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Tag: Samantha Busch

  • The Final Word – NASCAR scores big with an all-star winning formula

    The Final Word – NASCAR scores big with an all-star winning formula

    The stars would come out at Charlotte on Saturday night. Well, some of them. Twenty drivers would make up the field, but we knew that the Top 20 on the season would be missing at least a couple of performers.

    Sixteen drivers were in but two of them, 2000 All-Star winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Pocono’s 2016 Pennsylvania 400 victor Chris Buescher, are not among our best for this season. That meant that at least two who are would miss the big race. The question was, who would they be?

    It would not be Clint Bowyer. He dominated the opening stage of the qualifying Showdown to earn his spot. It would not be Ryan Blaney, who was second best in that opening stage and the best of the rest in the second. Maybe the third best, Erik Jones, would be the guy.

    With three laps to go in the Showdown, Jones tried to track down Chase Elliott and Daniel Suárez. The pair allowed no room at the inn, Jones caught the grass and killed his car. On the re-start, the Mexican driver walked off with ease to punch his ticket. When it came to the fan favorite to advance, Elliott got the nod. That meant 18 of the Top 20 were among the All-Star 20, with Jones and Trevor Bayne missing the cut. Then it was time for the big boys to strut their stuff.

    Kyle Larson appeared interested in the million dollar prize, claiming the opening stage. So, they went another 20 laps to determine the next stage winner. Guess who? Once again, it was all Larson all of the time. Two stages, two wins. Would he share? Maybe the third time would be a charm for somebody not named Kyle Larson.

    At least, it was after the pit stops. Two tire strategy put Bowyer and Blaney in front, with Larson just behind them. That lasted a lap for Bowyer, as he got gobbled up by the pack. As they hit the line to begin the third lap, Jimmie Johnson went past Blaney and stayed there. Kevin Harvick was second, with Larson right behind him.

    Larson and Johnson advanced to the 10 lap shootout, joining eight others who had the best average finish over those three stages. That number included the Busch brothers, Harvick, Elliott, Jamie McMurray, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski and last year’s winner Joey Logano.

    When they hit the line on the green, Kyle Busch cut to the inside. It was Rowdy, Johnson, and Larson, while the rest did not matter as they counted down. Just about the only drama to be had was if Larson could pass Johnson. He did, but it was Rowdy sporting a million dollar smile when it was all over. Samantha Busch looked kind of happy as well, come to think of it.

    I can criticize NASCAR all day long, as Lord knows they seem willing to provide us with all sorts of ammunition to do so. However, as far as an all-star event goes, their presentation was more enjoyable than any I have seen lately put forth by any other sport.

    At much as I vehemently oppose the adding of an additional stage to next weekend’s World 600, I wholeheartedly applaud NASCAR for this modified novelty format for its all-star event. It, along with Kyle Busch, were the winners Saturday night in Charlotte.

  • NASCAR BTS: Kyle Busch and Girl Talk Foundations Partner for Prom

    NASCAR BTS: Kyle Busch and Girl Talk Foundations Partner for Prom

    Leave it to Samantha Busch to bring together the NASCAR world through the Kyle Busch Foundation with fashion and prom dresses benefitting the girls who participate in the Girl Talk Foundation. And it all began with a chance meeting at a fashion event involving shoes.

    “I met with Samantha a couple of years ago at an event where shoes were involved and Girl Talk was the beneficiary,” Janine Davis, Founder and Executive Director of the Girl Talk Foundation, said. “At that point, we were actually collecting prom dresses. She liked the idea of what we were doing, helping young girls who could not afford their prom dresses, so she actually came up with the idea to purchase dresses for some of our girls.”

    “So, the first year, she bought one hundred new prom dresses for some of the girls in our program. The following year she did the same thing. This year she actually had a girls’ night out exclusive event for some young ladies that we hand-picked in our organization based on their participation and grades, behavior, etc.”

    “Those girls were given the opportunity to shop for their own dresses at Macy’s. They received the dress, a goodie bag and were able to get their makeup done for that day. Samantha and her crew have supported us beyond what we could ever expect.”

    The Girl Talk Foundation has been in existence since 2003 and has the unique mission of empowering girls ages 13 to 16 to find their voice and to become the success they are destined to be.

