NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch's Family Guide: Meet His Wife, Their 2 Kids
NASCAR legend Kyle Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha Busch, their two children and his brother Kurt Busch following his shocking death at age 41.
"We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport's greatest and fiercest drivers," NASCAR announced in a statement via X on May 21, 2026. "We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community."
The news of Kyle's death broke mere hours after his family confirmed that the driver had developed "a severe illness resulting in hospitalization." Kyle was supposed to race at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 24, but was pulled from the lineup due to his health emergency.
Kyle is survived by his wife of 15 years, their two children and a worldwide community of NASCAR fans who cheered for him throughout a 24-year NASCAR Cup Series career.
Keep scrolling for more about Kyle's family:
Samantha Busch
Samantha is a lifestyle blogger and IVF advocate. She unexpectedly crossed paths with the NASCAR driver while working as a promotional model in 2007.
"16 years ago … the promo model agency I worked for sent me down to Indianapolis to work for Chevy getting people hyped up for the races," she recalled via Instagram in 2023. "I was going into my senior year of college at Purdue at the time, a sorority girl and no big surprise not the sportiest of types. So I can honestly say it was my first time at a race track!"
Samantha remembered the day being "crazy hot" so she jumped at the chance when a staffer asked if she wanted a ride in one of the race cars.
"Now to tell Kyle's side of the story he saw me from afar and asked his pr lady to ask if I wanted a ride! So needless to say I hopped in the car and the first thing I said when I saw him in his Chevy tee and ice cold car was, ‘Wow you got a way better assignment then I did,'" she recalled. "He looked at me funny assuming I knew who he was and we were off. I did most of the talking, big surprise, and then invited him to hang out with a group of us going out that night to which he declined bc he had to work. Little did I know he had a truck race. So I thought that was the end of that until Mr. Shy had someone ask me for my number."
She went on, "Fast forward and remember Facebook had just started, texting was still pressing one button three times to get to the letter c, so social stalking wasn't available. My friends Dad who overheard me telling her the story was actually the one who figured out that it was Kyle! Then I got super nervous so we talked on the phone for 4 months before seeing each other and going on a date and the rest is history!"
Kurt added, "I wanted that one bad. I feel like him right now. I'm all mad because I didn't win."
Later that year, Kurt described Kyle as "the best guy in the world to go race against" after competing with him at the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway.
Kyle inducted his older brother into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, in January 2026.
Kurt was married to Eva Bryan from 2006 to 2011 and later to Ashley Van Metre from 2017 to 2022.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 7:46 PM.