Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s final text exchange with Kyle Busch was not about goodbye. It was about a race car, a seat fitting, and a plan that would have given NASCAR fans a moment they never got to see.
On the latest episode of The Dale Jr. Download, Earnhardt reflected on the last messages he shared with Busch before the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died at 41. Busch’s family said severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, leading to rapid complications.
The detail that made Earnhardt’s story hit harder was how ordinary the exchange sounded at the time. The two former rivals were not looking backward. They were trying to set up a race, and Busch wanted to do it in a way longtime fans would have remembered immediately.
Busch Wanted to Run Dale Jr.’s No. 8
Earnhardt said he and Busch had been texting about getting together so Busch could bring a seat for a late model car to Earnhardt’s shop. The plan was for Busch to drive one of Earnhardt’s cars in the CARS Tour.
When Earnhardt asked what number Busch wanted to run, Busch chose “the Dale Jr. 8.” Earnhardt said he told him the car already carried that number and that they would run it that way.
The choice carried real NASCAR weight. Earnhardt drove the No. 8 for years during one of the most recognizable stretches of his Cup Series career. Busch choosing that number would have turned a late model appearance into more than a one-off race.
A Rivalry Had Turned Into a Real Friendship
Earnhardt and Busch had a complicated history that dated back nearly two decades. Their connection was shaped partly by Busch’s departure from Hendrick Motorsports and Earnhardt’s arrival in the No. 88 car, a period that became one of NASCAR’s more talked-about driver storylines.
In his tribute after Busch’s death, Earnhardt said their relationship had once been challenging, but that Busch made the effort to improve it. The two later appeared together in media settings and were able to laugh about old tension that had once followed them through the garage.
That change gives the final text exchange its emotional force. The unfinished race plan was not only a fun idea for fans. It showed that two drivers who had once been defined by friction had reached a place where they could build something together.
Earnhardt Said the Loss Still Feels Hard to Believe
Earnhardt became emotional while speaking about Busch, saying he still had a hard time believing his friend and fellow driver was gone. He said he found some comfort in hearing stories from other people about who Busch was away from the track.
Busch was known publicly for his “Rowdy” image, sharp competitiveness, and willingness to be the driver many fans loved or loved to root against. Earnhardt said he already knew Busch personally, but the tributes after his death helped him understand more about how Busch treated people outside the race weekend spotlight.
The final text exchange showed that softer side in a simple way. Busch was excited about the car, the scheme, and the reaction fans would have had to seeing him run Earnhardt’s old number.
NASCAR Honored Busch Days Later
NASCAR described Busch as a generational talent after his death was announced by his family, Richard Childress Racing, and the sanctioning body. He won two Cup Series championships, in 2015 and 2019, and earned 63 Cup victories.
Across NASCAR’s three national series, Busch’s numbers were historic. NASCAR listed him with 102 wins in what is now called the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 Craftsman Truck Series victories, along with his Cup Series total.
His family, including wife Samantha and children Brexton and Lennix, appeared at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend as the sport paid tribute. NASCAR president Steve O’Donnell called every racetrack Busch’s home and said he competed as if he still had something to prove.
The planned CARS Tour start adds a smaller, more personal detail to the tributes. Busch had spent more than two decades winning at NASCAR’s highest levels, but Earnhardt’s story showed he was still excited about a late model idea built around fans, history, and an old No. 8 car.