Las Vegas Motor Speedway had its usual Friday hustle and bustle before the start of a NASCAR weekend, with teams and fans arriving to the track to get ready for two days of action at the 1½-mile oval.

There was a sense of absence on Friday as the NASCAR Cup Series rolled into LVMS for the first race at the track since the death of two-time Cup Series champion and Las Vegas native Kyle Busch.

A short walk south from LVMS, Busch’s legacy and memory was remembered at The Bullring on Friday night with the inaugural Kyle Busch Classic on the same track Busch cut his teeth at on his way to NASCAR stardom.

The ARCA Menards Series West, CARS Tour West and other local and regional racing series raced around the ⅜-mile short track on the night of racing that honored Kyle Busch. Busch’s family — wife Samantha, son Brexton, daughter Lennix, brother and NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt and mother Gaye —returned to the Bullring on Friday as the track officially dedicated the Kyle Busch Memorial Rock at The Bullring’s Park.

“It’s absolutely beautiful to be back here at the Bullring,” Samantha Busch told the Review-Journal. “I think the coolest thing is walking through and seeing all the Kyle and Brexton shirts in the crowd.

“I have said that since Kyle’s passing, the racing community has wrapped their arms around us and loved us so much. It’s just been everything to us to have that support and love. Getting to come out here, seeing all the different tracks — especially the Bullring — honor Kyle has been so special.”

‘Means a lot to be here’

The family and other dignitaries were on hand for the dedication. Brexton, wearing his lime green firesuit from his bandolero car race, gave the command to start engines for the ARCA Menards Series West race and waved the green flag in the first official night of stock car racing at The Bullring since a repave from over the summer.

“It means a lot to be here,” Brexton Busch, 11, told the Review-Journal. “I raced here a couple times. I didn’t win here with my dad, but I’ve been here a couple times with my dad and it was cool racing with him. I really like the rock (display).”

Brexton Busch took time after the dedication of the rock to sign autographs — signing a lot of Kyle Busch merchandise — and talking to fans. Several fans gave charm bracelets to Samantha, including one with M&M charms.

“It’s really cool to see my dad’s race come alive,” said Brexton, who finished second in his bandolero race Thursday at The Bullring and raced in a pro late model race later Friday. “I start fifth. Hopefully I can win it. It’s going to be a fun one.

“It’s really cool to see how many people are here. I bet it’s going to inspire a lot of people. The new repave is awesome.”

‘He’s amazing’

Busch died suddenly at age 41 on May 21 after he suffered “severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” according to a statement released from the family at the time.

At The Bullring, fans wore Kyle Busch hats, shirts and jackets, along with hats and shirts of Brexton Busch. Many fans wore M&M’s Racing gear from when Kyle Busch drove the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota where he won both of his Cup Series championships. Others wore hats and shirts of the No. 8, the number Kyle Busch had in his last four seasons with at Richard Childress Racing.

The Bullring’s backstretch now says “Rowdy Forever” with Kyle’s No. 8. Fans left flowers and candles by Kyle Busch’s display, and one fan placed a bag of peanut M&M’s.

Actor Michael Rooker, who played Rowdy Burns in the movie Days of Thunder — which inspired Kyle Busch’s “Rowdy” nickname and No. 51 design he raced in the NASCAR Truck Series and other late model races — joined the Busch’s family.

“Kyle was a man that became my friend,” Rooker said. “I’m very pleased to be here to help dedicate the rock and this race and this day (to him). He’s amazing.”

‘Changed the game’

On Thursday, Kyle Busch was inducted into the West Coast Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame. Busch won 234 times across NASCAR’s top three national touring series.

Since the passing of his father, Brexton’s stoic demeanor has been a symbol of strength for the family in a difficult time and Brexton showed that as he interacted with fans before Friday’s race and as he prepared for his own races.

But Brexton let the same passion of racing his father had come out as he gave the command to start engines for the ARCA Menards Series race as Las Vegas Motor Speedway and The Bullring began its future of racing without Kyle Busch.

“This is in the spirit and honor of my younger brother,” Kurt Busch said to the crowd before the start of the race. “Kyle definitely changed the game in NASCAR. He’s won over 200 times in all different series, but things started right here at The Bullring.

“I want to thank you our Las Vegas family and fans. This is going to be one of the most prominent big time races on the West Coast.”

Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.