​For the first time since his brother’s shocking death, Kurt Busch, the NASCAR Hall of Fame driver, climbed back behind the wheel and returned to the racetrack this past weekend. He competed at the storied Le Mans course in France, taking part in the Historic Sportscar Racing series in the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear. It marked the first overseas appearance in the nearly five-decade history of HSR competition. The event consisted of three races, and in the second race, Busch earned a podium finish, placing third in his No. 1 Chevrolet Camaro. On his onboard camera, the 47-year-old former NASCAR Cup Series champion could be seen reaching speeds of up to 197 mph.
Busch’s return to competitive driving came amid a deeply personal and difficult period, following the sudden death of his younger brother, Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and widely regarded as a future Hall of Famer. The younger Busch’s passing occurred on May 21, at the age of 41. Kyle Busch’s career left an indelible mark on NASCAR, with countless achievements and unforgettable moments that defined his time in the sport. In a photo from the event, Kyle Busch is seen celebrating in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, on February 21, 2026, alongside his daughter Lennix, son Brexton, and wife Samantha Busch (Sean Gardner, Getty Images).
Kyle Busch’s death certificate cites hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation as contributing factors, a combination that triggers widespread clotting in small blood vessels. He had been battling sepsis for at least a day and dealing with complications from presumed bacterial pneumonia for days to weeks. Remarkably, Kyle Busch had secured the NASCAR Truck Series victory in Dover just six days prior, the 234th win of his career across all three national touring circuits. No other NASCAR driver has accumulated as many combined victories as the younger Busch.
Just before the Le Mans weekend began, Kurt Busch offered some of his first public remarks since Kyle’s unexpected passing. “I said a couple of weeks ago that Kyle’s spirit will always ride with me, and the first time will be on one of the greatest tracks in the world this weekend,” Kurt said. “It is still incomprehensible to think he is gone, not suiting up for the next race as he did for nearly his entire life, but Kyle would have loved to have been right there racing alongside me and our friends at Le Mans. It would be great to make it a fitting tribute with a win for him in full Kyle style.”
In the second race at Le Mans, Busch battled JC France, gaining ground as they exited the final chicane and crossing the line in third place by a razor-thin margin of 0.011 seconds. It was a tight finish that underscored the determination and sheer competitive spirit that have long defined Busch’s career.
Kurt Busch retired from NASCAR after the 2022 season, closing that chapter with his 34th and final Cup Series victory, achieved at Kansas while driving for 23XI Racing. He remains the only driver in Cup Series history to amass four distinct types of wins, highlighting a career marked by versatility and a remarkable ability to win across different circuits and conditions.