May 22.
RCR added, “The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
