The widow of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch has broken her silence following his tragic death, describing recent days as the most ‘heartbreaking’ of the family’s lives.
Busch, 41, passed away on May 21 after being rushed to hospital when he became unresponsive in a race simulator near Charlotte, North Carolina.
It was later revealed that the married father of two had pneumonia , which led to sepsis, causing his blood to clot and impeding his organs before he went into hemorrhagic shock.
‘As a family, we wanted to take a moment to say thank you,’ Samantha, his wife of 16 years and the mother of his two children, wrote in an Instagram post on Friday.
‘The prayers, messages, flowers, meals, hugs, and countless acts of kindness have carried us through the most heartbreaking days of our lives. While our hearts are absolutely shattered, we have felt God’s presence and arms wrapped tightly around us through each and every one of you.’
In an incredible display of strength, Samantha, 40, attended the Coca-Cola 600 race Kyle was supposed to compete in last month along with their two children – son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, four – as NASCAR held a moment of silence for the iconic driver.
The widow of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch has broken her silence following his tragic death
Samantha, Kyle’s wife of 16 years and the mother of his two children, described recent days as the most ‘heartbreaking’ of the family’s lives
While clutching a bouquet of white roses, she struggled to keep her composure and broke down in tears while standing arm-in-arm with Brexton on the track in North Carolina.
She added in her Instagram post on Friday that the outpouring of love the family has received ‘during this unimaginable time has brought comfort in the middle of so much pain.’
‘Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and seeing how they are honoring him through each unique act of generosity is a true testament to how special Kyle is to so many people,’ Samantha said. ‘There are moments when the weight of this loss feels impossible to carry, yet time and time again God, through you all, has shown us we are not alone.’
The lifestyle blogger and entrepreneur concluded her message, which was accompanied by a photo of her, Kyle, Brexton and Lennix, by thanking people for ‘showing up for us’ and ‘loving our family so well.’
‘Thank you for loving Kyle. Thank you for honoring him,’ she wrote. ‘We may never find the words to fully express what your support has meant to us, but please know that we are deeply grateful.’
At the Coca-Cola 600 tribute, three pipers played a somber rendition of Amazing Grace as Samantha cradled young daughter Lennix, who sported black-and-white checkered bows in her hair in a touching nod to her father’s legacy. She then huddled her two children together as her body was wracked with sobs.
Brexton sported a black cap with his father’s No. 8 embroidered on the front – a number that has now been temporarily retired until the 11-year-old follows in his father’s footsteps and one day races in NASCAR.
Both he and his mother wore black t-shirts with a logo emblazoned on the front that read: ‘Battle of the Busches.’
The Battle of the Busches was a series of dirt track races between Kyle and his racing-phenom son, which began in March of last year.
Busch’s parents, Tom and Gaye, and his brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt, also attended the race as NASCAR honored the late driver with a moment of silence.
Kyle’s death came two months after he and Samantha settled a lawsuit against Pacific Life Insurance Company out of court, after claiming they were misled into purchasing life insurance policies. The couple alleged they paid over $10.4million in premiums based on misleading illustrations and false promises of guaranteed returns.
