NASCAR Driver Ross Chastain Says There Are Ongoing Efforts Behind the Scenes to Support Kyle Busch’s Family Following His Death (Exclusive)

Busch, 41, died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis in May

NEED TO KNOW

• Ross Chastain reflects on Kyle Busch’s legacy and shares how NASCAR is supporting Busch’s family after his passing
• Chastain also talks about potentially racing against Busch’s son, Brexton, 11, someday if he pursues a career in NASCAR
• “It’s still wild to me that he is gone,” Chastain says of Busch

Following Kyle Busch‘s unexpected death in May at age 41, the NASCAR community has continued to pay tribute to the late driver.

In the days after Busch died from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis on May 21, fellow drivers Daniel Suárez and Ross Chastain paid tribute to him following their respective victories at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Suárez, 34, dedicated his Coca-Cola 600 win to Busch. “This one is for Kyle. For Kyle, for Samantha, for Brexton, for Lennix — for all his family,” he said, referring to Busch’s wife and kids, in a video shared by Prime Sports after the race. 

After winning the Charbroil 300, Chastain, 33, delayed his usual celebration of smashing a watermelon on the ground by taking a moment to honor the late driver.  “I have to do it,” he said atop his car, according to USA Today. Then, as seen in a video shared by CW Sports, he folded his right arm in front of his waist and bowed — just like Busch had done after winning a race.

Chastain is reflecting on Busch’s death months later, telling PEOPLE how those in the NASCAR community are rallying around Busch’s wife, Samantha, and the couple’s two children: son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, 4. “It’s tough. How do you do it? I don’t think anybody knows the perfect way,” he tells PEOPLE on the grounds at the Iowa Speedway before the Iowa Corn 350 NASCAR Cup Series race, where he debuted a special paint job dedicated to his agricultural heritage, on Aug. 9.  

“It’s still wild to me that he is gone, but there’s efforts behind the scenes and publicly that groups [in NASCAR] are doing to continue to support his family,” Chastain says, before noting how Busch’s family — including his father, Tom Busch, and older brother, Kurt Busch — has returned to the track following his death. “They’re still out racing. And I think that’s great. Brexton’s going to continue to race… Racing is what they all love.”

Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!

“It’s very similar to our family,” he continues, referring to the fact that he comes from a family that’s very much involved in motorsports. “So I love that they’re showing up at the racetrack. I saw a video where his dad, Tom, was driving one of Kyle’s cars, and that was very cool to see. I know Kurt — I was teammates with him in my first full year at Chip Ganassi Racing — so I can’t imagine any part of what they went through. But yeah, the family is, they feel supported. The garage is trying to continue. We’re never going to forget Kyle. He was the best driver of this generation.”

On May 24, Samantha, Brexton and Lennix, as well as Kurt, Tom and Tom’s wife, Gaye Busch, made an emotional appearance at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, where Busch was slated to compete before he died. They were showered with tributes by NASCAR and fans alike. 

Then, on June 2, Brexton got behind the wheel of his Legends car at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Cook Out Summer Shootout. He followed that with events at Oklahoma’s Port City Raceway dirt track and the Summer Shootout Young Lions feature race in North Carolina.

As Brexton continues to forge a path in the racing world, Chastain says it won’t be long before the two could potentially face off on the same track — if the 11-year-old chooses to pursue a career in NASCAR. 

“The building blocks are there. The foundation’s there if he wants to pursue it,” Chastain says, noting Brexton still has time to decide what he wants to do as he gets older. “He doesn’t have to. Just because [his] dad did it doesn’t mean you have to. My dad farmed, but I’m not technically farming right now. I’m the guy that sells watermelons and promotes farming. So, whatever he wants to grow up and do, he doesn’t have to decide now.”

The Trackhouse driver adds, “He’s a kid. Be a kid. Go play in the dirt, go jump in the pool, go swim, go have fun. Whatever he wants to do down the road, it’ll be available.”

Reflecting on his own career and how the next generation of drivers are not far off from joining NASCAR, Chastain says, “There’s always the next group coming along. And competition is what our sport’s all about. You have to keep performing. And every year that goes by, there will be more questions. And I see that with drivers similar in age to me. They’ll win for a little while, and the question starts swirling.” 

“… I mean, at some point you’ll run your last race and the next guy will step up. So I say bring it on and let him come try to beat me,” Chastain says. 

Read the full article here