![\"Kurt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2257860980.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Kurt Busch recalls meeting with Kyle Busch’s doctors after his sudden passing.<\/p>\n
Days after the sudden passing of Kyle Busch, older brother Kurt met with the doctors who attempted to save his life. The 2004 NASCAR<\/a> Cup Series champion was told his younger brother\u2019s death was \u201cone in a million,\u201d making it more difficult to come to terms with.<\/p>\n Kyle Busch, the winningest overall driver in NASCAR history, died on May 21 after a case of pneumonia progressed into sepsis. Busch had just won his final NASCAR race in the Craftsman Truck Series at Dover six days prior.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kurt Busch on brother Kyle\u2019s death: \u2018So frustrating and difficult to accept\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n In an article by ESPN reporter Robert Klemko<\/a>, Kurt Busch recalls one of the doctors telling him how rare it is for his younger brother to succumb to the illness he was battling. Busch said the doctor told him it was a \u201cone in a million\u201d occurrence.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what makes all of this so frustrating and difficult to accept,\u201d Kurt said.<\/p>\n Kurt went on to tell ESPN that Kyle\u2019s passing was a consequence of an \u201cambitious plan to stay competitive\u201d and ultimately get the opportunity to race against his son, Brexton, in NASCAR.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the power Kyle wanted to have. \u2026 Why not take a week off, or take a couple weeks off to regroup? \u2026 My brother\u2019s mentality was perfect for the end of his career to try to time it out to where his racing would coincide with Brexton. And that way Brexton\u2019s getting the utmost attention from a current driver to develop him faster, quicker, stronger,\u201d Kurt said.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, Kyle Busch\u2019s ambitions turned into tragedy. Despite feeling ill, \u201cRowdy\u201d continued to race on to keep his aspirations alive to one day race alongside Brexton in NASCAR competition.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cHe just worked and worked and worked, and unfortunately, a tragedy happened,\u201d Kurt Busch said.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Kyle Busch inducted older brother Kurt<\/a> into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Throughout his full-time Cup career (2001-2022), Busch won the 2004 championship and 34 Cup Series races, most notably the 2017 Daytona 500.<\/p>\n Kurt Busch featured in NASCAR documentary for first interview since Kyle\u2019s death<\/p>\n The USA Network recently launched a new NASCAR documentary titled \u201cNASCAR Americana,\u201d a three-part series that airs after the Cup Series race.<\/p>\n The second episode was released following last Saturday\u2019s Cook Out 400 at Richmond. Titled \u201cFamily Bonds,\u201d it features Kurt Busch\u2019s first sit-down interview since the tragic passing of his brother, Kyle.<\/p>\n As he fought back emotions, Kurt Busch reflected on the pre-race moment at the Coca-Cola 600 earlier this year as the NASCAR community came together to honor Kyle Busch and support his family.<\/p>\n \u201cTo have that moment of symbolization for Kyle and to see Brexton standing there, it was a moment of, \u2018Wow, he\u2019s gone. We\u2019re not going to get him back,\u2019\u201d Kurt said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last Saturday, Kurt Busch earned what he described as an emotional win<\/a> in an IROC race at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. The 48-year-old edged Jimmie Johnson for the victory by 0.002 seconds.<\/p>\n Kurt Busch was forced to retire in 2022 after a crash at Pocono left him with a concussion. At the time, Busch was piloting the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tJohn Breeden<\/a> John Breeden is a NASCAR contributor at Heavy Sports. He has five years of sports journalism experience. He graduated from James Madison University in May of 2022 with a degree in media arts and design. John is also a sports reporter for the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Previously, John was a sports writer for JMU’s The Breeze and a NASCAR content writer for Sportskeeda. More about John Breeden<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \t