Kurt Busch reflected on the final hours he spent with his younger brother, Kyle Busch, during a Today interview that aired on Friday, August 21. Kyle passed away three months ago at age 41.
“I was there at the hospital; I was there all day, hoping, praying, hoping for a turnaround,” Kurt, 48, told Craig Melvin. He remembered trying to encourage Kyle as he lay in the hospital, saying, “I got you man. Come on. I got you. I got you. Come on. Be strong.”
Fighting back tears, Kurt added, “It just wasn’t fair.”
Kurt stayed by Kyle’s side
Kurt chose to be with his brother during his final moments. Their father, former racer and mechanic Tom Busch, decided not to visit because he wanted to preserve his memories of Kyle as he was.
Kyle died on May 21 after battling a severe illness. His family later said he had developed severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis.
Kyle had been ill for weeks but continued racing. He competed at Watkins Glen International on May 10 and won a Truck Series race in Dover the following weekend. By May 20, his condition had significantly worsened.
Kurt recalled hearing that Kyle had been coughing heavily while using the restroom during a simulator session. When his crew chief asked if he was okay, Kyle replied, “No.” An ambulance was called after Kyle struggled to breathe and coughed up blood.
Racing culture made it harder to step away
Kurt also discussed the pressure drivers face to compete while ill. “We’re independent contractors. We don’t have a union,” he said.
He explained that drivers often feel compelled to keep racing, fearing someone else could take their place if they sit out.
Kyle was scheduled to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race in Concord, N.C., on May 22 and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway two days later. He did not make it to either race.
Kurt continues to grapple with the reality of moving forward without his brother. “There is no book; there is no outline on what we’re supposed to do right now,” he said.
Kurt misses the connection they had on the track
The brothers spent decades racing together and developed an unspoken understanding on the track.
“On track, him and I were carbon copies of each other… We could speak on track without saying a word,” Kurt said.
Earlier this year, Kyle attended Kurt’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January. At that time, he said he was “so proud to call” him his older brother.
Kurt continues to feel his brother’s absence at the racetrack. “I miss the words that we never spoke to each other and the vibe that we had on track,” he said.
Kurt steps up for Kyle’s son
Kurt is now spending more time with Kyle’s 11-year-old son, Brexton, who has already started racing. “He’s a prodigy,” Kurt said.
“He was on gas even before all of this, right? He can be a big star in the world of motorsports. He’s 11 but he’s already racing like an 18-year-old. So, it’s time to be around a bit more,” he added.
