WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Rare is the occasion when Mike Joy can stand alone and enjoy a hot dog while watching some short-track racing without being approached by fans for autographs and photos. That was the case Friday night at Bowman Gray Stadium for the legendary NASCAR broadcaster.
Such was the case for Burt Myers, too, the night before the Bowman Gray all-time Modified wins leader’s pursuit of a record-tying 12th championship. On this occasion, Myers’ distinguished black and orange driver suit might as well have been camouflage.
That’s because they were standing near Brexton Busch’s Legend Car hauler. The kid was the main attraction.
The eruption of the 11-year-old’s popularity was evident all around Bowman Gray during the Kyle Busch Invitational, a special night of racing meant to celebrate Kyle’s life and legacy with 51 Legends drivers and 18 Bandolero drivers with all proceeds benefitting Kyle and Samantha Busch’s Bundle of Joy Fund. Many of the thousands in attendance wore black and lime green “B-Rex” shirts, and they might have outnumbered those who sported “Rowdy” attire.
Judging by the massive line at the No. 8’s merchandise trailer inside the Stadium concourse, there’s a good chance many of those “B-Rex” tees were purchased on site.
Samantha Busch was wearing a white one as she walked about 40 yards from the team’s hauler to the infield bleachers to watch her son’s heat race. While on the way, she stopped to give Myers a hug. Myers told her he loved to see this event at his home track, and that he felt it was the perfect way to honor Kyle.
Samantha found a spot at the end of the bleachers against the retaining chain-link fence, and she grasped that fence as tight as she could while Brexton took the white flag leading his heat. “Come on, Brexton,” she yelled, releasing the fence and raising her fist as her son took the checkered flag.
Myers had a smile on his face. “Well, that was popular,” he said, watching the vast majority of the crowd pumping their arms and cheering Brexton’s win.
Myers was invited to race a Legend on the eve of his Modified season finale. He didn’t mind failing to qualify for the heat races and finishing sixth in his B Main.
“Tonight is just for fun,” he said with the same smile. “I knew they were going to kick my butt.”
Fun was the clear theme of the evening. There was a relaxed vibe to the event that felt like the opposite of a typical night at the venue appropriately dubbed “The Madhouse.”
There were no fights, and the only birds present were the actual animals flying through the August sky.
Even so, the grandstands were full of fans anxious looking to enjoy some racing while contributing to a cause. Of the many who contacted Bowman Gray’s office in the hours leading up to the main event, one woman called from Texas to ask how she could watch from home. There was investment, both literally and figuratively.
Fans were encouraged to donate directly to the Bundle of Joy Fund, dedicated to advancing access to IVF care and coverage, with one of five different amounts: $4 (for Kyle’s No. 4 in his Legends and Late Model days), $8 (Kyle’s Cup Series number with Richard Childress Racing), $18 (the iconic M&M’s car) or $51 (the iconic Rowdy number).
Joy’s role for the evening – beyond being a fan – was waving the green flag for the main event.
“Mainly, I’m here to support the Busch family,” Joy said. “Kyle and Samantha are (our) friends. I won’t say Kyle had a lot of friends in the media, but I was proud to be one of them. Want to support them, and my wife and I have been supporters of the Bundle of Joy Fund since its inception.
“It’s just so wonderful what Kyle and Samantha started to help people who are having trouble having kids of their own. We wanted to support that, and support Samantha and Brexton.”
The loudest crowd roar of the night occurred when Samantha was introduced during opening ceremonies. She responded with a prepared, emotional, five-minute speech aimed at the fans who continue to support her family and their foundation.
She ended that speech with the perfect words: “Tonight, we do exactly what Kyle would have wanted. We race on.”
Race on, they did. Samantha gave the command to fire engines for Brexton’s feature. He finished sixth behind winner Preston Wrisley, to whom Samantha presented the trophy.
Samantha mentioned multiple times how Kyle loved Bowman Gray and grassroots racing in general. She said she was sure he was looking down with glee watching the Legends and Bandos race.
Many believed Kyle’s spirit was present. And maybe it was. After all, the National Weather Service as of Thursday evening was predicting a 100 percent chance of rain for Winston-Salem on Friday.
There wasn’t a drop all night.