    “We’re everything girls,” Davis said. “We know girls haven’t been able to express themselves sometimes, so we have empowerment programs to maximize their potential and gain the confidence to show up in the world being who they were meant to be.”

    “So, we have a sixteen week curriculum, college tours and then they graduate to the ‘Jewel’, which is the second part of our program. That’s where Samantha has been involved with these girls. The girls stay with us until they are sixteen. Then they graduate and they can become a volunteer. So, at least 30% of our girls volunteer and become a part of the Girl Talk family.”

    “I am the founder,” Davis continued. “I do believe that it was divine intervention for me to start Girl Talk. My first profession was as a radio personality. I did radio and TV and our target audience was the 12 to 18 year olds because I worked for a hip hop station.”

    “As part of that, we would be in the community and go to several schools each year. There was one school that I attended alone and there were 20 girls there talking about goal-setting and what they wanted to be when they grew up. At the end, I was packing up and one of the girls wanted to talk about the real issues they were facing, at home, on the school bus and between their peers.”

    “All of that came oozing out and so I said we should just organize an event for just girls. So, I went on the radio and talked about it. We hoped to get 50 girls and instead got 200. So, that sent the tone and there was clearly a need for girls to have a safe space for girls to talk about their issues and to realize their full potential.”

    “That’s how it started in 2003. In a year, we help 600 girls with all of our programs. We work with the schools, counselors, principals, going through the Ys and rec centers. Radio has been a huge help. And at this point, because we’ve been around awhile, a lot of our girls come via word of mouth. It’s really grown based on people’s experience with the program.”

    Davis acknowledged that all girls are welcome in the Girl Talk program.

    “Any girl is eligible if she is 13 to 16 years old, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, whatever,” Davis said. “This is for any girl, no matter your socioeconomic background or ethnicity, all girls are facing the same issues.”

    “The hardest times for young ladies is when they are transitioning from middle school to high school. That’s when they need us the most to deal with peer pressure, teachers, responsibilities and are really coming into their own. A lot of time they get lost and there is depression, eating disorders or other issues. We are hoping to take the sting out of all that by providing them a place to talk and understand they are not the only ones who don’t like their bodies or are the only ones that are having problems with other girls.”

    So, has the prom partnership between Girl Talk, Samantha Busch and the Kyle Busch Foundation converted Davis into a NASCAR fan?

    “I can’t lie. I’m not an avid NASCAR fan,” Davis said. “But I have started watching and I have friends who watch.”

    “I have been to one NASCAR race at Charlotte. It was quite an experience. I kept asking why we had to have ear plugs. But as soon as the race started, I got it and understood completely.”

    “So, I loved it and had a great time. It was really cool to try something I had not tried before. I used to work in Concord so I was always immersed in the hoopla that I got accustomed to. We’d get out and go to the vendors. But it was just fun being in that environment.”

    “So, I followed Kyle and I understand that he got roughed up a little bit in a race here recently,” Davis continued. “So, if nothing else, I follow him. I had not seen Samantha in months and was surprised that she was expecting with a little boy. It’s a shame we don’t stay in contact more face-to-face but we do keep in touch through email. It’s been a great partnership.”

    While Davis has grown her program dramatically since its inception, she passionately spoke about the fact that the partnership with Samantha Busch and the Kyle Busch Foundation has taken her organization to a completely new level.

    “The relationship with Samantha and the Kyle Busch Foundation has been phenomenal,” Davis said. “I was pleasantly surprised when Samantha reached out to me and told me she wanted to help. She has gone above and beyond and we want to continue that relationship.”

    “Even though she is having a little boy, we still have something in common in terms of her understanding of how girls feel,” Davis continued. “Her following is pretty large so my girls get a chance to look up to her. They think she is really cool and they can relate to her.”

    “We want to keep the partnership going,” Davis said. “I want to introduce our girls to NASCAR. So, maybe there is an opportunity for an internship or community service work to help out the Kyle Busch Foundation.”

    “So, look for more Girl Talk and Samantha Busch and the Kyle Busch Foundation doing some work together.”

     

  • NASCAR BTS: Samantha Busch’s Adventures in Food, Fitness, Fashion and Philanthropy

    NASCAR BTS: Samantha Busch’s Adventures in Food, Fitness, Fashion and Philanthropy

    While NASCAR driver and team owner Kyle Busch is busy on the track, his wife Samantha is having adventures of her own, from food and fitness to fashion and philanthropy.

