Ahead of the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600, an incredibly emotional moment unfolded on the grid for NASCAR’s longest race. Just days removed from the tragic death of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch, his family arrived at the track to mourn with the rest of the garage.

His brother and fellow Cup Series champion Kurt Busch was there, walking along with their parents, Tom and Gaye. Kyle’s widow Samantha, as well as their children — Brexton Busch, aged 11, and Lennix Busch, aged 4 — all there as well.

Through tears they stood in an emotional pre-race memorial, where the the 41-year-old was honored and the family comforted. The entire garage stood behind them, grieving together as ‘Amazing Grace’ was played on bagpipes. NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell led the entire race track in a moment of silence for Kyle as the family embraced.

And after the most unimaginable week of heartache for NASCAR, the drivers will now get behind the wheel and go racing for 600 miles, and 400 laps, around Charlotte Motor Speedway.

And they will do it for Rowdy.

Kurt also laid roses in the black No. 8 the track painted in the infield grass ahead of this race weekend, remembering his little brother. The elder Busch brother retired from competition after a 2022 crash at Pocono left him with a concussion.

As the field finally made it onto the track, they performed a lap with the ‘missing man formation,’ leaving P1 on the track open for the No. 8 Chevrolet that is no longer there.

The broadcast also went silent on Laps 8 in honor of KB, with fans holding up eight fingers in memory of him. That sort of salute had become a tradition for Dale Earnhardt ever year at the Daytona 500, with fans holding up three fingers for Dale. This year, it was Busch himself who led that lap in NASCAR’s season-opener…

Austin Hill is driving Busch’s renumbered entry tonight, behind the wheel of the RCR No. 33. The team will not use the No. 8 again, unless Kyle’s son Brexton one day wishes to use it.