Kyle Busch's family is honoring him on an extra difficult day for his loved ones.
Father's Day in the US fell exactly one month after the NASCAR champion's death, and his wife Samantha Busch gave heartbreaking insight into her and their children's grief.
The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion died at 41 on May 21, from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. He is survived by his wife, who he married in 2010, and their two children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, four.
Taking to Instagram, Samantha, 40, shared a video montage featuring a series of clips of Kyle, whose nickname was Rowdy, as a father, and declared his sudden death "still doesn't feel real at all."
"I was up all night thinking about what today should have looked like for Kyle and the kids. The Father's Day cards that were already made, sitting in a drawer with no one to give them to. Trying to figure out how to navigate a day that should be filled with so much joy for them," she shared.
Reflecting on what Kyle was like as a father, she continued: "He was the dad who never missed a chance to be silly, race the kids around the neighborhood, wrap them in his arms, or stay up a little longer for one more book, one more question, one more moment."
© WireImage"Nothing made him prouder than being Brexton and Lennix's dad," she added. "Watching these memories hurts more than I can explain, but they also remind me how lucky we were to have him."
Addressing Kyle, she went on: "Kyle, the kids and I miss you every second of every day. Our hearts ache for you, but it’s more than that. Your absence is something we physically feel. Our bodies hurt from missing you, from reaching for someone who isn’t there, from loving someone we can't hold anymore."
"I will keep telling your stories, sharing your laughs, and making sure Brexton and Lennix always know just how deeply they were loved by their dad," Samantha ultimately promised, and concluded: "Happy Father's Day. We love you and miss you more than words can say."
© Getty ImagesThe video montage Samantha shared included clips of Kyle running on the beach with his son, celebrating a race day with his daughter, amateur racing with the family, and even playing with make-up with his daughter.
© Getty ImagesKyle is also survived by both of his parents, as well as an older brother, NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch.
Shortly after his death, they came together to honor him at the Coca-Cola 600, which he was meant to race in, and during which NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell commemorated him with a speech.
