Samantha Busch, the wife of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, made her first public comments on June 5, 2026, following his death on May 21, 2026. Kyle Busch, 41, passed away after pneumonia progressed to sepsis. He collapsed during a simulator session before the Coca-Cola 600 and died the following day. A private memorial service was held for him earlier in the week.
In her Instagram post, Samantha thanked fans for their support, stating, "The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives." She expressed gratitude for the love and support received during this difficult time and acknowledged the impact Kyle had on others.
Kyle Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, with 762 career starts and 63 wins. He won championships in 2015 and 2019 and held records for wins in both the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. His last NASCAR victory occurred one week before his death at Dover, where he led 147 laps. Following his passing, his son, Brexton, returned to the racetrack for the first time since the incident. Richard Childress Racing announced that Busch's No. 8 car would be suspended permanently unless Brexton chose to use it in the future.