NASCAR’s Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series observed moments of silence Saturday to honor Kyle Busch, who died Thursday at age 41 from complications related to severe pneumonia and sepsis.
Busch, who competed full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series for more than two decades, was also known for his success in the Truck Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He won 69 races in the Truck Series and owned a team at one point. His final victory came in a Truck Series race at Dover just under a week before his death, NASCAR officials said.
The Truck Series race scheduled for Friday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway was postponed due to rain. The race was set to feature Corey Day in the No. 7 Chevrolet for Spire Motorsports, the same truck Busch drove to his last win. Before the scheduled start, teams and fans paid tribute with a moment of silence. The race was rescheduled for Saturday morning and then again for Saturday night, but it was ultimately postponed again.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series also paused to remember Busch before their race Saturday, which was also suspended due to rain. Fans and teams are expected to carry heavy hearts into the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest race, scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
