Kyle Busch's Family Includes NASCAR Champ Brother Kurt Busch, Mechanic Dad
Kyle Busch, the NASCAR legend who died suddenly at the age of 41, was from a racing family. His brother, Kurt Busch, is also a racing icon.
Kyle Busch's May 21 cause of death is not clear; In a post, NASCAR called his death a "staggering blow to the motorsports community. His team had indicated earlier Thursday that Busch had been hospitalized with a severe illness." Kyle Busch had been dealing with a cough and sinus cold a few days ago.
The Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR listed Busch's family members in a joint statement: "Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha's parents, Kurt and all of Kyle's family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon," it reads. Kyle Busch's wife is Samantha; they have two kids.
NASCAR Says That Kyle Busch's Dad, Tom, Was a Mechanic Who 'Raced Locally'
According to NASCAR, Kyle Thomas Busch "was born May 2, 1985 into a racing family in Las Vegas. His father, Tom, was a mechanic who raced locally after he and his wife, Gaye, relocated from Schaumburg, Illinois."
His brother, Kurt, "was seven years older and set a competitive benchmark for him to aspire to on the track," NASCAR wrote.
Kyle and Kurt followed a similar path, racing "family go-karts on makeshift tracks in cul-de-sacs and parking lots, Legends Cars at the Vegas bullring before a move to full-bodied Late Model competition," wrote NASCAR.
"You think I'm a pretty good race car driver? Wait until you see my brother. He's the best driver in the family," Kurt stated, according to NASCAR. Kurt's X and Instagram pages have been silent on his brother's sudden death.
""Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation," NASCAR wrote. "He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR's highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series."
Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch's Brother, Is in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Kurt's bio on the NASCAR Hall of Fame says: "With four wins and a championship runner-up finish in his rookie Truck Series campaign, Busch signaled to fans and competitors alike that he would soon be a force at the top level of the sport."
By 2002, Kurt Busch "was already making waves in the NASCAR Cup Series. His first win came at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway, he finished third in points, and from there, his career soared to new heights," it adds.
"Busch's big breakthrough came in 2004, when he captured the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, becoming the first driver to win the title under NASCAR's ‘playoff' system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability," the bio says.
"Busch earned 34 Cup Series wins in 776 starts, including a thrilling victory in the 2017 Daytona 500. A consistent contender in the NASCAR playoffs, finishing in the top 10 standings 10 times, Busch's fiery competitiveness kept him at the forefront of the sport for more than 20 years."
It notes: "Busch was named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 22, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 7:38 PM.