CONCORD, N.C. — It’s been almost two months since the passing of Kyle Busch, and it goes without saying there’s been a void in the sport without him. While the season has settled back into a familiar rhythm, there’s still something missing.
I was fortunate enough to attend the first race without Busch at the Coca-Cola 600 and had the opportunity to ask two drivers about their favorite memories of the NASCAR legend.
The first was Kyle Larson. I asked if he had any favorite stories about Busch. Larson talked about the many battles the two had over the years, saying, “Most of the time he beat me.” He added, “That’s what I’ll miss.”
Larson also reflected on the conversations they had while navigating their sons’ racing careers, saying those were moments he would miss just as much as the competition on the track.
I was able to ask one follow-up question, wondering if Memorial Day weekend was a little less stressful without attempting “The Double.” Larson admitted it was nice to spend more time at home but added that he still found himself checking the weather throughout the weekend—just without the pressure of preparing for Indianapolis.
The last driver I caught up with was Austin Cindric. When asked if he had a favorite Busch memory, he immediately recalled the 2021 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Road America.
Late in the race, Cindric had sustained damage while leading. During a caution period, Busch walked over and, as Cindric recalled, “Kyle starts beating the crap out of my right rear fender,” trying to pull the sheet metal away from the tire so the two could race each other fairly to the finish.
Despite Busch’s efforts, the tire eventually went flat. Cindric, who had led 10 of the race’s 45 laps, was forced to pit and settled for an eighth-place finish while Busch went on to win.
Even so, that moment stayed with Cindric.
“It really struck me. For someone who wasn’t even a Cup Series driver yet, I’m not sure what I had done to have that mutual respect from a guy like him, but that stuck with me for a long time.”
Hearing both Larson and Cindric speak about Busch made me realize something.
If there’s one thing his passing has done, it’s reminded the garage just how much respect he commanded. Whether you loved him or hated him, you always kept an eye on him. He was impossible to ignore, relentlessly competitive, and respected by those who raced against him.
No matter where you stood on Kyle Busch, there will never be another “Rowdy” in NASCAR.
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