Front Row Motorsports star Zane Smith has recalled a Kyle Busch memory from 2020 that he will never ever forget.
The NASCAR community is still mourning the loss of Busch after his sudden passing last Thursday following complications from severe pneumonia that developed into sepsis.
Ever since, drivers across the NASCAR garage have been telling some incredible stories, showing not only what a talented and fierce competitor Busch was on the track, but also what a great man he was off it.
Smith, who raced against Busch in the Cup Series in recent years, but also in the Truck Series when the two-time champion would step down, has now shared the one memory he will remember most about the NASCAR legend.
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Kyle Busch memory Zane Smith will never forget
"I for sure have to go with my story from when I was truck racing with Kyle once we came back from COVID," Smith explained to the media when asked for his most memorable Busch memory ahead of this weekend's race at Nashville.
"It was an eerie scene seeing this, but the move I made to get the lead in the 600 and lead those laps, I did the exact same move on Kyle in 2020, so six years later I did it in a Cup car, but it was identical.
"I reposted it, but that was crazy, and I honestly didn’t even think about it, but I remember once I did that, Kyle spoke very highly of me, and that allowed my phone to start getting some interest from team owners, whether it was in the Truck Series or O’Reilly Series or the Cup Series. That was special.
"Kyle could have been mad or annoyed with me with moves like that, but he respected that I was trying to make a name for myself. Ultimately, I didn’t care who he was, but, at the same time, there’s a picture of me when I’m like 10 years old waiting in line for a picture with Kyle Busch, so I very well knew who I was racing against."
Smith: There was simply no one better than Busch
"I had a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle," Smith continued.
"There was simply no one better than him. He was just good at everything. That’s what made Kyle Kyle.
"There are 100 little things that fans don’t see, but we see throughout the data, and Kyle was always at the top. That’s just what made him special.”
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