The Busch family was at the center of a special moment during the CookOut Summer Shootout at Charlotte Motor Speedway this week.
Ahead of the Masters Division race, Tom Busch, father of the late two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and grandfather of Brexton Busch, led the field in an honorary lap behind the wheel of the iconic No. 51 machine.
As Tom rolled onto the track, Brexton took on honorary starter duties, waving both the green and checkered flags to mark the tribute.
The moment drew cheers from fans in attendance and served as a celebration of the Busch family’s deep roots in motorsports in the wake of Kyle’s abrupt passing in May.
The ceremony began with the field running a missing-man formation before Tom pulled away for a solo lap around the speedway in the No. 51 car. After completing the circuit, he headed to the garage while Brexton concluded the tribute by waving the double checkered flags.
The special recognition came just one day after Brexton returned to competition at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The young racer competed in the Young Lions division of the CookOut Summer Shootout, driving a bright green No. 18 Legends car, the same number his father famously carried during his championship-winning years with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Busch then delivered an impressive performance in his return, climbing from 13th on the starting grid to finish sixth. Although a late-race incident shuffled the field, the youngster demonstrated sharp instincts, avoiding the wreck and capitalizing on the opportunity to gain several positions.
Despite his young age, Brexton has already built an impressive track record in grassroots racing, collecting dozens of victories across multiple disciplines.
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