    This week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes (BTS) focuses on the myriad of activities that this Busch bride of two and half years is juggling and loving every minute of it.

    Although petite herself, one of Samantha Busch’s loves is food and cooking, with special emphasis on healthy eating even while on the racing road. She specializes in foods that are quick and easy to prepare in small spaces, such as their motor home.

    “The recipes took off when Kyle was in Texas running around with his plate of food,” Samantha Busch said. “I’ve done some video blogs on healthy options and Kyle’s favorites.”

    “That’s been really great that people see that you can cook in a little space and in a quick amount of time.”

    Busch admits that while she loves to eat healthy and experiment with interesting types of food, she has to try some stealth moves to get the ‘good stuff’ into her husband’s food, as he is not quite so adventurous.

    “I tried making zucchini pasta, which was interesting,” Busch said. “It was good but I’m Italian and although it was healthy, it just wasn’t quite pasta.”

    “I gave it a try though,” Busch continued. “Food wise, Kyle wouldn’t do the zucchini pasta by any means.”

    “So, I have to sneak spinach into his pasta sauce and vegetables into things.”

    Samantha Busch does have a dream when it comes to food and her love of cooking. And she would even include her own ‘weird’ food interests in that particular dream.

    “One day I hope to put all my recipes together,” Busch said. “I would love to do a cookbook and maybe due that as a fundraiser for the Kyle Busch Foundation.”

    “It would also be cool to also have the fans submit their recipes.”

    “But I’d need a whole section for me because I eat really weird food,” Busch said. “I usually make myself something and then Kyle something because I eat wacky food.”

    “I eat things like tofu and unprocessed soy beans,” Busch continued. “My mom always used to mix things together so I just pile stuff together.”

    “I’ll need a whole section on weird, healthy stuff.”

    In addition to her weird, healthy food habits, Samantha Busch is also a fitness fanatic. And she does all of her exercising in spite of being on the road and in a motor home for the better part of every weekend throughout the year.

    “In Daytona, an RV show from the Travel Channel is coming because they recognize that I do an awful lot, especially exercising, in the little space in our motor home,” Busch said. “I started doing more video blogs, keeping them short and easy, to help people with the proper form needed in working out.”

    “Then, I pin the workouts I create on Pinterest, which has been amazing.”

    Samantha Busch said that both she and Kyle also enjoy golfing as their newest workout regime, as well as taking their dogs for walks.

    One area in which Samantha Busch has become well-known for is her fashion sense, dressing well at an affordable price. She does her fashion research and especially enjoys her design work, whether it is Kyle Busch Motorsports gear or styling shoes on pit road.

    “This year I did a dress collection through the Social Dress Shop at the Kyle Busch Motorsports fan club event, which was huge,” Busch said. “We had a lot of our partners there and they were there showing off the dresses and Just Fab, the shoe company, I work with was also there.”

    “I also did a new design that launched there,” Busch continued. “It’s a ‘54’ shirt and it’s summery with different colors.”

    “Coming out of the ‘54’ is a picture of Kyle doing a burnout,” Busch said. “And this went out really well because all the lady fans were checking it out.”

    “With our KBM stuff, it’s been great,” Busch continued. “I’ve taken over the whole women’s collection there.”

    “I’m also working with Social Dress Shop, which is a local online company that sells dresses,” Busch said. “They let me choose these budget chic dresses, everything under $80, for their collection.”

    “I’m hoping one day I can design with somebody,” Busch continued. “That would be my ultimate goal, especially shoes.”

    “To have an affordable trendy shoe line would be the ultimate.”

    Probably most important, however, at least to Samantha Busch is her passion for philanthropy and making kids dreams come true, from ice cream parties to building basketball courts, through the Kyle Busch Foundation.

    Busch also has innovated unique ways to raise money, from putting sheet metal up for auction on eBay to having fans donate gift cards used to support wish-granting activities for needy children.

    “Last year Kyle won the ‘Toyota Dream Build’ with ‘Rowdy Camry’ so that was amazing,” Busch said of another unique fundraising effort. “So, we’ve had that extra money to go out and help.”

    “We focus not on giving kids the necessities but giving them the fun stuff that they miss out on,” Busch continued. “That’s where the money goes because we focus on allowing the kids to be kids.”

