A planned tribute to two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has been scrapped before it ever reached the track, the latest development in the racing world’s ongoing mourning of one of its all-time greats.
Nitro Motorsports, a Mooresville, North Carolina-based outfit competing in the ARCA Menards Series, had designed a special paint scheme for driver Thomas Annunziata’s No. 70 Chevrolet inspired by Busch’s iconic yellow M&M’s car — the livery most closely associated with his championship career. The tribute was set to debut at the ARCA Menards Series race at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut on Friday, July 10, but a team representative confirmed on July 9 that the plan had been abandoned. The concept came together too quickly, leaving insufficient time to finish the tribute before race weekend.
The Loss of Kyle Busch
Busch, known throughout NASCAR as “Rowdy,” died on May 21 at the age of 41. His family confirmed on May 23 that he passed away from complications after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis. He had been hospitalized with a severe illness just days before the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, from which he had been scheduled to compete before being ruled out.
NASCAR and the Busch family, alongside Richard Childress Racing, released a joint statement honoring the driver. Busch is survived by his wife Samantha and their two children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
His legacy in the sport is staggering. Busch won NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019 and holds the record for the most combined wins across NASCAR’s three national touring series — 63 Cup Series victories, more than 100 Xfinity Series wins, and nearly 70 Truck Series wins.
A Celebration Planned for October
On July 10, NASCAR announced that a formal celebration of Busch’s life will be held on October 9 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, following the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race that evening.
For fans and competitors still processing the loss, the October event at Charlotte — the same track where Busch was set to race when he fell ill — will likely serve as a defining moment of remembrance for a career that redefined success in NASCAR.
