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Kyle Busch remained on the hearts and minds of many during a busy motorsports weekend.Busch died on May 21 after a brief visit to the hospital. It was announced that the driver had severe pneumonia.Busch’s family was surrounded by drivers and team owners during a heartfelt ceremony Sunday, May 24 before the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.The race also honored Busch, who drove the No. 8 car for Richard Childress Racing, during the 8th lap while fans in the crowd held up eight fingers. The broadcasters remained silent during the lap.Busch was tied with Zane Smith for 24th in the Cup Series standings with 217 points. It remains unclear what decision will be made regarding his spot in the Series for the remainder of the season.Daniel Suárez, who won a weather-shortened Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, dedicated his win to Busch.USA TODAY SPORTS has the latest news regarding Busch:Fans continue to say goodbye to Kyle Busch: online memorial growsKyle Busch was easy to hate and impossible to ignore. For two decades, fans either booed him or lived and died with every lap he ran. On Sunday night at Charlotte, it was clear which side won.By Monday morning, hundreds of fans had left messages on his Legacy.com memorial page.They mourned virtually from Germany, Las Vegas and Oregon. A grandmother who called herself Rowdy Nana. A dad who said he raised his boys on KB. A fan who still has the Daytona fender Busch signed, and figures Dale Earnhardt is probably already losing a race to him up there somewhere.They wrote about Bristol and Homestead and Pocono. About the M&Ms diecast on the shelf. About the time he came through a campground signing autographs and racing golf carts with his kids.Nobody had the same story, but they all had one."He brought a lot of excitement into people like mine's lives," one fan wrote. "I could never get enough of you, Rowdy."You didn't have to like Busch, but you couldn't look away.When Daniel Suarez took the checkered flag Sunday night in the pouring rain and broke down crying on pit road, the strangers who came together on the memorial page already knew exactly why.Daniel Suarez wins Coca-Cola 600, honors mentor and friend Kyle Busch in victory celebrationDaniel Suarez snapped an 82-race winless streak Sunday, holding off Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin on back-to-back restarts before rain ended the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, giving him his third career NASCAR Cup Series victory.The win carried extra meaning for Suarez, who celebrated on pit road wearing Kyle Busch's No.8 hat. Suarez got his start driving for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Truck Series, and the two remained close after. It was an emotional moment for Suarez, one he made sure to share with the man who was a friend and mentor.This moment with Kyle Busch's family will melt your heartAs Samantha Busch was being consoled on the Charlotte Motor Speedway infield following an emotional tribute to Kyle Busch by NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell, she had her 11-year-old son Brexton by her side.In a heartwarming moment, Owen Larson, the son of two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Larson walked over to Brexton to lend his fellow racing kid support.Bring tissues.Amazon Prime broadcast of Coca-Cola 600 goes silent on lap No. 8 to honor Kyle BuschThe Coca-Cola 600 marks the first race of the 2026 NASCAR season to be broadcast by Amazon Prime. On lap No. 8, the broadcast went silent to honor the late Kyle Busch.Busch had driven the No. 8 Chevrolet since joining Richard Childress Racing in 2023. He previously drove the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, where he won two Cup Series championships, and started his career in the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. — Mitchell NorthamKyle Busch honored with 'missing man' formation to start Coca-Cola 600NASCAR continued to pay tribute to the late Kyle Busch as the Coca-Cola 600 got underway on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. During the opening pace laps, drivers left a spot open for Busch's car and used a "missing man" formation.Kyle Busch's family attends Coca-Cola 600 in emotional scene on Charlotte infieldIt was an emotional scene on the infield of Charlotte Motor Speedway when Kyle Busch's parents, Tom and Gaye, and older brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, walked out to the No. 8 engraved on the grass. But it became even more gut-wrenching when Kyle Busch's wife Samantha emerged with their 11-year-old son Brexton and Busch's NASCAR team owner Richard Childress. Samantha Busch broke down in tears and embraced Brexton as NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell spoke about the impact of Kyle Busch on NASCAR."Samantha, I want you to know that this sport stands with you, and you and your children are NASCAR family forever, Brexton and Lennix, your dad loves you with all his heart. Everyone gathered here, everyone behind you, everyone watching on TV and all those people up in that grandstand, they are your family and we’ve got you," O'Donnell said during a speech that was broadcasted throughout the speedway and on the Prime Video broadcast. — Ellen HorrowDale Earnhardt Jr. and Denny Hamlin remember their friend Kyle BuschDenny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt spoke eloquently about their friend and fellow competitor Kyle Busch ahead of the Coca-Cola 600, remembering one of the best driver's in NASCAR history.The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