    “The biggest thing when people ask what to do is for people to send gift cards,” Busch said. “This past Christmas, we bought 400 individual Christmas gifts for kids with the gift cards.”

    Samantha Busch has been especially grateful for all that the fans have done to support the work of the Kyle Busch Foundation for children in need.

    “We’ve done well with the fans support,” Busch said. “It’s really humbling.”

    “On our fan club day, one guy came in and gave us his whole paycheck for the day,” Busch continued. “We’ve had little kids come in and give us our allowances and you hate to take it but it’s so sweet.”

    “Our Foundation has thrived through fan support and word of mouth,” Busch said. “When they see the kinds of things we do for kids, they want to keep helping.”

    With all of her passions, whether food, fitness, fashion or philanthropy, the one thing that keeps Samantha Busch grounded is her love of family, especially now that her parents have moved closer. And of course, she has her eyes on a family of her own, someday down the road.

    “It’s great having my mom and dad close to us,” Busch said. “They are huge helps which has freed up more time for me to do more of the Foundation work and more blogs and videos.”

    “I don’t know how I did it before,” Busch continued. “They’re always doing something.”

    “So between my mom and I we’re really OCD so everything is all lined-up and color-coded,” Busch said. “Kyle comes home and he’s like “Whoa, what went on here?”

    “When he goes out of town, my mom spends the night with me and we organize some part of the house,” Busch continued. “We’re kind of weird like that.”

    So, what about that question of when the stork will be bringing a little Busch to Kyle and Samantha?

    “Yes, everybody’s big question is when we’re going to have kids,” Samantha Busch admitted. “One day.”

    “We always talk about it but we haven’t decided,” Busch continued. “But when we do, I’m not going to say anything either.”

    “We both really want kids,” Busch said. “I love kids.”

    “We want to have our own kids obviously but we also talk about adopting,” Busch continued. “I think that would be amazing.”

    “My dad came from Italy and grew up in a very poor town,” Busch said. “So, it would be really cool to go back there and adopt from there.”

    Until that time, however, Samantha Busch will continue to focus on her love of food, fitness, fashion and philanthropy. And she loves being busy every minute.

    “I like having stuff to do,” Busch said. “KBM is expanding so that keeps me busy.”

    “Last year, we got a new house so we’re just about done with the redecorating,” Busch continued. “We love traveling, going late model racing, and being with family.”

    “We love to just keep going along.”

    For more information about the adventures of Samantha Busch, visit www.samanthabusch.com and the www.kylebuschfoundation.org.

  • Kyle Busch Monstrously Proud of Truck Team Win; Performance of the Kids

    Kyle Busch Monstrously Proud of Truck Team Win; Performance of the Kids

    Kyle Busch had every reason to be monstrously proud of the NASCAR Camping World Truck team that bears his name. Busch scored the victory and his two teammates, ‘kids’ Darrell Wallace Jr. and Joey Coulter, finished top-ten in the 14th annual Lucas Oil 200 at the Monster Mile.

    This was Busch’s second victory and third top-10 finish of the season. It was also his 32nd career win in the Camping World Truck Series.

    “It was really good for us,” the driver of the No. 51 ToyotaCare Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports said. “We had a good truck from unloading.”

    “We made some changes to it in practice and it certainly helped us,” Busch continued. “The track was a lot looser than we expected it to go.”

    “So, we had to make a lot of adjustments to it throughout the race,” Busch said. “Dirty air was a contest for everybody.”

    “We were all trying to fight for the front and fight for the bottom,” Busch continued. “There at the end, I found something positive by running up the race track where I could actually make a move.”

    “I’m glad I found that,” Busch said. “All in all, a really strong effort for everyone who works at Kyle Busch Motorsports.”

    Busch also took great pride in his teammates’ performances, or the ‘kids’ as he calls them. Joey Coulter, behind the wheel of the No. 18 Darrell Gwynn Foundation Toyota, finished eighth and Darrell Wallace, Jr., behind the wheel of the No. 54 Camping World/Good Sam Toyota, not only sat on the pole and led laps but also scored a top ten finish.

    “I was proud of the kids running up front there for awhile,” Busch said. “I wish that they too could have ended up a little better.”

    “There’s something to be said for the way Darrell ran today and Joey as well, especially for what he had to come through from starting in the back.”

