Kyle Busch’s wife breaks silence weeks after NASCAR driver’s death

Samantha Busch, the wife of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, made her first public comments on Friday, more than two weeks after his death.

Busch, 41, died on May 21 after complications from pneumonia turned into sepsis. The two-time NASCAR champion collapsed during practice before the Coca-Cola 600, and was rushed to the hospital. He died the next day.

A private memorial for Busch was held earlier this week.

Samantha Busch took to Instagram on Friday for the first time since her husband’s death, thanking fans for their support in a long post:

NASCAR, THE RACING WORLD REFLECTS ON THE SHOCKING DEATH OF KYLE BUSCH AT 41: ‘I CAN’T UNDERSTAND THIS NEWS’

“As a family, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Prayers, messages, flowers, food, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most painful days of our lives. Although our hearts are completely broken, we have felt God’s presence and arms wrapped tightly around each of you.

“The love surrounding our family during this unimaginable time has brought comfort in the midst of so much pain. Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and seeing how they honor him with each unique act of giving is a true testament to how special Kyle is to so many people.

“There are times when the weight of this loss feels impossible, yet so many times God, through all of you, has shown us that we are not alone. From family and friends to fans and complete strangers, thank you for showing up for us. Thank you for loving our family so well. Thank you for loving Kyle. Thank you for honoring him.

“We may not be able to find the words to fully express how much your support means to us, but please know that we are very grateful.”

Kyle Busch’s death continues to rock the NASCAR world

Busch was a two-time Cup champion and undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. He has been in the Cup Series since 2004, making 762 career starts with 63 wins.

The 41-year-old won the championship in 2015 and 2019, and has 234 victories in all NASCAR national series.

Busch holds the all-time record for wins in both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69).

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Skittles Toyota, stands on the grid with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz., on March 19, 2017. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Busch’s 234th and final NASCAR win came at Dover one week before his death, when he led 147 laps in a dominant Truck Series victory.

“You never know when the last one will be,” Busch said after the win.

Busch made his mark on NASCAR during his time with Joe Gibbs Racing, where he spent most of his career and won two championships. He left JGR for Richard Childress Racing after the 2022 season, and won three times in his first season.

Busch’s last Cup Series win came in June 2023. While he struggled for much of the season, he started on the pole in the February 2015 Daytona 500 and was coming off an eighth-place finish four weeks ago at Watkins Glen.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress, Samantha Busch, Brexton Busch and NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell stand on the grid during a memorial service for Kyle Busch before the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC, on May 24, 2026. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

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Kyle’s 11-year-old son, Braxton, returned to the rink earlier this week for the first time since his father’s death.

Richard Childress Racing announced last month that Busch’s No. 8 will be permanently retired unless Brexton wants to use it if he enters the series.