NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch<\/strong> is a lifelong supporter of Kyle Busch<\/strong>\u2019s 11-year-old son, Brexton<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cTough end to the day for us but today was bigger than racing,\u201d Zilisch, 19, shared via X on Sunday, May 24. \u201cBrexton, you have a fan and supporter for life buddy. Sending love to the Busch family.\u201d<\/p>\n The late Kyle was honored during Sunday\u2019s Coca-Cola 600<\/a>, which took place at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. Brexton was present alongside his mom, Samantha Busch<\/strong>, and sister Lennix, 4, as NASCAR honored his late father with a moment of silence prior to the race.<\/p>\n \u201cSamantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and that you and your children are NASCAR family forever,\u201d the announcer said during Sunday\u2019s race. \u201cEveryone gathered here, everyone behind you, everybody watching on TV, and all those people up in that grandstand are your family, and we\u2019ve got you.\u201d<\/p>\n Samantha, 39, got emotional and hugged<\/a> Brexton throughout the speech.<\/p>\n \u201cKyle Busch is NASCAR,\u201d the speech concluded. \u201cHe was one of a kind and there will never be another, and I\u2019d ask everybody now to join us in a moment of silence for Kyle.\u201d<\/p>\n The Busch family announced on Thursday, May 21, that Kyle had been hospitalized with a \u201csevere illness\u201d and wouldn\u2019t be racing in Sunday\u2019s Coca-Cola 600. Hours later, it was announced that Kyle had died. He was 41.<\/p>\n \u201cOur entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,\u201d a statement released by the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR read, in part. \u201cA future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. 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\u2019s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series.\u201d<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n On Saturday, May 23, his cause of death was revealed<\/a>. A rep for Busch\u2019s family confirmed to NBC News that he died from pneumonia that progressed \u201cinto sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.\u201d<\/p>\n Richard Childress Racing (RCR) announced earlier this week that they planned to temporarily retire the No. 8 car<\/a>, which Kyle was driving prior to his death.<\/p>\n \u201cKyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR\u2019s stylized No. 8 and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry,\u201d RCR said in a statement on Friday, May 22. \u201cNo one can carry it forward to the level that he did. The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-narrow.jpg\")
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<\/p>\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
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