    Kyle Busch Motorsports General Manager Rick Ren agreed with the boss’s assessment. He attributed his winning ways, along with the team’s success, to all of the people involved with KBM.

    “You can kind of get used to running up front but you have to pinch yourself and realize that the reality is that it’s not that simple,” Ren said. “We surround ourselves with good people and we have great drivers at the track.”

    “I’m really proud of the fact that all three of our vehicles finished in the top ten,” Ren continued. “I think Darrell led the most laps today and sat on the pole.”

    “And Joey Coulter came from way back and was clear up to fifth before getting shuffled on that last restart,” Ren said. “So, it’s hats off to everyone at KBM for the effort they put in.”

    Busch admitted that he has been on a bit of a winning streak lately in both the Camping World Truck Series, as well as the Nationwide Series. In fact, in his last nine starts, he has won seven, with a winning percentage of 77%.

    “Well I don’t know what happened in those other ones,” Busch said with a laugh. “Probably something I did screwed that up.”

    “It certainly is a wow factor,” Busch said on a more serious note. “There are a lot of things that can happen in races that can take you out.”

    “These trucks were a handful and we were holding on every corner, every lap,” Busch said. “I was holding my breath.”

    “It’s fun to win,” Busch continued. “People will say it’s too easy and we’re cherry picking or whatever.”

    “But you know what, this is a sport that we’re all welcome to participate in and that’s why we’re here.”

    Busch also reminded the media and himself that while he has been on a winning streak, he also has had his share of late-race losses, as well as some just plain bad luck.

    “I had a hood pin come out while leading late in the race,” Busch said. “There was a blown tire race.”

    “We had a fuel pick up issue with the new fuel probe,” Busch continued. “And then I had a fitting break on a transmission here and it started leaking and we had to come to pit road.”

    “If something is going to fall out of the sky and hit my car, it will,” Busch said. “Oh wait, that happened.”

    Busch also admitted that he has learned plenty from being in the car through Nationwide and Cup practice, as well as Truck qualifying and the race.

    “I’ve learned that it’s going to be hot and it’s going to be slick,” Busch said. “There will be a lot of slipping and sliding for sure.”

    “We’ll just try to get everything as comfortable as possible running around here,” Busch continued. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is all the adjustments you have to make during the race.”

    While Busch is hoping for a race weekend sweep, saying that he is after all “a finely trained athletic machine”, he acknowledged that it will be tough to do at the Monster Mile, especially given the conditions on the track.

    “Seriously, it’s hot,” Busch said. “I’m not saying that’s an excuse but it will weigh on you a little bit.”

    “It did at the Truck race and as much as I’ve been in the car,” Busch continued. “We have to work on getting fluids in, which I’ve done.”

    “And then Sunday, it’s 400 miles here which is a long time,” Busch said. “I remember I ran here a few years ago when it was really hot and you were dead when you got out of the car.”

    “It puts a lot on you.”

    There is, however, one major motivator in the Monster Mile sweep for Busch, in spite of him “being the only one dumb enough to try,” in his own words.

    “Anything can happen at Dover,” Busch said. “It’s the start of my wife Samantha’s birthday weekend so we’re starting the celebration.”

    One thing that Kyle Busch is not concerned about at the Monster Mile, as well as at many other tracks, is that he is getting as much seat time as humanly possible. So, when will he stop racing all of these Series and races?

    “When I’m dead,” Busch replied simply. “It’s fun to go out and race as much as I race.”

    “That’s what keeps me sane,” Busch continued. “I’d rather be out there than running up and down pit road or sitting up on a pit box.”

    “I know that it certainly helps Rick (Ren) stay sane when I’m behind the wheel and not running around on pit road,” Busch said. “As long as it’s fun and we’re doing alright and we can keep sponsors on our trucks, we will be doing it.”

  • Samantha Busch: A Woman of Many Passions

    [media-credit id=62 align=”alignright” width=”231″][/media-credit]While NASCAR race fans may know of Kyle Busch’s passion on the track as driver of the No. 18 M&M’s Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, they may not be as familiar with the many passions of his wife Samantha.

    One of her biggest and most obvious passions is, of course, her husband, as they are still newlyweds in the midst of a sport that where the spotlight is often on them.

    But Samantha Busch is also very passionate about family, hers, Kyle’s and the family they hope to start together sometime in the future.

