Legendary NASCAR driver Tony Stewart went on a controversial rant regarding the death of Kyle Busch.
Busch, 41, died last month. He died as a result of complications from pneumonia and sepsis. He was rushed to the hospital one night and died the next day, in late May.
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NASCAR fans have been remembering Busch and posting their condolences to his family and friends. Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha, and their two children. It’s an incredibly sad and devastating story.
But Stewart had a different take.
HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 18: Tony Stewart, driver of the #14 Always a Racer/Mobil 1 Chevrolet, stands on the grid during qualifying for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Stewart is not happy.
“I guess the biggest thing in this tragedy that’s happened that (expletive) me off the most is that now everybody wants to talk about how he was as a person. Outside of that, all they wanted to do is judge what they saw on TV,” he said.
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“It’s frustrating. That’s the way every one of us are judged by what they see on TV and then once you die, they want to talk about how good a person you were. That’s the part that (expletive) me off the most about it right now.”
He wasn’t done.
“Should’ve given him a chance to learn him as a person before they judged him in the first place. So, right now, I don’t care about educating everybody about how Kyle Busch was. I know how Kyle Busch was.
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“The fact that they all want to learn now, they’re the (expletive) for not taking the time to learn him and accept him for who he was back then. You want to wait until a guy dies and then care about who he was as a person is the part that (expletive) me off about everybody.”
NASCAR fans are not happy
“He should apologize,” one fan said.
Others agree.
“Tony sorry for you to find out, but all of us common people, didn’t have an opportunity to know him like all you privileged people and competitors got to know him. Getting to see you on TV is what we get to see, so put that in your pipe and smoke it,” one fan added.
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“Sounds like Tony Stewart needs to go back to anger management classes,” one fan added.
“He has a point, but the problem is his friends weren’t telling anyone how great he was while he was alive,” one fan added.
“People can only see the behavior a sports figure chooses to exhibit to the camera, we’re human. Life is too precious to live thinking what (expletives) us off. Don’t choose conflict..Motor sports fans are hurt by Kyle’s passing. Those who didn’t like his persona are also truly hurt,” one fan added.
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What do you make of Stewart’s comments?
This story was originally published by The Spun on Jun 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the NASCAR section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
