Bowman Gray driver Burt Myers, and others, reflect on the death of Kyle Busch

It wasn't that long ago when Burt Myers, one of the legends of Bowman Gray Stadium racing, was giving NASCAR future hall of famer Kyle Busch some inside information on the historic track.

Before The Clash was run for the first time at Bowman Gray Stadium in 2025, Busch, along with his car owner, Richard Childress, came to the track in December 2024, and Myers was there to greet them.

Busch died suddenly at age 41 on Thursday, and Myers took to social media to express his heartache.

"I've known Kyle a long time and that's a tough deal with what happened," Myers said Thursday. "I got to know him a little more here the last few years when he was with Richard Childress Racing."

Myers said when Busch and Childress asked him to come over to the stadium that December, it wasn't about business.

"It was more of a friendly deal with him just asking me about the track and things like that," Myers said. "I'll always remember that because we weren't running in the same crowds, obviously, and he was busy and I was busy, so it's just a case where we could talk from time to time."

Busch ran both of the Cookout Clash races at Bowman Gray Stadium finishing 15th in 2025 and 19th in the snowy 2026 race this past February. The Clash is NASCAR's preseason All-Star race.

"Like all the drivers, Kyle was just wondering how it would all work at such a small track, but it's worked out," Myers said, "and I think he liked the historic nature of it all, and seeing the Cup drivers at Bowman Gray is cool."

On social media, Myers posted a picture of him and Busch at Bowman Gray Stadium from two years ago.

"Hard to put into words how to feel," Myers said on Facebook. "We need to pray hard for Kyle's family in this terrible time. I just talked to him Tuesday afternoon about hanging out at the event last night. When Samantha (his wife) said he wasn't coming, I knew something wasn't right.

"I know it's all God's plan no matter how much we question it. Rest easy my friend."

It was about 10 years ago when Busch got a ticket and called Myers.

"So, there was this one time that he called and was trying to get out of a speeding ticket, and he knew I knew the state trooper," Myers said. "I'm not sure what happened on the ticket, but I think it got smoothed over or whatever."

Busch, who had 234 career wins and 63 Cup wins, was the Cup champion in 2015 and '19. Of his 234 wins, 171 wins were in NASCAR's two feeder series, O'Reilly (102) and Trucks (69).

Myers also drove one of Busch's late-model cars a few years ago.

"He was just somebody I always respected because he's done things the right way," Myers said. "So, it was a shock when I heard that he had passed away. I just feel for his family."

Zack Ore, a Sportsman driver at the Stadium, also posted a picture of he and Busch. "One of the best to hold a steering wheel," Ore wrote. "Prayers for the family."

John Holleman, another veteran driver at Bowman Gray Stadium, posted on Facebook that Busch was one of his idols in the sport. When he was teenager, Holleman got the chance to meet Busch.

"He was my modern-day intimidator growing up," Holleman said. "I was such a dedicated fan I wore my KB shirt while sitting on (Joey) Logano's pit box, and Coach (Joe) Gibbs said I had the wrong shirt on for that pit box and his sponsors may not be too happy."

Busch is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children, Brexton and Lennix.

More reaction came from Marcus Smith, who oversees 11 tracks throughout the country and is the son of Bruton Smith. Marcus Smith is the CEO of Charlotte Motor Speedway.

"Kyle Busch was a champion among champions - a once-in-a-generation competitor whose grit, unmistakable driving style and relentless pursuit of excellence elevated him to a place among the very best drivers in our sport," Marcus Smith said in a news release. "When Kyle climbed behind the wheel, he brought an intensity and determination that demanded respect from his competitors and inspired fans throughout motorsports."

Marcus Smith said Busch is a top name in Charlotte Motor Speedway history.

"At Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kyle etched his name in history, earning more victories across NASCAR's top three series than any other driver in our sport, highlighted by his victory in the 2018 Coca-Cola 600," Smith said. "Many of his remarkable 234 NASCAR victories came at Speedway Motorsports tracks where his talent and competitive spirit created countless memorable moments for more than two decades."

Rajah Caruth, a Winston-Salem State graduate who races in the Xfinity Series, also posted a picture on Facebook thanking Busch for his help through the years. "Thank you for everything KB," Caruth wrote. "Sending my love and condolences to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix and the entire Busch family."

Ryan Preece, who won The Clash in February, also posted his condolences on his Facebook page. "Godspeed KB. Gone too soon," he wrote. "My family's thoughts & prayers are with the Busch family."

Richard Petty also added his condolences on his family racing Facebook page.

"The Petty Family is absolutely heartbroken," Petty wrote. "This is truly unbelievable. Our hearts and prayers go out to Samantha, Brexton, Lennix, and the entire Busch family."

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 9:44 AM.