    “We still go and do date nights and I cook dinner for him,” Samantha Busch said. “We still hold hands, so we still feel like newlyweds.”

    “I think the biggest thing is that you always lean on each other,” Busch continued. “We’re each others’ rocks. When he has a bad day, I’m here for him and when I have a bad day, he’s there for me.”

    “Also, we have learned the importance of family,” Busch continued. “Kyle’s parents have been married for thirty some years and my parents have been for 26 years, so just learning from them, like what things to not fight about, has been helpful.”

    “I’ve also learned from the other couples here,” Busch said. “We’re talking about having kids in two or three years, so picking the brains of all the girls here that are pregnant or have kids about how they do it has also been helpful.”

    In addition to her passion about her family, Samantha Busch has also become focused on her interactions with women, especially young women who seek her advice on everything for fashion to healthy eating and a better body image.

    Much of this interaction has been possible through social media, including Facebook, Twitter and even her own website. And while Busch most certainly shares updates from the racing world, she also knows that for many of these young women, she has become a role model and even mentor.

    “This year has taken off with a lot of women in racing via Twitter,” Samantha Busch said. “I kind of give them the whole racing aspect with updates and what not, but I also add more of the girlie touch.”

    “It’s really taken off this year and I love it,” Busch continued. “I have girls that I help with for prom and other events.”

    “A lot of women email me for all kinds of tips, from how to eat healthy, to my work out videos to even makeup product reviews,” Busch said. “I try to be honest and I have really enjoyed that this year. It has really taken off.”

    Samantha Busch is careful to practice what she preaches and so is devoted to trying to eat healthy and exercise, a challenge for both her and her husband while spending so much time on the road. And yes, she admits that she does have her own ‘guilty pleasures.’

    “The bus is my work out area,” Samantha Busch said, who regularly exercises even in those close quarters of their motor home. “I love to work out.”

    “And I love to cook,” Busch continued. “I really never enjoyed cooking until I married Kyle because it was just me. It’s easy to know what to eat but it’s making that call to choose the non-fat or the low-fat or the vegetables over this or that.”

    “We splurge, don’t get me wrong,” Busch said. “Our decadent passion is ice cream. Kyle and I could eat ice cream every day if we had the choice.”

    “I tell girls that I don’t follow a super-strict diet because when you do then you’re just tempted,” Busch continued. “So, if you give yourself a little bit of something, then you’re good.”

    Samantha Busch also admits to one other ‘guilty pleasure’, one that is shared by many others involved in Facebook. She just loves to pin.

    “I’m addicted,” Busch said. “It’s bad. It’s like 2 AM and Kyle will wake up and say, ‘Get off of Pinterest’.”

    “And I’m like, ‘Just let me pin one more thing.’ Busch continued. “It’s so addictive. But it’s really cool.”

    “I planned a baby shower off of Pinterest for my best friend,” Busch said. “I love it. Whoever created that, I’ve lost countless hours to Pinterest.”

    While Busch loves fashion and fitness, especially in sharing that with girls and young women, she also is passionate about education. In fact, she just accomplished a major milestone in her own academic life, achieving a Master’s degree from Austin P. State University.

    “I graduated!” Busch said proudly. “I have a Master’s in industrial organizational psychology.”

    “I actually did my thesis on Joe Gibbs Racing and how they reward their crew members and different things they can do in an ailing economy, such as health and wellness, as well as verbal rewards,” Busch continued. “I defended my thesis and they loved it.”

    “It’s good to be done,” Busch said. “People are like, what are you going to do with your degree, but I think it applies a lot to racing and also to Kyle Busch Motorsports. “

    “I hope it will help people around us.”

    Speaking of the team that bears her husband’s name, Samantha Busch is also passionate about that endeavor as well.

    “Kyle Busch Motorsports is awesome,” Samantha Busch said. “We thought it was going to be easy and then the first five races came and it was tough and was really hard.”

    “It was kind of nice to go through the struggle as a whole family,” Busch continued. “Kurt and Kyle are so close this year.”

    “Obviously, they are brothers and have had struggles, but this year them racing together, they are together for hours,’ Busch said. “I think it’s been really great for them and it’s fun to watch.”

    “And even better, we got our first win under our belts, so it’s good.”

    So, what does the future hold for Samantha Busch, especially given her passions, from education to fashion to helping young women with self-esteem and body image issues?

