CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Motor Speedway hosted a celebration of life Friday night for two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, drawing fans and racing colleagues back to the Concord oval nearly five months after his death.
The ceremony was scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. after the Truck Series race ended. Admission was free, and organizers said the program would also air live on FS1 for people who could not reach the track.
Busch, 41, died May 21 after bacterial pneumonia led to sepsis and complications that his death certificate listed as hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation. His death came days before the Coca-Cola 600 at the same speedway, where family members appeared that Sunday and Kurt Busch placed roses on the No. 8 car in the infield.
Speedway organizers said the Oct. 9 gathering was meant to mark Busch through memories, iconic moments and the lasting mark he left on the sport and the 1 1/2-mile oval. Speakers listed for the program included Cup drivers Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson, Daniel Suarez, Kyle Larson and Austin Dillon, along with team owner Joe Gibbs. Busch widow Samantha Busch was also part of the program.
Organizers planned to display 10 of Busch race cars and close with a drone show, plus a performance by country musician Cole Swindell. Busch remains the winningest driver at Charlotte Motor Speedway across NASCAR national series and still holds the Truck Series career wins record with 69 victories.
Mecklenburg County residents and Concord race fans often treat Chase weekend at the speedway as a home-track gathering, and Friday night layered that rhythm with a public memorial for a driver long tied to the Charlotte market.