A Busch returned to racing last weekend at Le Mans, and it was the elder brother of Kyle Busch. Kurt Busch, a former NASCAR driver and champion, took to the track on Historic Sportscar Racing's first appearance in 50 years. On the verge of his return, he remembered his late brother and shared an emotional statement.

Busch competed in the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear racing series at the Le Mans Classic Legend from July 3-5. Over 30 historic cars competed in the race, including that piloted by the NASCAR Hall of Famer.

“I said a couple of weeks ago that Kyle’s spirit will always ride with me, and the first time will be on one of the greatest tracks in the world this weekend,” Busch said in a report published by IMSA on its website.

Kurt and Kyle Busch raced together in NASCAR for nearly two decades before the former retired from racing at the end of 2022. During that time, the two siblings shared impeccable rivalries and did not leave each other space when it came to hard racing.

“It is still incomprehensible to think he is gone, not suiting up for the next race as he did for nearly his entire life, but Kyle would have loved to have been right there racing alongside me and our friends at Le Mans. It would be great to make it a fitting tribute with a win for him in full Kyle style," Busch further added.

In the race on Sunday, Busch finished on the podium after securing third with an impressive final-corner pass on JC France. The gap between them at the finish line was a mere 0.011 seconds.

What Kurt Busch had said after his brother's passing

Kurt Busch is six years and nine months older than Kyle, but when it came to racing, they were on par. The younger brother, in fact, had one more championship to his name and was also regarded as one of the most accomplished NASCAR drivers in history.

Two weeks after Kyle passed away on May 21 in Concord, North Carolina, Kurt shared an emotional post on Instagram. The former NASCAR driver poured out a moving yet powerful message, an excerpt of which read:

"From big wheels to competing on the biggest stages in motorsports, we were more than just fierce competitors. We pushed each other, challenged each other, and learned from each other… No trophy, championship, or accomplishment could ever measure the impact you had on my life… Rest easy, little brother."

Kyle Busch caught a cold prior to the Watkins Glen race, and it eventually turned serious. Shortly after he passed away in the hospital, his family revealed that he had pneumonia that rapidly progressed into sepsis.

He was 41 and left behind his wife Samantha and two children, son Brexton and daughter Lennix.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest.

Written by

Sabyasachi Biswas

Edited by

Yash Kotak