Additional Coverage:
- Kurt Busch shares emotional last moments with late brother Kyle Busch in ‘Today’ interview (nbcsports.com)
Kurt Busch Opens Up About Brother Kyle’s Passing in Emotional Interview
NEW YORK – NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch shared heartfelt reflections on the final moments he spent with his younger brother, Kyle Busch, in his first public remarks since Kyle’s untimely death.
Appearing on NBC’s “Today” show Friday, Kurt fought back tears as he recounted being by Kyle’s hospital bedside. “I was at the hospital.
I was there all day, hoping, praying, hoping for a turnaround,” he said. “I said, ‘I got you man.
Come on, I got you. I got you.
Come on, be strong.’ It just wasn’t fair.”
Kyle Busch passed away on May 21 at age 41 after battling severe pneumonia that quickly escalated into sepsis and overwhelming complications. His death shocked the racing world and deeply affected one of NASCAR’s most prominent families. Born and raised in Las Vegas, the Busch brothers were both iconic figures in the sport.
Kyle was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing and holds the record for the most wins-234-across NASCAR’s top three national series. Kurt, the elder brother, captured the Cup title in 2004 and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame earlier this year.
During the interview, Kurt described how Kyle’s health deteriorated rapidly while practicing in a simulator on May 20. When Kyle’s crew chief asked if he was okay, Kyle admitted he was not, prompting an ambulance trip to the hospital.
Kyle had initially thought he was just dealing with a sinus cold while racing at Watkins Glen on May 10 and continued to compete, even winning a Truck Series race at Dover shortly before his death. Kurt also revealed that their father, Tom Busch, chose not to visit the hospital to remember Kyle in his own way.
“There’s no manual or playbook for this,” Kurt said, reflecting on their bond. “He and I were carbon copies of each other.
We could communicate on track without saying a word. I miss those unspoken words and the connection we had racing.”
Kurt is now mentoring Kyle’s 11-year-old son, Brexton, who has already shown remarkable promise behind the wheel. “He’s a prodigy,” Kurt said. “At 11, he’s already racing like an 18-year-old and could be a major star in motorsports.”
As for Kyle’s enduring legacy, Kurt emphasized that his brother’s accomplishments speak volumes. “He’s the winningest driver in NASCAR history across all series,” he said. “Beyond that, his relentless drive, his dedication to helping others, and being a great father will continue to shine as time goes on.”