Brad Keselowski admitted his final meeting with Kyle Busch immediately felt different after the NASCAR veteran appeared unusually quiet and unwell shortly before his death.
The RFK Racing co-owner reflected on the emotional interaction following Busch’s death at the age of 41 from severe pneumonia that reportedly progressed into sepsis.
Keselowski explained that Busch’s demeanor instantly stood out because it felt completely different from the outgoing personality he had known throughout their long NASCAR rivalry.
Brad Keselowski said Kyle Busch immediately seemed different
Keselowski explained that the pair unexpectedly crossed paths while traveling to Dover last week, with the interaction eventually becoming the final time he would see Busch.
Despite spending years battling each other on track, Keselowski said Busch’s condition was immediately noticeable during the flight. Speaking to PEOPLE, Keselowski described how Busch’s behavior felt completely out of character.
“I was flying to Dover last week with Kyle… It was probably more by chance than anything else,” Keselowski explained.
“Kyle is normally a fairly gregarious person, very outgoing, and he wasn’t… He sat down one row behind me and next to me and fell asleep right away. I could tell he wasn’t feeling well.
“And that was pretty much the last time I saw him.”
The comments painted a deeply emotional picture of Busch’s final days, especially considering the competitive history between the two drivers throughout their careers.
Keselowski explained how Busch became his NASCAR benchmark
The rivalry between the two former Cup Series champions produced numerous on track clashes and championship battles across multiple NASCAR eras.
For Keselowski, Busch eventually became the driver he measured himself against more than anyone else in the field.
“For whatever reason, Kyle and I had built into a relationship where although there’s 30 some other drivers on the racetrack, I valued meeting him more than anyone else,” Keselowski said.
“Fifth place day and race is generally a good day. It’s not a great day, but it’s a good day.
“With a fifth place day where Kyle Busch finished fourth didn’t feel like a good day… And conversely, a 10th place day where I beat Kyle Busch felt like a better day.
“That’s what a rivalry is at its core and that’s how I felt about it.”
Keselowski also admitted he once imagined eventually laughing with Busch about their rivalry later in life, particularly during future Hall of Fame celebrations.
“And will we actually be able to share a laugh about it?… I guess in my mind, I hope so, and now obviously not.”
The emotional reflection added to the growing list of tributes from across NASCAR as drivers, teams and sports figures continue processing the loss of one of the sport’s defining modern stars.
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