Kyle Busch passing felt across Supercars community
Kyle Busch passing felt across Supercars community
NASCAR champion passed away on Friday morning AEST
Busch won 2015 and 2019 NASCAR Cup championships
The sudden passing of NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch has been felt across the Supercars community, which is racing in Tasmania this weekend.
News of the two-time Cup Series champion’s death emerged on Friday morning in Australia. Busch was just 41 years old.
Conversations in pit lane throughout Friday almost exclusively began with comments on the shock of the news, such was the stature of Busch in world motorsport.
Busch won his record-extending 69th Truck Series race just last weekend, and was set to contest Cup and Truck races in Charlotte this weekend.
The American nearly raced Down Under, with Busch tapped to contest the 2024 Adelaide 500. Supercars and Adelaide organisers planned to get Busch to race a wildcard.
While he wouldn’t race in the end, Busch still experienced Supercars machinery, courtesy of laps in a Walkinshaw Racing-built Holden VF Commodore.
Richard Childress Racing driver Busch drove the Commodore at a series of tracks to sharpen his toolset amid NASCAR’s expansion on road courses.
Brodie Kostecki worked alongside Busch before his NASCAR Cup Series debut at the Indianapolis road course in 2023.
“He was a top guy and was really, really dedicated,” Kostecki said in Friday’s press conference at Symmons Plains.
“It just goes to show that life is precious.
“I feel for his whole family and it’s great to see the racing community come together.”
Erebus Motorsport played a key role along Busch’s Supercars journey, courtesy of its relationship with Image Racing and RCR.
“Very sad news this morning to hear the passing of motorsport NASCAR legend Kyle Busch,” Erebus driver Cooper Murray said on Friday.
“Just like to send our massive condolences to the whole NASCAR community and Kyle's family through this very tough time."
Several Supercars drivers shared the news of Busch's passing to their social media accounts on Friday morning.
Reigning champion Chaz Mostert posted a photo of the #18 helmet to social media, writing: "RIP to a giant of Motorsport. Thinking of his family, team, friends and fans."
