Following an emotional weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr said the appearance of the family of NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch during an emotional pre-race ceremony was an unexpected shock during an already heavy weekend.
The passing of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch last Thursday left many in the sport scrambling not only to prepare for Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte, but also looking for answers.
Busch, who had won just the week prior in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover, and his No. 8 team were seemingly on the up and up before an abrupt medical episode took his life days before what many dub NASCAR’s “home race” at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The tributes to Busch started online but shifted to the track, where, during an emotionally unforgettable pre-race ceremony, the Busch family, including Kyle’s brother Kurt, his wife Samantha, son Brexton, and daughter Lennix, stood alongside the NASCAR community to remember Busch.
For many, the appearance of Samantha and the Busch family was a surprise, with most fans blown away by the emotions created by the moment on pit road.
These feelings extended to the broadcast booth, as NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr said he was shocked to see Busch’s family at the track, saying, “I was not expecting that. Man, if they never came back to another racetrack, I wouldn’t have thought anything of it.”
Earnhardt added that, despite his role in Sunday’s broadcast, he had no prior knowledge of their presence at CMS, and that when he found out, the shock was similar to that of a dignitary making an appearance during the race.
“I’m standing in the booth, and they said about five minutes before they did that thing down by the number in the grass on the infield, they said ‘Samantha and the kids are here.’ And it was a shock. I mean, it was like saying, ‘Oh, you know, the president showed up’ . . . I don’t know, man, it was like, “Really? Are you sure?’ I’m having a hard time believing that they’re here. They’re really here.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr
The family only added to the emotional weight of the overall ceremony, with NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell addressing fans and industry members in front of Busch’s stylized No. 8 on the infield grass, followed by the playing of Amazing Grace.
Earnhardt agreed with many fans that the tribute was emotionally hard to watch, but tipped his hat to the leadership shown by O’Donnell in the moment, who took over as NASCAR CEO just last month.
“That was really, really hard watching how… everybody down there was bawling… Chase Elliott and all the drivers, everybody was emotionally, you could see it was a wreck,” Earnhardt said. “I thought O’Donnell did a solid job there.”
Though the ceremony was a heartbreaking watch, many in the NASCAR community agreed that it was fitting for the moment, allowing fans a chance to see the Busch family standing strong in the face of tragedy.
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