Kyle Busch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kyle Busch |
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Busch in 2013
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| Born | Kyle Thomas Busch May 2, 1985 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
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| Died | May 21, 2026 (aged 41) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 762 races run over 24 years | |||||||
| 2025 position | 21st | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (2015, 2019) | ||||||
| First race | 2004 UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 (Las Vegas) | ||||||
| Last race | 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen) | ||||||
| First win | 2005 Sony HD 500 (California) | ||||||
| Last win | 2023 Enjoy Illinois 300 (Gateway) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 367 races run over 21 years | |||||||
| 2024 position | 88th | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (2009) | ||||||
| First race | 2003 Carquest Auto Parts 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 BetMGM 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| First win | 2004 Funai 250 (Richmond) | ||||||
| Last win | 2021 Credit Karma Money 250 (Atlanta) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career | |||||||
| 184 races run over 29 years | |||||||
| 2025 position | 76th | ||||||
| Best finish | 14th (2008, 2010) | ||||||
| First race | 2001 Power Stroke Diesel 200 (IRP) | ||||||
| Last race | 2026 Ecosave 200 (Dover) | ||||||
| First win | 2005 Quaker Steak and Lube 200 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last win | 2026 Ecosave 200 (Dover) | ||||||
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| Statistics current as of May 23, 2026. | |||||||
Kyle Thomas Busch (May 2, 1985 – May 21, 2026) was a famous American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He competed in races from 2001 until 2026. Many people knew him for driving the No. 18 Toyota car for Joe Gibbs Racing. He drove for them from 2008 to 2023 in the NASCAR Cup Series. Kyle Busch was known for being very good in all of NASCAR's top three racing series. Many consider him one of the best drivers in racing history.
Kyle grew up in a racing family in Las Vegas, Nevada. He started helping with race cars when he was very young. Soon, he began racing go-karts and on short tracks as a teenager. By his early teens, he was already a top talent, winning many championships. This caught the eye of bigger racing teams. He first raced in a national NASCAR event in 2001. This was in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with Roush Racing. Later, he joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2003. He then moved up to NASCAR's main racing series. Kyle raced with Hendrick Motorsports until 2007. In 2008, he joined Joe Gibbs Racing. There, he had the most successful part of his career for fifteen years. In 2023, Kyle Busch joined Richard Childress Racing. He raced for them until he passed away in 2026.
When he passed away, Kyle Busch was ninth on the list of all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners. He also had the most total wins across all three top NASCAR series. His amazing career included three big national championships. He won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series and two NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019. He also won many important races, including four special "crown jewel" events. In 2023, NASCAR honored him as one of their 75 Greatest Drivers. He also received awards like two NASCAR Rookie of the Year titles and two ESPY Awards for best driver. Because of his exciting driving style, Kyle Busch earned several cool nicknames.
Besides driving, Kyle also owned and ran Kyle Busch Motorsports. This racing team competed in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series from 2011 to 2013. It also raced in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series from 2010 to 2023. Kyle was the younger brother of Kurt Busch, who was also a NASCAR champion in 2004.
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Kyle's Early Racing Days
Kyle Thomas Busch was born on May 2, 1985, in Las Vegas, Nevada. His parents, Tom and Gaye Busch, were originally from Illinois. His dad, Tom, worked as a mechanic at a Ford dealership. He got into racing through a friend at a local track. Tom later became a stock car driver himself, winning many races in Las Vegas. Kyle followed in his dad's footsteps. He started racing at age six, driving a small go-kart in his neighborhood. His dad had to help with the gas pedal because Kyle was too small!
Growing up, Kyle spent a lot of time in the garage with his dad and older brother, Kurt. By age 10, he was already helping Kurt's racing team as a crew chief. Kyle began his own driving career in 1998, right after his thirteenth birthday. From 1999 to 2001, he won over 65 races in Legends car racing. He also won two championships at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Bullring. In 2001, he moved on to late model racing. He won 10 races at the Bullring that season.
When Kyle was sixteen, he started racing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He drove the No. 99 Ford for Roush Racing. His first race was at Indianapolis Raceway Park, where he finished an amazing ninth place. In his second race, he led for a long time. However, his truck ran out of fuel near the end.
There was a rule that stopped drivers under 18 from racing in events with tobacco sponsors. Because of this, Kyle couldn't race at California Speedway in 2001. NASCAR later made a rule that drivers had to be at least 18 years old to compete. After this, Kyle raced in the American Speed Association National Tour. He finished 8th in the standings there. In 2002, Kyle finished high school early with honors. He wanted to focus completely on his racing career. That same year, he raced in the ARCA RE/MAX Series for the first time. He finished twelfth in the No. 22 Chevrolet car.
Kyle Busch's Amazing NASCAR Career
Kyle Busch set many records in NASCAR. In 2010, he won 24 races across the top three series. This was the most wins in a single season in modern times. He also had the most total wins in all three national series, with 231 victories. Kyle holds the record for most wins in the Xfinity Series, with 102 wins. He won 13 of those in 2010 alone. He also had 66 wins in the Truck Series. Kyle is the only driver to win at least 60 races in each of NASCAR's top three series. In 2019, he matched a record with 11 top-ten finishes to start a season.
