Tom Cruise honors Kyle Busch at Daytona with emotional tribute
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 21, 2026, 12:00 PM
Last updated Sep 21, 2026
During the pre-race drivers meeting at Daytona International Speedway on August 29, Tom Cruise paid tribute to Kyle Busch by patting an empty chair reserved for the late driver. Busch, who passed away on May 21, was a prominent figure in NASCAR with 63 Cup Series victories and two championships. NASCAR has continued to honor him through various tributes, including silent laps at races and the creation of the Rowdy Trophy, which was awarded earlier this month. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 also featured a silent lap in memory of Busch. The emotional moment coincided with Cruise promoting the sequel to 'Days of Thunder,' tying together Busch's legacy and NASCAR traditions.
- •Tom Cruise visited Daytona to promote 'Days of Thunder 2'.
- •Kyle Busch died on May 21; tributes include reserved chair and silent laps.
- •The Rowdy Trophy was created to honor Busch's legacy.
- •Coke Zero Sugar 400 featured a silent lap for Busch on Lap 8.
- •Cruise's moment with the empty chair resonated with NASCAR fans.
- 12:00 PMYahoo Sports — Tom Cruise Patted Kyle Busch’s Empty Chair at Daytona — and NASCAR Had More Tributes Where That Came From
"Tom Cruise flew into Daytona International Speedway on August 29 to sell a movie. What actually stuck from that trip had nothing to do with the pitch. During the pre-race drivers meeting ahead of the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Cruise took the seat next to a reserved chair at the front of the room. That chair has carried a placard bearing a No. 8 and Kyle Busch's name at every Cup Series drivers meeting since May, when Busch died suddenly at 41. Cruise didn't make a speech. He just rested his hand on t
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