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Samantha Busch, the wife of late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, remembered her husband in a heartbreaking social media post on Father’s Day — a month after his death.
Busch tragically died at the age of 41 from severe pneumonia that progressed to sepsis last month.
Samantha’s moving tribute to her late husband was from herself and her two children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, aged four.
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Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota, and his wife Samantha Busch stand on the grid during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on November 2, 2014. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images)
“This still doesn’t seem real at all,” Samantha captioned the post alongside photos and videos of the family together. “I was up all night thinking about what the day should have looked like for Kyle and the kids. Father’s Day cards already made, sitting in a drawer with no one to give them to. Trying to figure out how to handle a day that should be filled with so much joy for them.”
Samantha remembered her husband’s parenting skills, saying he “never missed an opportunity to be silly”, while also being present in the moments when he “stayed up a little longer” to read the kids a story before bed or simply spend more time together.
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“Nothing made him prouder than being the father of Brexton and Lennix,” she added.
Photos and videos showed the Busch family meeting Kyle after races with loving hugs and smiles, regardless of the outcome on the track. Others experienced time away from work, whether it was spending time on a boat, having fun at the beach, or enjoying time at home.
Samantha said she would promise to tell Kyle’s stories, of which there are many, and make sure her children always know how much their father loved them.
Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 18 Skittles Toyota, stands on the grid with his wife, Samantha, and son, Brexton, before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Camping World 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Arizona on March 19, 2017. (Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
“Looking at these memories hurts more than I can explain, but they also remind me how lucky we were to have him,” Samantha’s caption continued. “Kyle, the kids and I miss you every second of every second. Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we feel physically. Our bodies ache because of you, from looking for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can no longer hold.”
These raw emotions were expressed by Samantha, but she noted, “Brexton and Lennix still know how deeply their father loved them.”
“Happy Father’s Day,” she finished the caption. “We love you and miss you more than words can say.”
Busch’s death shocked the racing world, leading to an outpouring of condolences, sadness and remembrance for one of the sport’s best drivers.
Kyle Busch holds his son Brexton next to his wife Samantha before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan on June 12, 2016. (Kéna Krutsinger/Getty Images)
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He was honored at the Coca-Cola 600 shortly after his death on May 21. His parents Tom and Gaye Busch, along with his older brother, joined Samantha and the children at the track, where Kyle’s memory and all he brought to NASCAR was honored.
“Kyle Busch is NASCAR,” NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell said during the race. “He was one of a kind and there will never be another.”