At 19 years and 317 days old, Kyle became NASCAR's youngest ever driver to win a pole position in a Cup Series race. This happened at California Speedway in 2005. He was also the youngest driver to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup in 2006. Kyle made history as the first driver to win a race and a championship in a Toyota in the Cup Series. He won at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2008 and the 2015 Cup championship. He was the only driver to win four spring races in a row at Richmond International Raceway from 2009 to 2012. He also won the very first Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway in 2011.
Kyle Busch started his NASCAR career in 2003. He was one of only six drivers to win championships in both the Cup Series and Xfinity Series. In 2005, he became the 14th driver to win a race in all three of NASCAR's national series. In 2009, Kyle made history by winning two top NASCAR races on the same day at Auto Club Speedway. In 2010, he was the first driver to win races in all three of NASCAR's top series in one weekend at Bristol. He did this again at the same track in 2017.
Kyle also made history by winning the 2009 Crown Royal Presents the Russell Friedman 400 at Richmond International Raceway on his 24th birthday. This made him only the second NASCAR driver to win on their birthday. Twelve years later, on his 36th birthday, he won again at the Buschy McBusch Race 400 at Kansas Speedway. This made him one of only two drivers to win twice on their birthday. In 2010, Kyle Busch Motorsports had a great start. It was the first Truck Series team to win the owners' championship in its first season. They had eight wins, 16 top-five finishes, and 21 top-ten finishes.
Kyle Busch holds the record for leading the most laps in the Daytona 500 race. He led 324 laps, even though he never won the event.
In December 2021, M&M's/Mars announced they would stop sponsoring Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing after the 2022 season. On September 13, 2022, Kyle announced he signed a new contract with Richard Childress Racing. He started racing for them in 2023.
Kyle's final Cup race was the 2026 Go Bowling at The Glen on May 10, where he finished eighth. His last NASCAR win was the Ecosave 200 truck race on May 15. On May 21, he had to withdraw from the upcoming Coca-Cola 600 race due to a severe illness. He passed away later that day.
Late Model Racing Successes
Kyle Busch also loved racing late model stock cars. He often competed in these events with his own Kyle Busch Motorsports cars. One of his biggest wins was in December 2009. He won the 42nd Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. He won this race again in December 2017.
On July 10, 2011, Kyle won the 32nd annual Slinger Nationals in Wisconsin. Two weeks later, he won the 38th annual TD Bank 250 in Maine. This was his third time trying to win this big short-track race. Kyle became only the second active NASCAR Cup Series driver to win it. He also won the preliminary Pro All Star Series Oxford 150 the night before, sweeping the event.
In June 2012, Kyle won the eighth annual Prelude to the Dream at Eldora Speedway. He beat Tony Stewart in this special all-star race.
In July 2013, Kyle dominated the Howie Lettow Memorial 150 at the Milwaukee Mile. He led every practice, set the fastest qualifying time, and won the race.
In December 2025, Kyle raced in the Snowball Derby again. He won the last-chance qualifier race and finished 19th in the main event.
Other Racing Adventures
Kyle Busch was considered to drive for the US-based Formula One team, US F1. However, he decided not to, saying the timing wasn't right. The team later closed down. Kyle was also supposed to test a Toyota F1 car in 2008. But he had to cancel because of a NASCAR awards banquet.
In 2020, Kyle raced in the 24 Hours of Daytona. He drove a Lexus RC F GT3 with AIM Vasser Sullivan. He helped his team finish ninth in their class and 26th overall.
Nitrocross, a rallycross series, invited Kyle to race in November 2021. He finished fourth in the Supercar Final.
In 2023, Kyle competed in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). He raced at Motor Mile Speedway and Berlin Raceway. He won both events, battling drivers like Tony Stewart and Clint Bowyer.
On November 14, 2024, Kyle announced he would race in the Chili Bowl Nationals in January 2025. He finished third in one race but did not qualify for the main event.
Kyle's Personal Life
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Kyle Busch married Samantha Sarcinella on December 31, 2010, in Chicago. Their wedding was shown in a TV special. Samantha studied psychology at Purdue University. Kyle and Samantha had two children, a son born in 2015 and a daughter born in 2022.
Helping Others: Kyle's Charity Work
In 2006, Kyle Busch started the Kyle Busch Foundation. He created it after visiting a children's home in Michigan. The Foundation helps provide important resources to children in need across the United States. In 2008, Kyle also started the "Kyle's Miles" program. This program worked with Pedigree to help dogs in shelters.
After winning his first Cup Series race in 2005, Kyle and his team owner, Rick Hendrick, donated their winnings. They gave the money to the American Red Cross to help with Hurricane Katrina relief. Kyle announced this donation on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and many people praised his generosity.
