Kyle Larson has opened up about the personal tribute he carried for Kyle Busch during last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver explained the meaning behind the “Tiny Kyle” lettering on his No. 5 car, following the latter’s sudden passing on May 22.
The tribute came in the days after Busch’s death due to complications from pneumonia that developed into sepsis. The loss sent shockwaves through the NASCAR garage, with teams, drivers, and fans coming together across the Coca-Cola 600 weekend to honor the two-time Cup Series champion. Larson was among those who carried a personal message on his car.
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“Kyle and Brexton, they always call me Tiny Kyle… Everybody was starting to put Rowdy or Kyle’s name over there in place of their names. And I thought, when Kyle called me something different, I thought it would be a cool tribute to put Tiny Kyle in there so,” Kyle Larson told Steven Taranto at Nashville.
The Charlotte weekend saw tributes for Kyle Busch across the board. All Cup cars carried No. 8 decals, while the pre-race ceremony brought the entire garage together on the frontstretch alongside Busch’s family. One of the defining moments came before the ceremony, when Kyle Larson’s son Owen walked over and hugged Brexton Busch.
Larson later shared how that connection extended beyond the track, with both families staying in touch.
“Sam (Samantha) and Katelyn (Larson) have been keeping up with each other, and Sam said they really appreciated and Brexley got a good laugh out of it, so that made me feel good.”
The tribute extended further within the Kyle Larson family. His daughter, Audrey Larson, also honored Kyle Busch mid-week with a win at Millbridge Speedway, taking a bow while celebrating.
Kyle Larson reflects on Daniel Suarez’s win in the No. 7 at Charlotte
Beyond the tribute, Kyle Larson also found meaning in how the race itself unfolded. The Coca-Cola 600 ended early due to rain, with Daniel Suarez taking victory in the No. 7 car, a number closely associated with Kyle Busch.
Larson played a direct role in that finish. On the final restart, he pushed Suarez to the lead from the inside lane, sacrificing his own momentum in the process. He later reflected on that moment:
“I would say with the rain coming when it did, he (Kyle Busch) had a hand in that with that (7) car being in the lead. I think he chose Daniel to win tonight, and I think that’s deserving. Again, just happy for them.”
Kyle Larson ultimately finished fifth, but the result carried less weight than the circumstances around it.
Heading into Nashville, the focus shifts back to racing, though the emotional weight of Kyle Busch’s remains. Saturday’s track activity was impacted by weather, with practice reduced to a single group session and qualifying canceled. The starting lineup was set per the rule book, placing Larson fifth for Sunday’s race.
On the practice chart, Ross Chastain led the way, followed by Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Tyler Reddick. AJ Allmendinger completed the top five, while Larson posted the seventh-fastest time in the session.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty
