Kyle Busch was more than a villain and the greatest NASCAR driver of his generation

Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)2026-05-22T10:00:07Z Kyle Busch grew to expect — even appreciate — the boos.The driver nicknamed Wild Thing, Outlaw, Rowdy and KFB over his 26-year NASCAR career was more comfortable than anyone might imagine with a checkered flag in one hand and fans jeering all around. He leaned into the villain role as the wins mounted — and boy did they — and even started encouraging his haters, trying to get the howling to a fever pitch before delivering his signature bow.It was Busch at his best.And it’s the way he should be remembered.The two-time Cup Series champion, who won more races than anyone across NASCAR’s three national series, died Thursday at age 41. Tributes poured in, with many echoing the sentiment that racing had lost one of its fiercest competitors.Busch was that — and so much more.He was arguably the greatest driver of his generation, displaying unrivaled success. He notched a combined 234 wins — 63 in the top-tier Cup Series and another 171 in NASCAR’s two feeder series, O’Reilly (102) and Trucks (69). He was a devoted husband, a side that became public when he and wife Samantha chronicled their struggle to become parents and later founded the Bundle of Joy Fund, which is dedicated to advancing access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) care and providing support so others don’t have to navigate infertility alone. The fund has raised more than $2 million and has celebrated the birth of 111 babies. He was a loving father, who tirelessly tried to teach his 11-year-old son, Brexton, everything he could about racing and even sold his successful Truck Series team to help raise money to support his son’s budding career. Kyle Busch tosses his son Brexton up in the air while celebrating in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 23, 2019, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) Kyle Busch tosses his son Brexton up in the air while celebrating in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 23, 2019, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Kyle Busch, left, son Brexton, center, and wife Samantha put their arms around each other before a NASCAR Cup series auto race on Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) Kyle Busch, left, son Brexton, center, and wife Samantha put their arms around each other before a NASCAR Cup series auto race on Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Kyle Busch carries his son, Brexton, as his wife, Samantha, left, watches before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File) Kyle Busch carries his son, Brexton, as his wife, Samantha, left, watches before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., May 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File) –> Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. –> Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More He was even one of NASCAR’s most popular — some would say polarizing — drivers thanks to his longtime M&M’s sponsorship. Kids flocked to Busch and his colorful No. 18 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing. Read More Older fans might not have been as supportive, and it was evident every time Busch took the checkered flag and responded to booing with a mocking bow. “This is a devastating loss and one that is hard for the NASCAR community to process. Kyle was a fierce competitor who demanded the very best from himself each time he put on the helmet,” four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon said. “As teammates, I saw firsthand the passion and intensity he brought to the sport every single day.“He was a champion and a prolific racer who made a tremendous impact on NASCAR and was a lifelong advocate for all forms of motor sports. But beyond the track, he loved his family deeply and was incredibly proud of Samantha, Brexton and Lennix.”Busch had become sort of a sympathetic figure in recent years, a series champion in the worst slump of his career and a surefire Hall of Famer who never got to celebrate a Daytona 500 victory. Both skids bothered him, no doubt, the first more than the second. Busch’s last Cup Series victory came at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois in 2023. Busch w

Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)2026-05-22T10:00:07Z Kyle Busch grew to expect — even appreciate — the boos.The driver nicknamed Wild Thing, Outlaw, Rowdy and KFB over his 26-year NASCAR career was more comfortable than anyone might imagine…

Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)2026-05-22T10:00:07Z Kyle Busch grew to expect — even appreciate — the boos.The driver nicknamed Wild Thing, Outlaw, Rowdy and KFB over his 26-year NASCAR career was more comfortable than anyone might imagine with a checkered flag in one hand and fans jeering all around. He leaned into the villain role as the wins mounted — and boy did they — and even…