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NASCAR driver Casey Mears reflected on the death of Kyle Busch on Friday, saying his impact on professional racing is “immeasurable.”
Busch died at the age of 41, hours after it was announced that he would forgo any racing activity at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend due to a “serious illness that resulted in hospitalization.”
Mears appeared on Pak Gazette Channel’s “Fox & Friends First” while mourning Busch’s death.
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Casey Mears, driver of the No. 13 GEICO Chevrolet, leads Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M Toyota, during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway in Sparta, Ky., on June 27, 2014. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
“I would say, really, it’s immeasurable. What he’s accomplished in the sport no one else has accomplished. Kyle has won a lot of races,” he said of Busch’s impact on the sport. “I mean, there was a period for several years where if Kyle didn’t win a Busch race, a Cup race or one of the truck races during the weekend, something was wrong because he was constantly winning races.
“I think at the end of the day he was a tremendous competitor, you absolutely knew he was going to leave 110% on the table at all times. Simply one of the best there has ever been in a race car. Most importantly, he had become an incredible dad, father, husband and brother. I’m thinking of everyone in the family. Tom and Gaye, his mother and brother, obviously Samantha and the kids. He was also a real champion at home as a family man.”
NASCAR, the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing announced the death Thursday night, but did not offer a cause of death.
“On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” the statement read. “Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. Kyle, a future Hall of Famer, was a rare talent, one that comes around once in a generation. He was fierce, passionate, immensely skilled and cared deeply about the sport and the fans.
Kyle Busch celebrates his victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Victory Lane at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Virginia, on September 5, 2014. (Steve Helber/AP)
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“Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records for national series victories, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner of the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with racing fans of all ages, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’
“Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, Kyle and Samantha’s parents, Kurt and Kyle’s entire family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, too soon.
“During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.”
Busch was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and had been in the series since 2004. He made 762 career starts with 63 wins. Busch won the championship in 2015 and 2019 and had 234 wins across NASCAR’s three national series.
Kyle Busch celebrates his victory in the NASCAR Shelby 427 race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on March 1, 2009. (Isaac Brekken/AP)
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Busch holds the all-time record for wins in both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). His most recent victory came last weekend at Dover, when he led 147 laps in a dominant victory in the Truck Series.
