NASCAR returns to Daytona International Speedway for its first Cup Series race since Kyle Busch’s death in May, with fans and the sport marking his absence throughout the venue. The article draws a comparison with Dale Earnhardt, whose death at the 2001 Daytona 500 was the last major active-driver fatality, highlighting how both drivers remain closely associated with Daytona despite Busch never winning its marquee race.

Busch won 63 Cup races and two championships during a career that produced 234 victories across NASCAR’s three national series, but his sole official Daytona win did not include a Daytona 500. He secured his first Daytona 500 pole earlier this year and led 19 laps, while the upcoming race will be Daytona’s first Cup event without either an Earnhardt or a Busch in the field since 1978.