Samantha Busch shared a heartbreaking tribute marking her first Father’s Day without her late husband, NASCAR legend Kyle Busch.
She shared intimate family videos of Kyle interacting with their children alongside a lengthy caption expressing her grief and love on what was supposed to be a day of celebration.
“This still doesn’t feel real at all. I was up all night thinking about what today should have looked like for Kyle and the kids,” Samantha wrote.
“The Father’s Day cards that were already made, sitting in a drawer with no one to give them to.”
Video snippets showed Kyle laughing with his children, picking them up and spinning them around in shared tender moments, and engaging in play with his family.
The footage captured moments frozen in time following Kyle’s tragic death on May 21, 2026, at the age of 41. The racing icon passed away after severe pneumonia developed into sepsis.
Samantha expressed the void that her young children now face in his absence.
“Trying to figure out how to navigate a day that should be filled with so much joy for them,” she wrote.
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with his daughter, Lennix Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
She described the loving bond that Kyle shared with their children.
“He was the dad who never missed a chance to be silly, race the kids around the neighborhood, wrap them in his arms, or stay up a little longer for one more book, one more question, one more moment.”
“Nothing made him prouder than being Brexton and Lennix’s dad,” Samantha wrote.
The video continued to play, while the laughter of Kyle’s children echoed through moments they will never be able to share with him again.
The clip was bittersweet for Samantha, who is navigating this significant life change.
“Watching these memories hurts more than I can explain, but they also remind me how lucky we were to have him,” she wrote.
She directed her comments to her late husband before signing off.
“Kyle, the kids and I miss you every second of every day. Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we physically feel,” she wrote.
“Our bodies hurt from missing you, from reaching for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can’t hold anymore.”
She ended with a loving promise to keep Kyle’s memory alive. (RELATED: Kyle Busch’s Cause Of Death Was Severe Pneumonia That Progressed To Sepsis)
HAMPTON, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, is congratulated by his son, Brexton Busch, after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway on February 21, 2026 in Hampton, Georgia. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
“I will keep telling your stories, sharing your laughs, and making sure Brexton and Lennix always know just how deeply they were loved by their dad.”
“Happy Father’s Day. We love you and miss you more than words can say.”