Richard Childress reveals last conversation with Kyle Busch

After scoring two top 10s in what turned out to be the final three races of his legendary NASCAR Cup Series career, Kyle Busch had a message for team owner Richard Childress: "You give me cars like you gave me the last three weeks, I will make the Chase this year."

As Childress revealed Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, that turned out to be the final conversation between the two men before Busch's tragic death two days later on May 21 from sepsis. He was 41 years old. 

After a winless drought that extended to over 100 races, Busch and the No. 8 RCR team finally found some semblance of speed and momentum at the end of April. Busch scored his first top 10 of the year at Talladega before Andy Street became his new crew chief. A strong run at Texas and another top 10 in his final Cup race at Watkins Glen followed.

That newfound speed was what gave Busch the confidence to proclaim to his boss that he could make the postseason for the first time since 2023.

Kyle Busch was to remain with RCR

Childress was supposed to be sitting next to Busch Saturday at Michigan International Speedway to announce that the future Hall of Famer had signed an extension with Richard Childress Racing through the 2027 season. 

Busch's story was not over. The RCR chapter of his career was going to continue. 

"The hardest part of this is, today we were going to be in here, Kyle was going to be with me, and we were going to announce that he was coming back in '27 to drive [for] RCR," Childress said. "It didn't happen. I was thinking, what if he and I were were walking in together?"

Like in 2001 after the death of Dale Earnhardt, Childress not only lost a friend, but a generational talent behind the wheel. 

"You lose two of the greatest drivers [who have] ever driven a car in NASCAR and have to go through it again," Childress said. "I just feel so bad for the family and the employees and everybody. I haven't slept very good lately, I'll leave it at that."

Quotes provided by NASCAR Media.