Kyle Busch has had a successful career as a driver on track, but he also has had a decent amount of success as the owner of his team, Kyle Busch Motorsports. And Kevin Harvick might be one of the reasons why. 

Busch founded his team in 2010 and began competing in the Truck series team went on to have great success as they set a record for most wins in the series (100) and most wins in a single season. The team eventually sold its Truck operation to Spire Motorsports in 2023, but continued in dirt racing.

After Kyle Busch's unfortunate passing on Thursday, many stories about his life and success came up. 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Harvick also shared his hand in helping Busch setting up KBM. In an X post, he wrote:

"Before he started his truck team he called me and asked how we did it. Brought him to my shop showed him everything we had handed him my company budget and off he went!"

Off the track, the two shared a very friendly relationship. But when it came to competition, the two were fierce rivals whose battles engrossed fans, with the careers of each spanning around two decades.

The most memorable moment of their rivalry took place during the 2015 season finale Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch and Harvick were championship contenders, and after the final restart with seven laps remaining, Busch passed Brad Keselowski for the lead and won the Ford EcoBoost 400 to win his first championship.

Kevin Harvick Looks Back On His Rivalry With Kyle Busch

After Kyle Busch's shocking demise at 41, Kevin Harvick took to his social media to share a glimpse into their rivalry. In a heartfelt tribute to "Rowdy," FOX Sports analyst recalled their on-track battles, and wrote:

"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."

During the race at Darlington Raceway in 2011, things came to a head between the two drivers. Harvick marched towards Busch’s car on the pit road and took a swing at the window net before Busch drove away, as he hit Harvick's car. 

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." 

The two drivers bonded over their teams in NASCAR’s national series while also talking about their sons, Keelan Harvick and Brexton Busch, who are aspiring NASCAR drivers. 

Over his career, Kyle Busch has made a huge impact on the sport, inspiring a whole new generation of NASCAR drivers. 

Read more at the RFK Racing Digest!

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco

Edited by

Yask Kotak