Indy 500 drops emotional Kyle Busch tribute video
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday morning, ahead of the 2026 Indy 500. Before the 110th running of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, an emotional video tribute was aired honoring NASCAR legend Kyle Busch, who tragically passed away last week at 41.
The video tribute, which aired ahead of the race on FOX, featured commentary from fellow racing legends Jimmie Johnson, Danica Patrick, and Tony Stewart.
“Kyle Busch wasn’t born in a race car. It just seemed that way. With raw talent, confidence, and a fearless edge, he started racing at six and was NASCAR Rookie of the Year at just 19,” the video began. “He went on to build one of the greatest careers the sport has ever seen, earning 234 wins across all three national series.
MORE: Family of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch reveals cause of death
“But all that winning did little to smooth Kyle’s rough edges. That took a very special person. Samantha. As their love and family grew, so did he, and Victory Lane became the place shared with the people he loved most. In 21 years chasing greatness, the talented teenage wild thing grew into the husband, father, and champion everyone wanted to see win at least one more time. And we did.”
Before the Indy 500, @JimmieJohnson, @DanicaPatrick, and @TonyStewart remember Kyle Busch. pic.twitter.com/wemDa2t7Cr
— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 24, 2026
It’s great to see the racing community come together to remember and honor a legend.
Following Busch’s passing, tributes began to pour out across the NASCAR world, and Richard Childress Racing announced that the use of his No. 8 would be suspended until his son, Brexton, was ready to begin his NASCAR career.
You can expect the tributes to continue on Sunday night, when the Coca-Cola 600 takes place at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
May 23, 2026; Concord, North Carolina, USA; Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill (33) wears a tshirt with the photo of deceased Kyle Busch during qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
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