Ex-NASCAR star Danica Patrick reacts to Kyle Busch's tragic death: 'A devastating loss'

Ex-NASCAR prima Danica Patrick is similar overmuch of the sports world, successful daze astatine Kyle Busch’s unexpected death.

Busch died astatine property 41 connected Thursday, and Patrick said the suddenness of his decease inactive hasn't afloat sunk in.

"I deliberation that we're each conscionable shocked. We're sad," Patrick said during an quality connected OutKick's "Don't @ Me with Dan Dakich" connected Friday. "You know, it's conscionable thing that nary 1 expected. When I archetypal heard thing was wrong, I thought helium was driving something, but it was thing wholly different."

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(Left) Sky Sports anchor Danica Patrick stands connected the starting grid earlier the Montreal Grand Prix astatine Circuit Gilles Villeneuve successful Montreal, Quebec, connected June 19, 2022. (Right) Richard Childress Racing operator Kyle Busch (8) is introduced earlier the commencement of the 2026 Wurth 400 Cup contention astatine Texas Motor Speedway successful Fort Worth, Texas, connected May 3, 2026. (David Kirouac/Imagn Images;Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)

Patrick called Busch’s decease devastating for his household and the NASCAR community.

"It's conscionable a devastating nonaccomplishment for Samantha and Brexton and Lennox and Kurt and his parents and the full household and for the NASCAR and racing community," Patrick said.

"Cause emotion him oregon hatred him, Kyle Busch was a figure, helium was a polarizing fig and helium was an unthinkable operator that volition spell down arsenic being 1 of the top NASCAR drivers ever. That's a nonaccomplishment successful different way, too."

Patrick heaped praise connected Busch’s driving skills. He was a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest operator successful NASCAR nationalist touring bid history.

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Danica Patrick appears connected the Sky Sports acceptable earlier the qualifying league of the Formula 1 MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix astatine Circuit of The Americas successful Austin, Texas, connected Oct. 18, 2025. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire)

Busch is the all-time record-holder for wins successful some the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). He besides had a triumph successful 19 consecutive seasons, which is the astir of each time.

Patrick said Busch was capable to get to that adjacent level erstwhile racing truthful often.

"I get asked, like, ‘What does it instrumentality to beryllium a large driver?’ And galore times I've referred to this script and Kyle Busch has ever been successful my caput arsenic the operator that does this the best. But erstwhile a operator is retired determination connected track, this is similar astir similar an altered authorities of focus," Patrick said.

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Kyle Busch celebrates successful triumph lane holding a replica WWE satellite title loop aft winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Challenge astatine Texas Motor Speedway successful Fort Worth, Texas, connected Nov. 7, 2009. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR)

"The drivers that could entree that adjacent level of like, spell mode were capable to beryllium the champion drivers. And I ever successful my caput was reasoning astir him, but he's helium was truthful capable to get to that adjacent level truthful often. He was conscionable incredibly accelerated and incredibly passionate and ever wanted to beryllium the best."

Patrick raced successful NASCAR's apical bid from 2012 to 2018. She had 7 top-10 finishes and 1 rod successful 191 races.

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