In a day filled with an outpouring of tributes and support for the Busch family, it was one small gesture between two friends that stole the show at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday.
A ceremony and moment of silence in memory of Kyle Busch – who died suddenly Thursday at age 41 from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis – was held on the track prior to the start of the Coca-Cola 600. The entire Busch family was present from his parents Tom and Gaye to his older brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, to his wife Samantha, 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix.
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Brexton stood next to his grieving mother with his arm around her before the moment of silence when Owen Larson, son of two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, walked over and hugged his friend. Like Brexton Busch, Owen Larson is also 11.
Brexton, who was frequently by his dad’s side at races, recently changed his profile picture on Facebook to a photo of them two hugging. On Saturday, Richard Childress Racing announced they would retire Busch’s No. 8 for this weekend and beyond, keeping it “reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”
Brexton Busch already knows how to win on the track. He has over 150 victories across Outlaw Karts, Micro Sprints, Bandolero Bandits National Championship, going 23 for 33 with 28 podiums. He won the Golden Driller at the prestigious Tulsa Shootout in the JR Sprint division. He made his Legends car debut at Charlotte Moto Speedway’s Summer Shootout and won in his fifth start.
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This year, he stepped up to full-size stock cars, racing the JR Late Model division at Madera Speedway in California for Wilson Motorsports.
Contributing: Kristie Ackert
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyle Busch’s son Brexton comforted by Kyle Larson’s son
