The racing world continues to pay tribute to the legend of NASCAR Kyle Busch after his shocking and unexpected death.
“A quiet garage pays its respects as the No. 33 @RCRracing Chevrolet rolls out at @CLTMMotorSpdway,” NASCAR’s official social media account wrote about X on Saturday, May 23, along with a video showing the late driver’s crew unloading his car at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The blue, white and red Chevrolet emblazoned with the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen logo was lowered in silence in honor of the driver, who died on Thursday, May 21, at the age of 41. The number of the car was changed from the number 8 to 33, although a small picture of the number 8 was seen on the door of the car.
On Friday, May 22, NASCAR announced that the RCR team has “opted to retire the No. 8” that Busch last drove, switching to the No. 33 car for the foreseeable future. The team revealed that it will save Busch’s son, Braxton No. 8, “when it’s ready.”
NASCAR announced the death of the two-time Cup champion on Thursday, hours after his family confirmed he had been hospitalized for a “serious illness.” He was 41 years old.
Kyle Busch
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images“We are deeply saddened and saddened to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of the greatest and most ruthless drivers in the sport,” the organization said in a statement sent via X. “Our condolences go out to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire sports community.”
The runner is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children: 11-year-old Braxton and their 4-year-old daughter, Lennix.
On Saturday, May 23, a lawyer for the Busch family confirmed to NBC News that the late athlete died of pneumonia that progressed “into sepsis, which led to complications that quickly became more serious.”
The last weeks of the racer’s life were marred by several health issues, as Busch tried to maintain his grueling NASCAR Cup Series schedule. During the Cup Series race at Watkins Glen in New York on May 10, Busch asked a doctor to come to his bus after finishing the race over the sound of the racecar’s radio.
“He is a relative doctor,” the runner was heard saying. “Please tell him I need him after the race.”
Busch also informed his team that he would “need a shot,” though he was able to finish the race in eighth place. At the time, the FOX commentary team told viewers that Busch was “suffering from the cold,” fueled by the G-force the runner endured during the race itself.
On Thursday, his family surprised NASCAR fans when they announced that Busch was retiring from racing due to health issues. The late racer had not missed a race since 2015, when he missed the first 11 races of the season after suffering a broken leg and broken foot.
