Kyle Busch’s wife, Samantha Busch, paid tribute to the late NASCAR legend on a day he would have spent with his children.
Samantha expressed her disbelief, writing on Instagram on Sunday, June 21, about how surreal it felt. “I stayed up all night contemplating what today should have been like for Kyle and the kids. The Father’s Day cards, crafted and stored away, now have no recipient. I’m trying to navigate a day that was meant to bring them joy,” she shared. “Kyle was the dad who always embraced playfulness, raced the kids around the neighborhood, hugged them tightly, and stayed up for one more book, one more question, one more moment.”
She added, “Nothing brought him more pride than being a father to Brexton and Lennix. These memories are painful to watch, yet they also remind us of how fortunate we were to have him.”
Samantha’s post concluded with a heartfelt message for Kyle, noting that their family — including son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4 — “[misses] you every second of every day.”
“Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we physically feel. Our bodies hurt from missing you, from reaching for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can’t hold anymore,” Samantha wrote. “I will keep telling your stories, sharing your laughs, and making sure Brexton and Lennix always know just how deeply they were loved by their dad. Happy Father’s Day. We love you and miss you more than words can say.”
Accompanying her message, Samantha shared numerous clips of Kyle with their children over the years. In one video, the family shared a tender hug on a race track.
In May, news emerged of Kyle’s unexpected death at 41. The day before his passing, he was hospitalized after being discovered unresponsive in a race simulator in North Carolina. A death certificate obtained by Us Weekly revealed that Kyle had pneumonia for “days or weeks” before his death, which developed into sepsis, a critical blood infection that can lead to multi-organ failure.
Samantha addressed Kyle’s passing the following month, releasing a statement signed by her, Brexton and Lennix.
“As a family, we wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude,” she wrote on Instagram. “The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives. Though our hearts are shattered, we have felt God’s presence and embrace through each and every one of you.”
She continued, “The love surrounding our family during this unimaginable time has brought comfort amid immense pain. Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and witnessing how they are honoring him through unique acts of generosity testifies to how special Kyle is to many. There are moments when the weight of this loss feels unbearable, yet time and time again, God, through you all, has shown us we are not alone.”
Samantha concluded by expressing thanks to “family, friends, fans, and strangers” for their support.
“Thank you for loving our family so well,” she wrote. “Thank you for loving Kyle. Thank you for honoring him. While we may never find the words to express our gratitude fully, please know that we are deeply grateful.”



