Memorial for Kyle Busch continues to grow at RCR museum
By Christian Petersen
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WELCOME, North Carolina (WXII) — Five days have passed since the death of Kyle Busch, and NASCAR fans are still grieving.
The Richard Childress Racing Museum is closed, but the memorial in front of the museum continues to grow as NASCAR fans try to process the loss of one of the best drivers in the sport’s history.
Fans from as far away as Colorado are making their way to Welcome. The sidewalk in front of the Richard Childress Racing Museum is lined with flowers, cards and M&M’s in a tribute to Busch. There is even a banner hanging from Northwest Elementary School, which is just a few miles away.
One card with a hand drawing of a No. 8 car reads, “Number 8 on the track, number 1 in my heart.”
Besides leaving gifts, fans will stand and reflect on memories of Busch both on and off the track. Some will share stories of the famous driver. They say it helps with the healing process. Busch was one of the more polarizing figures in the sport, but whether you loved him or hated him, everyone I spoke with says they respected his grit, determination and desire to win.
NASCAR fan Sean Hunter said, “It was unreal. He was like Kobe Bryant to NASCAR. You know how big Michael Jackson’s death was, so sudden. We’ve just got to cherish each other, that’s all, because anything could happen at any moment.”
Will Parker added, “I was not a Kyle Busch fan. I was a Jeff Gordon fan, but I always respected Kyle for his tenacity, his hard work, his dedication to the sport, and it’s still kind of surreal that he’s gone.”
The folks at Richard Childress Racing say fans are welcome to come by and leave gifts or simply pay their respects.
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