For much of his career, Kyle Busch embraced the role of the sport’s ultimate antagonist, be it with his aggressive driving style, fiery post-race interviews, or clashes with competitors. But according to his longtime PR rep Bill Jannitz, that image wasn't one he truly enjoyed carrying.

Speaking to Kaitlyn Vincie on the People Who Race page on Substack, Jannitz reflected on the late driver's legacy and revealed that, despite his reputation, Busch secretly hoped fans would eventually see him in a different light. This comes after there have been talks for Busch to be honored with NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award. 

“Chase Elliott was so gracious in talking about that and saying he’d love to see Kyle win it. It’s kind of crazy because, as much as Kyle wore that black hat, he didn’t really love it. Human nature is that you want to be loved. I think he believed that, with everything he had accomplished and how successful he’d been, people would eventually get behind him," Jannitz said.

"It was starting to happen more as he got older, and I think that’s part of the natural cycle for a successful, long-term Hall of Fame driver. I’d love to see the fans rally behind him and vote him Most Popular Driver because, I’m telling you, he’d get a kick out of that. He talked about it more than people would ever know,” he added.

Jannitz also reflected on their 15-year working relationship, stating that Busch’s demanding personality helped shape his own career. Although the partnership came with its share of difficult moments, he described the experience as invaluable, jokingly calling it the "Kyle Busch School of Hard Knocks."

Jannitz’s comments in the interaction offered a more personal glimpse into Busch's life away from the headlines, portraying a competitor who may have embraced the villain's role on race day but, like anyone else, still hoped to earn the admiration of the fans who watched him compete.

He also admitted feeling "a little lost," while in a separate interaction, Busch’s wife feels he is "still close." 

Samantha Busch reflects on hers and Kyle’s garden project

Reflecting on the memories tied to a garden she and her late husband built together, Samantha looked back on Kyle’s efforts in a post shared on Instagram. She recalled that he approached every task wholeheartedly, spending days working on a fully automated irrigation system. 

According to her, small touches made the project special. She said that Kyle hung glass hearts the couple had collected during trips to Mexico. After watching a single gardening reel, they took charge of pruning the tomato plant, believing he would produce the best harvest.

"Those first days after he passed, I’d come out here alone. I’d talk to him. I’d pray to God. I’d cry until I didn’t have any tears left," she wrote.

While every plant reminds Samantha of the future they had envisioned together, she acknowledged the bittersweet reality that Kyle is no longer there to enjoy the harvest.

Even so, she said that being surrounded by the garden they planted and built together brings her comfort, adding that each visit somehow makes it feel as though "he still feels close."

Read more at Daytona Racing Digest 

Written by

Aaradhya Singh

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason