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

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

Busch died astatine property 41 connected Thursday, and Patrick said nan suddenness of his decease still 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 pinch Dan Dakich" connected Friday. "You know, it's conscionable thing that nary 1 expected. When I first heard thing was wrong, I thought he was driving something, but it was thing wholly different."

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(Left) Sky Sports anchor Danica Patrick stands connected nan starting grid earlier nan Montreal Grand Prix astatine Circuit Gilles Villeneuve successful Montreal, Quebec, connected June 19, 2022. (Right) Richard Childress Racing driver Kyle Busch (8) is introduced earlier nan commencement of nan 2026 Wurth 400 Cup title 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 family and nan NASCAR community.

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

"Cause emotion him aliases dislike him, Kyle Busch was a figure, he was a polarizing fig and he was an unthinkable driver that will spell down arsenic being 1 of nan 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 nan winningest driver successful NASCAR nationalist touring bid history.

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Danica Patrick appears connected nan Sky Sports group earlier nan qualifying convention of nan 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 nan all-time record-holder for wins successful some nan NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). He besides had a triumph successful 19 consecutive seasons, which is nan 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 return to beryllium a awesome driver?’ And galore times I've referred to this script and Kyle Busch has ever been successful my mind arsenic nan driver that does this nan best. But erstwhile a driver is retired location connected track, this is for illustration almost for illustration an altered authorities of focus," Patrick said.

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Kyle Busch celebrates successful triumph lane holding a replica WWE world title loop aft winning nan 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 nan champion drivers. And I ever successful my mind was reasoning astir him, but he's he was truthful capable to get to that adjacent level truthful often. He was conscionable incredibly accelerated and incredibly passionate and ever wanted to beryllium nan 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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