Birth of son brings change to Kyle Busch’s life—in more ways than one

The birth of a first child is often described as a life-changing experience.

For NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch, it has also been diaper-changing.

Brexton Locke Busch was born to Kyle and wife Samantha Busch on Monday night, and the routine of the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota changed immediately.

“It’s a whole new world right now for sure,” acknowledged Kyle Busch, who fielded questions from reporters before Thursday night’s Coca-Cola 600 qualifying session at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It’s an entirely different feeling. You wonder where the time goes already. I was trying to get ready this morning, and Samantha was trying to get ready – she had to take him for an appointment and some other stuff, and I’m trying to help out—and all of the sudden it’s time for me to leave to come out here to the race track and I’m like, ‘Holy smokes, I have to get ready, I have to hurry up.’

“That was different. It’s way different than what it was before he was born. Obviously, Samantha was taking care of him. She had him in her, so just taking care of him that way and carrying him around. I didn’t have to worry about anything. I didn’t have to feed him, I didn’t have to change him or nothing like that, but it’s a whole different world now that he’s here with having to take care of him, so we both have to spread our time. Obviously, when his favorite thing to do is make stinky diapers, then you’ve certainly got your work cut out for you.”

The birth of his son capped a milestone week for the driver of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, who returned to competition for the first time two days earlier. Busch broke his right leg and left foot on Feb. 21 in an accident at Daytona during a NASCAR XFINITY Series race and missed the first 11 Sprint Cup points races of the season.

In his first competitive action since the wreck that sidelined him, Busch finished sixth in last Saturday’s NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. On Sunday he’ll race for the first time in an event that counts in the standings.

But the thrill of being back on the track couldn’t compare to the feelings that surfaced when Busch witnessed the birth of his son.

“It was emotional and physically taxing on me,” Busch said. “I couldn’t imagine what Samantha was going through. Obviously, I was there and trying to help her and coach her and be with her the entire time, and she did phenomenal.

“For me, just working through that whole experience was – I can’t even really put a word on it, I guess. It was just an amazing feeling. She’s a champ – Samantha is my champion. No matter how well or how successful I ever am in my career, she’s got the championship trophy already on her mantle.”