Samantha Busch, widow of two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, has announced an emotional tribute to her late husband: the return of his iconic M&M's car at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Kyle Busch died in May at the age of 41 after a brief illness that developed from pneumonia into sepsis. He is survived by his wife Samantha and their two children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
To honor his memory, Ty Gibbs will drive the No. 54 car with a special M&M's paint scheme at the Bristol Night Race on September 19. The paint scheme pays homage to the car that was synonymous with many of Busch's greatest career moments. The Mars-owned M&M's brand had a 15-year association with Busch before leaving NASCAR at the end of the 2022 season. The brand will now return to the sport for one final tribute in partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing.
Busch had a storied career at Bristol, winning 22 races at the track, including eight Cup Series victories. His two championships were secured while M&M's adorned his car, with the colorful schemes becoming a memorable part of his legacy.
In a video montage featuring Busch's highlights at Bristol, Samantha Busch spoke about the significance of the track and the M&M's car. "Bristol wasn't just another race to him. He loved everything about that place... the intensity, the energy, the fans, and the challenge of racing there," she said, her voice filled with emotion. She recalled how the M&M's car became known as "the M&M's guy" and connected with fans across generations.
"Seeing Mars and Joe Gibbs Racing come together to honor Kyle this way is incredibly emotional for me," Samantha stated, visibly fighting back tears. "The M&M's car holds so many memories from our life together, and seeing it back on the track knowing Kyle won't be the one behind the wheel is going to be both heartbreaking and beautiful all at once."
She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to celebrate her husband's life and career at a place he loved so dearly. "To see the No. 54 car carry those iconic colors again, filled with moments from Kyle's incredible career, feels like bringing a piece of him back to the track that he loved so much," she added. "Kyle loved Bristol and Bristol loved Kyle."
Samantha concluded by inviting the NASCAR family and fans to join in the celebration on September 19. "I know he will be right there with us that night. I hope you'll join us on Saturday, September 19 as we celebrate Kyle together. I'll see you back in Bristol."