    “I don’t know,” Busch readily admits.”I’m like a moving target.”

    “I always travel with Kyle and his racing is our life,” Busch continued. “But I have to find something that is my own and in my own realm.”

    “I would love to be more in front of the camera,” Samantha Busch said, after a stint with the SPEED channel. “I love working with Speed, especially in the social garage.”

    “It’s really fun and I’d do whatever they asked me to do,” Busch continued. “I’m not shy so that’s a plus.”

    But Busch would also like to work more on the retail and foundation side of the Kyle Busch Motorsports business as well.

    “I don’t know anything about cars honestly,” Busch admitted. “My involvement with the team crew guys is that I like to bring them food and treats. That’s my role on the car side of things.”

    “But I do a lot with the retail,” Busch continued. “I have four or five shirts out right now; one has glitter, one is a V-neck and one is more graffiti-ish.”

    “We submit our designs to the sponsors. I’m going to be designing more for Monster Energy and also for the 18 team,” Busch said. “So, hopefully they will let me do more.”

    “With the Kyle Busch Foundation, we’re kind of taking this year off to revamp and expand it to get partnerships with other, already established foundations,” Busch said. “We support the five homes and always will, but we’re looking at other kinds of partnerships right now and how we can help each other.”

    “Maybe in the future, I’d love to do a foundation event with Zumba where everyone donated to dance together.”

    But most of all, Samantha Busch is passionate about finding that perfect blend and balance between wife, fashionista, fitness guru, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. And all of that with a focus on helping young women achieve their life goals.

    “One of my favorite things is getting to meet the women fans and hearing their stories,” Samantha Busch said. “At our fan day, I had this lady tell me she’s already lost 40 pounds.”

    “I’ve had a girl who said she had image problems and now she’s gotten over them,” Busch continued. “That’s one of the best things.”

    “I just want to show girls how to be healthier and I really take to the women out here,” Busch said. “I love the guys that follow me on Twitter but I relate more with the women and I love helping them.”

    “I’m open to anything that helps someone else.”

     

  • Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Brings Her Own Unique Style

    Kyle Busch’s Wife Samantha Brings Her Own Unique Style

    This past weekend, Kyle Busch achieved a milestone, securing 100 wins in all three major series of NASCAR. And beside him every step of the way has been his wife Samantha, who brings her own unique style to their relationship and to the sport.

    [media-credit name=”Kyle Busch Motorsports” align=”alignright” width=”150″][/media-credit]The couple tied the knot on New Year’s Eve in a unique, fairy-tale wedding that she designed. Busch definitely brought her own style to that event, from her designer dress to a feather-studded reception.

    “It was an awesome day,” Busch said. “All the team guys and my family, which is gigantic, were all there.”

    “The two best moments were when I was getting ready and I finally got my dress on and my dad came in,” Busch continued. “My dad burst into tears, I started crying and the girls started crying. The makeup lady was yelling at us all to stop crying.”

    “Then when we got to Holy Name and they opened these two big doors and the aisle was forever long and I just saw Kyle at the very end of it and then I’m crying all over again,” Busch said. “Before the wedding he told me that he doesn’t cry about anything but I see him tearing up so me and my dad started crying again.”

    “Everybody was crying but it was great.”

    In addition to the nuptials, Busch also brings her own unique style to her career. After many semesters of hard work, she will finish her degree in industrial organizational psychology, which she has also managed to blend with racing.

    “The school year starts in August,” Busch said. “I have two classes and I’m done after that finally.”

    “What’s nice about it is with KBM (Kyle Busch Motorsports), I get to apply it all,” Busch continued. “And Joe Gibbs Racing is letting me do my thesis on them.”

    While Busch’s career in psychology is unique enough, she has also recently taken on a new endeavor. She is uniquely marrying fashion with her world of racing.

    “Our retail store has been very successful this year,” Busch said. “Chase Authentics called and I have three pieces for an exclusive for a Kyle women’s line.”

    “One’s a very cute hoodie, one is a three-quarter length hem length, and the other is a double-layer tank top,” Busch continued. “The tank top is white and black and then I did this silver foil that says ‘Kyle Busch’ and ‘18’.”

    “My hope is that one day they let me do a whole women’s line.”

    “It’s so funny,” Busch said. “I sometimes get more fashion questions than racing questions.”

