And while noting he had plans to see Kyle just next week—who shared kids Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4, with wife Samantha Busch—Dale spoke to the legacy of the driver, who holds a record 234 race wins across NASCAR’s three national series.

“Kyle was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. No one can deny that,” Dale continued. “But he was also a father, a husband, brother, son, and a friend to many. My heart is broken for the Busch family. I will never be able to make sense of this loss but I am thankful that we had found a way to become friends.”

And the NASCAR organization likewise mourned the loss of one of the sport’s greatest of all timers. 

“A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” the sport wrote in a statement shared to social media. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal 'Rowdy Nation.’”

As they put it, “NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.”

The suddenness of Kyle’s death also left those in and out of the racing world shaken.

“Absolute shock. Very hard to process. Hug your loved ones,” driver Brad Keselowski wrote, while media mogul Dave Portnoy noted, “What the hell? Awful out of nowhere news. RIP Rowdy.”

And driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. made it clear why Kyle was so admired within the sport. 

“I’ve raced against Kyle for a long time, and anyone who’s lined up next to him knows exactly what made him special,” he wrote on X. “He gave you everything he had, every single lap, and he made all of us better for it.”

And it was that dedication and love for the sport that he so excelled at that Kyle leaves behind. And after he claimed a record fifth Craftsman Truck Series trophy at Dover Motor Speedway in what would become one of his last races on May 15, that passion for racing was evident. 

“You take whatever you can get, man,” Kyle told reporters after the race. “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all—trust me."

For more insight into Kyle’s life on and off the racing track, read on.