Samantha Busch, widow of former NASCAR driver Kyle Busch, announced the death of her grandfather on Thursday, marking another family tragedy less than two months after her husband's passing.
She shared tributes to her grandfather, whom she affectionately called "nonno" (Italian for grandfather), on her Instagram story. In one post, she included a picture of herself with her grandfather and wrote, "I hope you and Kyle are drinking Italian wine together in heaven and pretending either of you can understand one another just like the very first Christmas you all met."
Another post featured a photo of her grandfather sharing pasta with her children at home. "And that Nonnie is making you guys pasta and her famous sauce," she wrote, referencing her grandmother.
Kyle Busch died on May 21 following a sudden hospitalization for sepsis. His death was announced in a joint statement from Richard Childress Racing and his family, which described him as a "future Hall of Famer" and a "rare talent."
Two weeks after Kyle's death, Samantha expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support her family had received. "The love that has surrounded our family during this unimaginable time has brought comfort in the middle of so much pain," she shared on June 5. "Knowing the impact Kyle had on others and seeing how they are honoring him through each unique act of generosity is a true testament to how special Kyle is to so many people."
She also reflected on the profound grief, stating, "There are moments when the weight of this loss feels impossible to carry, yet time and time again God, through you all, has shown us we are not alone."
During his racing career spanning over two decades, Kyle Busch achieved 234 NASCAR national series wins across the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Truck Series. This total represents the most wins of any driver in the sport's history.