    “I know that some of the guys that follow me on Twitter don’t love it but I try to keep a good balance during the race,” Busch continued. “But even some of the guys now will ask questions for their wives.”

    “But I love it,” Busch said. “I’ve helped girls get ready for prom via Twitter, or concerts, first days or weddings.”

    “There are a lot of women who are into racing but they are also into fashion so it kind of works,” Busch said. “It’s taken off into its own thing.”

    One of the other most unique aspects about both Samantha and Kyle Busch is their dedication to the Kyle Busch Foundation. In addition to the five children’s homes that the Foundation supports, Busch has high hopes for expansion and outreach to individual children and families.

    “Right now we have five children’s homes and we donate books, clothes and at Christmas we give more of a monetary gift,” Busch said. “We get hundreds of thousands of requests and we want to help.”

    “So, we’re trying to raise enough money so we can pick several families to help,” Busch continued. “The homes are our first priority but even if we can help a couple of families, that’s how we’re trying to become broader.”

    “The fans have been great this year,” Busch said. “There’s this thing called ‘Lexie’s Challenge’ where this young girl buys a gift card every time Kyle wins.”

    “So, the fans have joined in and every time we win, we get all these gift cards and we divide them up for our homes.”

    In addition to the Foundation work, both Samantha and Kyle Busch have a unique appreciation for their fans. And they both try every chance they can to connect with them, including meet and greets at local home tracks throughout the country.

    Kyle Busch, in fact, went from Victory Lane at the inaugural race at Kentucky Speedway to the Slinger Nationals, where again he captured the checkered flag, much to the delight of the many fans who wanted to celebrate with them both.

    “He won Slinger and there were 300 people outside his hauler,” Samantha Busch said. “So, I stood outside the hauler and got everybody into line.”

    “There were so many kids in the back and I didn’t want to see them get left out,” Busch continued. “So Kyle stayed and we got through 300 plus people in an hour. It was really good.”

    “There were so many kids running around saying “I met Kyle Busch.”

    Given the wins, the milestones achieved, as well as the challenges that season has brought, from Kyle’s speeding ticket to the dust up with competitor Kevin Harvick and team owner Richard Childress, it is small wonder that one of the other unique aspects of Samantha Busch is the perspective she brings to those ups and the downs.

    “It’s definitely been a challenging year,” Busch admits. “There have been things that have happened.”

    “But I’m always here for him and he’s here for me and we always say no matter what’s going on, we always have each others’ backs,” Busch said. “And we don’t let it affect him on the race track.”

    “When he puts his helmet on, he’s so focused so that’s been great,” Busch continued. “We’re just going about being us and keeping our family and friends close. It only makes you stronger, right?”

    While many other drivers and their families struggle with being in the spotlight, especially during challenging times, both Samantha and Kyle Busch take the unique approach of being out there in the public eye.

    “For us, our wedding was televised so we’re pretty open,” Busch said. “We have enough going on that we don’t worry about how others handle their business. We focus on ourselves.”

    “It’s so funny because every weekend, we’re at the track but when we’re not, we’re at KBM,” Busch said. “When you have the Truck team and the Foundation and the retail and the late model races, there really isn’t any time to focus on anyone else’s issues.”

    One thing that makes Kyle and Samantha Busch unique, at least at present in the NASCAR garage, is that they have two adorable dogs but no children yet. And as far as Busch is concerned, that is “down the road”, although she does admit it would be especially nice to have a daughter with whom to bake and shop.

    “That’s down the line,” Busch said. “My parents are moving to North Carolina in two years so that will be a good timing. It’s in the plans, but in the distant plans.”

    Samantha Busch is not, however, unique in a very important way. She, like so many other drivers and their wives, are superstitious, not even daring to think about championship possibilities.

    “It makes me so nervous,” Busch said. “It’s a forbidden topic.”

    “When I was home, there were all these dress stores and my mom asked me if I wanted to even look for a dress, but I told her, ‘Don’t say that, we’re not in the Chase. I can’t even look for dresses.’

    “You never know,” Busch continued. “I won’t even look at dresses. I won’t look until it’s all over.”

    So, what makes Samantha Busch most unique?

    “I am an individual,” Busch said. “And there are not many people that bring shoes to racing!”

    “Some people who didn’t know me before ask if this is the way I am,” Busch continued. “But my friends who’ve know me forever say that’s just how I am.”