NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch's Widow Shares Heartbreaking Father's Day Tribute
Sports
Samantha Busch Shares Heartbreaking Family Videos Marking First Father’s Day After Death Of NASCAR’s Kyle Busch
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter June 22, 2026 10:56 AM ET June 22, 2026 10:56 AM ET Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter Font Size:Samantha Busch shared a heartbreaking tribute marking her first Father’s Day without her late husband, NASCAR legend Kyle Busch.
She shared intimate family videos of Kyle interacting with their children alongside a lengthy caption expressing her grief and love on what was supposed to be a day of celebration.
“This still doesn’t feel real at all. I was up all night thinking about what today should have looked like for Kyle and the kids,” Samantha wrote.
“The Father’s Day cards that were already made, sitting in a drawer with no one to give them to.”
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Video snippets showed Kyle laughing with his children, picking them up and spinning them around in shared tender moments, and engaging in play with his family.
The footage captured moments frozen in time following Kyle’s tragic death on May 21, 2026, at the age of 41. The racing icon passed away after severe pneumonia developed into sepsis.
Samantha expressed the void that her young children now face in his absence.
“Trying to figure out how to navigate a day that should be filled with so much joy for them,” she wrote.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with his daughter, Lennix Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
She described the loving bond that Kyle shared with their children.
“He was the dad who never missed a chance to be silly, race the kids around the neighborhood, wrap them in his arms, or stay up a little longer for one more book, one more question, one more moment.”
“Nothing made him prouder than being Brexton and Lennix’s dad,” Samantha wrote.
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A post shared by Samantha Busch (@samanthabusch)
The video continued to play, while the laughter of Kyle’s children echoed through moments they will never be able to share with him again.
The clip was bittersweet for Samantha, who is navigating this significant life change.
“Watching these memories hurts more than I can explain, but they also remind me how lucky we were to have him,” she wrote.
She directed her comments to her late husband before signing off.
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“Kyle, the kids and I miss you every second of every day. Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we physically feel,” she wrote.
“Our bodies hurt from missing you, from reaching for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can’t hold anymore.”
She ended with a loving promise to keep Kyle’s memory alive. (RELATED: Kyle Busch’s Cause Of Death Was Severe Pneumonia That Progressed To Sepsis)
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, is congratulated by his son, Brexton Busch, after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
“I will keep telling your stories, sharing your laughs, and making sure Brexton and Lennix always know just how deeply they were loved by their dad.”
“Happy Father’s Day. We love you and miss you more than words can say.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
