Kyle Busch's widow revealed that the celebration of life for her late husband was not easy for her to get through in a new social media message that provided a glimpse into how the Busch family is still processing the NASCAR legend's death.
Samantha Busch posted via an Instagram story on Sunday, Oct. 11, that the memorial for Busch "took a lot out of me emotionally," while praising the event that took place Friday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. She said her spirits were boosted, in part, by the scene she encountered during Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race.
"Saturday was hard. Really hard. I kept thinking about how unfair this all is," Samantha Busch wrote on Sunday. "How much our kids deserve their dad. How desperately I miss his arms around me.
There were a lot of tears. But this morning I got myself up and went to church. I was reminded that even in our hardest moments, God is still surrounding us with blessings."
"And today at the track, I saw them everywhere," she continued. "In the hugs from our racing family. In the fans sharing stories of how Kyle touched their lives. In watching Lennix (Busch's 4-year-old daughter) surrounded by friends, laughing and playing, simply getting to be a little girl without the weight of missing her daddy for a moment. And my heart felt a little lighter."
This open-to-the-public memorial for Kyle Busch was months in the making. The two-time Cup Series champion and owner of several NASCAR records — including most combined career victories across the three national touring circuits, with 234 checkered flags — died suddenly on May 21 at the age of 41 due to complications from sepsis caused by presumed bacterial pneumonia.
The Friday night event meant to honor and remember Busch featured his son, Brexton, burning out in a NASCAR Cup Series car at Charlotte Motor Speedway to the delight of thousands of members of Rowdy Nation in the crowd.
Samantha Busch was among those who spoke at the memorial and emphasized through tears she "never fully understood what this sport meant until we lost him." She expressed hope Busch's legacy will carry on long after his death.
"My hope for Friday night's celebration of life was to bring some healing to the fans and racing community but also give them a glimpse into the man behind Rowdy," Busch wrote on Instagram. "... Kyle gave so much to this sport and I want him remembered for more than records and trophies. For his heart, his work ethic, the opportunities he gave others, and the man he was. Someone told me that as long as we keep talking about Kyle, he's never really gone."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyle Busch's widow posts emotional update after celebration of life
