Kurt Busch was back doing what he loves over the weekend, racing at the Le Mans Classic in France and honoring his late brother, Kyle Busch, in the process.
Kurt, 47, retired from full-time racing in 2022 but made a brief return at Le Mans, where he changed his No. 1 to Kyle’s No. 8 as a tribute.
“I said a couple of weeks ago that Kyle’s spirit will always ride with me, and the first time will be on one of the greatest tracks in the world this weekend,” Kurt told reporters before the race.
He continued, “It is still incomprehensible to think he is gone, not suiting up for the next race as he did for nearly his entire life, but Kyle would have loved to have been right there racing alongside me and our friends at Le Mans. It would be great to make it a fitting tribute with a win for him in full Kyle style.”
Kurt made the podium, finishing third and beating JC France by just over one hundredth of a second thanks to a late maneuver to pass him.
The race came just over six weeks after Kyle unexpectedly died at age 41 on May 21, one day after being found unresponsive in a racing simulator. A death certificate obtained by Us Weekly revealed Kyle suffered a “chain of events” that began with bacterial pneumonia and progressed to sepsis, “resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.”
In addition to Kurt, Kyle is survived by his wife, Samantha, and children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
Kurt broke his silence after his brother’s death with a post via Instagram on June 8 in which he thanked his followers “from the bottom” of his heart.
“Thank you, everyone, for the well wishes, support, and love for my brother and our family,” he wrote. “Finding a silver lining, I reflect back on the days Kyle and I raced anything we could get our hands on. From big wheels to competing on the biggest stages in motorsports, we were more than just fierce competitors. We pushed each other, challenged each other, and learned from each other.”
Kurt continued, “Kyle, your passion, determination, and love for your family inspired everyone who knew you. No trophy, championship, or accomplishment could ever measure the impact you had on my life and on so many others. I will forever be grateful for the memories we made, the lessons you taught me, and the brotherhood we shared. My heart is broken, but I know your spirit will always ride with me.”
“Rest easy, little brother,” Kurt concluded his post.
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