Richard Childress discusses planned Kyle Busch extension after his death
Richard Childress Racing owner Richard Childress has revealed he was preparing to announce a contract extension for Kyle Busch at Michigan International Speedway before the two-time Cup Series champion’s sudden death in May.
Childress addressed the media on Saturday for the first time since the 41-year-old died on 21 May.
The legendary driver passed away after severe pneumonia rapidly progressed into sepsis.
His death certificate later cited hemorrhagic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation as the official causes.
Echoes of a past tragedy
For the 80-year-old team owner, the loss brings back devastating memories of the 2001 Daytona 500.
Childress previously had to navigate his NASCAR organisation through the fatal crash of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.
“You lose two of the greatest drivers that’s ever driven a car in NASCAR and to have to go through it again,” Childress said.
“I just feel so bad for the family and the employees and everybody. But yeah, I mean, I haven’t slept very good lately.”
Final conversations and future plans
The veteran motorsport boss explained he had spoken to the experienced driver the night before his sudden hospitalisation.
The American had become unresponsive while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in North Carolina.
Despite enduring a 105-race winless streak in the Cup Series, the former champion was highly optimistic about his racing future.
A recent crew chief change had sparked an upturn in form, culminating in a season-best eighth-place finish at Watkins Glen.
“He said, ‘You give me cars like you gave me the last three weeks, I will make The Chase this year,'” Childress noted.
Safeguarding a family legacy
In the wake of the tragedy, RCR has switched to using the number 33 car.
Austin Hill has taken over driving duties for the past two events and will retain the seat for the remainder of the campaign.
“We don’t want to put a burden back on everybody trying to go from one driver to the other,” Childress explained.
The iconic number eight has been respectfully set aside for the potential future Cup career of the late driver’s 11-year-old son, Brexton.
Childress has recently spent time with the grieving family, reflecting on the hunting trips and dirt track racing they all shared.
“The many things that we all could have done together, that was probably the toughest part of this whole thing,” he added.
The heartbroken team owner concluded by calling for his former driver to be immediately inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
