Tom Cruise paid tribute to late NASCAR champion Kyle Busch during a recent appearance at Daytona International Speedway. The actor made the gesture while attending a drivers meeting before Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 race.
The 64-year-old actor sat beside an empty chair bearing Busch’s name during the meeting on August 29. A photo shared by Motorsport showed him patting the chair and looking down.
His gesture was praised by fans on X. @Jill0124 commented, “That guy is a class act! Love, Tom Cruise.” @km1reed said, “I wonder if Tom knows that the original Days of Thunder was Kyle’s favorite racing movie. Thanks Tom we appreciate the respect!” @lucyssateenee wrote, “Tom Cruise showing up for Kyle Busch like that is the kind of respect that doesn’t need a speech.”
Cruise was at Daytona while promoting the newly announced sequel to Days of Thunder. He will return as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in the follow-up to the 1990 film. Anne Hathaway will also star in the movie, which is scheduled for June 2, 2028.
Kyle Busch died on May 21 at age 41 after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis. He is survived by his wife, Samantha Busch, and their children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
Kyle Busch’s family continues to carry his legacy forward
At the Carlos Rodón Foundation’s Third Annual Willow Gala on August 24, Samantha said, “I hope his legacy will always live on through our children, through racing, and through all of the incredible things he accomplished.”
She has also continued the work she and Kyle began through their Bundle of Joy Fund. On August 24, Samantha accepted the Seeds of Hope Award at the Carlos Rodón Foundation’s Willow Gala.
Samantha has spoken about raising their children while dealing with the loss. On June 24, she wrote, “I lost the love of my life, my person, and my best friend. The man I built a life with and the person I thought I would grow old with. But I’m still Mom.”
She added, “But I hope this is part of how people remember him, too: Not just for the champion he was, but for his heart, his generosity, and for the more than 113 babies born because of this mission he cared so deeply about.”
