Brad Keselowski has called for NASCAR to place Kyle Busch into the Hall of Fame without delay after the sudden death of the two-time Cup Series champion earlier this week. Keselowski said Busch’s place among NASCAR’s greatest drivers was secured long ago, and he believes the sport should waive the normal waiting process for induction into the Class of 2027.
The RFK Racing co-owner spoke to reporters during a difficult weekend in the NASCAR garage at Charlotte Motor Speedway following the death of Busch on Thursday (May 21) at age 41. Keselowski told NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi:
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“It’s very clear Kyle is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and I don’t see why that needs to wait another year.”
Busch won 234 races across NASCAR’s top three national series, the most in series history, and he is one of the few drivers to collect 100-plus wins across those levels. He is also the all-time leader in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 102 victories and the Craftsman Truck Series with 69.
Keselowski also shared that his relationship with Kyle Busch had begun to improve over the years. The two drivers flew to Dover Motor Speedway together last Friday, where he went on to win his 69th NASCAR Truck Series race.
However, Keselowski added that he missed the chance to race against Busch in Trucks after Busch retired from full-time Cup competition.
“It’s the reality of life and sports” – Brad Keselowski on the pressure of racing through health issues in NASCAR after Kyle Busch’s sudden death
The discussion around Kyle Busch’s death from double pneumonia and sepsis, also led to difficult questions about the pressure drivers face to continue racing through injuries and illness.
Brad Keselowski also reflected on NASCAR’s intense pace and the strain it puts on drivers to overlook health. He opened up about his leg injury from the past year and the pressure to keep competing.
“Racing season is a very difficult season. It’s 38 weekends a year and there’s a lot going on. … I broke my leg end of last year, beginning of this year and had to power through it because that’s what the sport requires,” Keselowski said.
“I think every driver feels that pressure, as most athletes do. So it’s not unique to NASCAR in that sense. … That’s not always ideal but it’s the reality of life and sports,” he added.
In the weeks before his death, Kyle Busch showed signs that he was sick. During a May 10 NASCAR Cup race, he asked his No. 8 team for medical help after feeling unwell but kept racing. He revealed he had a bad cough at Dover. His family revealed on Saturday, May 23, that severe pneumonia had progressed into sepsis and caused rapid complications.
Edited by Palak Gupta