Kyle in Movies and TV
Kyle Busch was a cover driver for the video game NASCAR Kart Racing. He also appeared on the cover of NASCAR Heat 2. You could play as his No. 18 Camry in Forza Motorsport 6. He even provided commentary in the game.
Kyle had a small role as a state trooper in the 2017 movie Logan Lucky. That same year, he was a contestant on The $100,000 Pyramid. In 2019, Kyle and his wife starred in the reality TV show Racing Wives on CMT. In 2022, a documentary called Rowdy was made about his life and NASCAR career.
Kyle was a big fan of professional wrestling. He appeared on WWE shows several times. In 2009, he was a guest host on WWE Raw. He returned in 2019 and even briefly won the WWE 24/7 Championship. NASCAR's Michael Waltrip was the referee for that match.
Kyle Busch's Passing
On May 21, 2026, Kyle Busch's family announced that he had been hospitalized with a sudden and severe illness. This meant he could not race in the upcoming 2026 North Carolina Education Lottery 200 and the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He passed away later that day at the age of 41.
At the time, the exact cause of his illness was not shared. He had been feeling unwell with a sinus cold during a race on May 10. On May 16, he mentioned he was still having symptoms. Reports stated that he became unresponsive on May 20 while testing in a racing simulator. He was then taken to the hospital. On May 23, it was shared that Kyle had severe pneumonia, which led to a serious health issue.
Tributes and Reactions
After the news of his passing, fans created a memorial at the Richard Childress Racing museum. Many drivers shared their thoughts, and public figures posted tributes.
Richard Childress Racing announced that Kyle's No. 8 car would be renumbered as No. 33 for the upcoming race. They also said the No. 8 would be saved for Kyle's son, Brexton Busch, if he ever races in NASCAR.
Before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Charlotte, both Spire Motorsports and Kaulig Racing added the Kyle Busch Motorsports logo to their trucks. Richard Childress Racing also gave out decals for other teams to put on their cars that weekend.
Rowdy Energy Drink
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| Private | |
| Industry | Drink industry |
| Founded | January 30, 2019 in Del Mar, California, U.S. |
| Founders | Kyle Busch Jeff Church |
| Defunct | 2024 |
| Headquarters |
San Diego, California
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| Products | Energy drink |
| Owners | Kyle Busch Jeff Church |
| Parent | Rowdy Beverage, Inc |
Rowdy Energy was an energy drink company. It was based in Del Mar, California. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and Jeff Church started it in 2019.
The drink was named "Rowdy" after Kyle Busch's nickname. Kyle created it as a healthier drink option for himself and his fans. The first drinks were made in January 2020. There were ten flavors available online, including seven sugar-free options. The regular drinks had 60% less sugar than other popular energy drinks.
Rowdy branding first appeared at the 2020 24 Hours of Daytona when Kyle was seen with a Cherry Limeade can. The logo also appeared on his Daytona 500 helmet. Rowdy Energy was listed as a partner on KyleBusch.com. In 2020, the brand sponsored a driver named Ken Gushi. It also sponsored races like the Southern Super Series' Rowdy Energy Twin 100s.
On January 10, 2024, Kyle Busch announced that Rowdy Energy had stopped its operations. The company closed down in the weeks that followed.
Motorsports Career Highlights
Daytona 500 Races
| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
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| 2005 | Hendrick Motorsports | Chevrolet | 19 | 38 |
| 2006 | 4 | 23 | ||
| 2007 | 8 | 24 | ||
| 2008 | Joe Gibbs Racing | Toyota | 24 | 4* |
| 2009 | 4 | 41* | ||
| 2010 | 7 | 14 | ||
| 2011 | 10 | 8 | ||
| 2012 | 14 | 17 | ||
| 2013 | 4 | 34 | ||
| 2014 | 37 | 19 | ||
| 2015 | INQ† | |||
| 2016 | 4 | 3 | ||
| 2017 | 21 | 38 | ||
| 2018 | 12 | 25 | ||
| 2019 | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2020 | 28 | 34 | ||
| 2021 | 10 | 14 | ||
| 2022 | 10 | 6 | ||
| 2023 | Richard Childress Racing | Chevrolet | 36 | 19 |
| 2024 | 34 | 12 | ||
| 2025 | 21 | 34 | ||
| 2026 | 1 | 15 | ||
| † – Qualified but replaced by Matt Crafton | ||||
Awards and Honors
- Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion (2015, 2019)
- Two-time NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Champion (2018, 2019)
- NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion (2009)
- Seven-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Owner's Champion (as owner of Kyle Busch Motorsports - 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019)
WWE
- WWE 24/7 Championship (One-time)
Media
- Two-time Best Driver ESPY Award winner (2016, 2019)
See also
In Spanish: Kyle Busch para niños
- List of all-time NASCAR Cup Series winners
- List of NASCAR Nationwide Series champions
- List of NASCAR race wins by Kyle Busch
- List of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions
- List of people from Las Vegas
