NASCAR stars are sharing personal stories to honor Kyle Busch following his passing on May 21. Coca-Cola 600 winner Daniel Suarez revealed a side of the racing legend rarely seen by the public.

After his win at Charlotte on Sunday, the Mexican driver dedicated it to the late two-time NASCAR champion. During a post-race interview, Daniel was asked about his relationship with Busch.

“Back in 2015, Kyle and I, we we used to be on the phone every single week, because he was helping me trying to understand what I needed to look for, trying to understand the race track,” he said. "So he didn't have to help me, you know, he didn't have to help this Mexican kid that can barely speak English. He was a real legend of the sport. And he took the time every single week to help me."

The two shared a bond that extended past their professional ties at Kyle Busch Motorsports.

The KBM graduate further explained, “Kyle, he wasn’t my family. But he was someone that gave me a hand when I needed it most. And it wasn’t just a hand. It was a hand of a legend, it was a hand of somebody with so much experience. So for that, I will be forever grateful. Forever grateful.”

The driver also recalled an incident from 2023 involving Busch and his wife. During a vacation in Cancun, the NASCAR driver got into trouble with the law and was detained by police for carrying a firearm.

Busch quickly called Daniel, who offered his advice and help to the couple. These stories offer fans a glimpse into Busch's character away from the track.

Busch had several on-track rivalries with various drivers and Kevin Harvick was one of them.

Kevin Harvick Looks Back on His Rivalry With the Rowdy

The Hall of Fame inductee gave fans a glimpse into the rivalry between him and Busch through his tribute on social media. In the tribute, he recalled their on-track fights, writing:

“Kyle Busch and I spent years pushing each other to the limit. We raced hard, traded paint, and fought for every inch because all either of us wanted to do was beat the other.”

One race that stood out in their rivalry was at Darlington in 2011. After the race ended, Harvick stormed toward Busch’s car and punched the window net before the two-time champion drove away.

He further wrote, “What people may not realize is how much that rivalry drove us both. Kyle made me better because you had to be at your absolute best to beat him. Over time, that fierce competition turned into a mutual respect.”

However, the two eventually made up and developed mutual respect for each other. They even spoke about their sons, who are aspiring NASCAR drivers.

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav