NASCAR CEO says Kyle Busch defined NASCAR racing

Kyle Busch was so dominant in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series that the sanctioning body had to implement a rule restricting the number of Truck races that Cup Series drivers such as Busch could run in a given season. 

Busch, who died Thursday at age 41 following a severe illness, texted NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell on Tuesday following his May 15 Truck Series win at Dover with a proposition.

"As only Kyle could do, he said, 'Hey man, what do you think about an over 40 rule to be able to compete in all the Truck Series races next year?'" O'Donnell explained in a Friday news conference. "I said, 'You know, we put that rule in place because you were winning so much. But when we had a meeting Wednesday internally, we said, 'Damn, that's actually good. We need Kyle in the Truck Series.'"

Busch won a series-record 69 Truck Series races and has more wins (234) in NASCAR's top three series than any driver in history.

NASCAR needed Kyle Busch regardless of what division he was racing in. The Las Vegas native, who was first nicknamed "Wild Thing" and later "Rowdy," fit both of those descriptions to a tee. When he wasn't winning, he usually found a way into the headlines in a different way. 

NASCAR CEO says Kyle Busch defined NASCAR

"To me, Kyle Busch just defines what it means to be a racer in NASCAR," O'Donnell said. "Everything about it. The fire, the greatness, the heart that sometimes you rarely saw. The sport was truly lucky to have him. We're going to do our damn best to continue his legacy and support his family."

Part of continuing his legacy is racing, however emotionally difficult it may be, at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. O'Donnell said there were a few conversations had in regard to postponing the race weekend. 

"Kyle Busch would probably be pretty pissed off if we didn't race," O'Donnell said. "So we're going to honor his memory and make sure people know what he was all about."