The NASCAR world is continuing to process the shocking death of Kyle Busch at age 41, and now Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed an emotional behind-the-scenes detail that makes the loss even harder to comprehend.
According to Earnhardt, Busch had been actively making plans to race one of JR Motorsports’ late model cars in the CARS Tour — and specifically wanted to do it in Earnhardt’s iconic No. 8.
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The revelation came during the latest episode of Earnhardt’s podcast, where the Hall of Fame driver opened up about the final text conversation he shared with Busch just one day before his death.
“I was texting with him the day before he passed away about getting together this Thursday to bring his seat for his late model over to my shop,” Earnhardt, 51, said.
For longtime NASCAR fans, the story immediately carried emotional weight. Busch and Earnhardt spent years battling each other at the highest level of the sport before eventually developing a friendship rooted in mutual respect and a shared passion for racing beyond the Cup Series garage.
Kyle Busch Wanted to Run Dale Jr.’s No. 8
Earnhardt explained that Busch had agreed to race one of his cars in the CARS Tour, the rapidly growing late model series Earnhardt co-owns that has become increasingly popular among NASCAR stars and short-track fans alike.
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“Because we had agreed that he was gonna race our car in the Cars Tour.”
But the moment that truly stunned Earnhardt came when Busch made a specific request about the number he wanted on the car.
“And he goes, ‘I wanna run the Dale Jr. 8’ and I was like, ‘You got it. That’s what’s on it right now. We’ll run the Dale Jr. 8.’ ”
The No. 8 remains one of the most recognizable numbers in modern NASCAR history because of Earnhardt’s rise to stardom driving it for Dale Earnhardt Inc. during the early 2000s. The idea of Busch — one of the sport’s most polarizing and talented modern-era drivers — climbing into that number instantly became something both drivers knew fans would obsess over.
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“He gave me a head-exploding emoji and he said, ‘Race fans.’ ”
The exchange captured something deeply authentic about Busch. Even after years at the top level of NASCAR, he still understood what excited hardcore fans and what moments would resonate across the sport.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Kyle Busch’s Relationship Evolved Over the Years
During their Cup Series careers, Earnhardt and Busch were often viewed as rivals representing different NASCAR generations. Busch emerged as one of the sport’s fiercest competitors during the later years of Earnhardt’s career, and the two frequently battled for wins, headlines and fan attention.
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But over time, the relationship evolved into a genuine friendship.
In recent years, both drivers shared a growing appreciation for grassroots racing, particularly late model competition and the preservation of short-track culture. Busch’s willingness to race in Earnhardt’s CARS Tour program reflected that connection.
That is part of what makes Earnhardt’s story so emotional.
The conversation wasn’t reflective or nostalgic. It was about the future. About racing. About putting Busch in one of NASCAR’s most iconic numbers and giving fans a moment they never saw coming.
Instead, the text exchange has now become one of the final public glimpses into Busch’s life before his sudden death stunned the entire racing world.
