CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch found himself in bed scrolling through social media on his phone, growing more depressed with each post he read about Kyle Busch.
For the first time in his life, Zilisch had a hard time getting himself motivated to go to the racetrack.
He’s not the only one grappling with the sudden and tragic death of the sport's 41-year-old superstar.
On Sunday night, 39 Cup Series drivers return to the track for the Coca-Cola 600 just three days after the death of Busch, who had more wins (234) than anyone across NASCAR's three national series.
Severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis and resulted in rapid and overwhelming complications that led to Busch's death, according to a statement released Saturday by his family.
“It just doesn’t feel like a real race weekend,” Zilisch said. “Like the entire vibe in the garage, it’s eerie here. It’s gloomy. It’s just, it’s gonna be tough come Sunday for sure. There’s gonna be a lot of emotion. It’s gonna be sad.”
Rain washed out qualifying on Saturday and the gray, overcast sky served as a fitting background for the somber mood enveloping Charlotte Motor Speedway and its 1 1/2-mile track.
Former Busch rival Joey Logano said there is simply nothing normal about this weekend.
“It’s definitely a very different vibe. I never really felt anything like this before at the racetrack," Logano said. "... You just kind of see less smiles and everybody is sad. It’s an emotion that we’re all feeling — as raw as it can be — and we’re all trying to handle it in our own way. There are some pretty heavy emotions on our hearts.”
Added driver Zane Smith: “This doesn't seem real. ... He was Superman.”
Defending race champion Ross Chastain said he knows only one way to deal with Busch’s death.
“Go race,” said Chastain, who celebrated the come-from-behind 2025 win by slamming watermelons on the track from the roof of his car, his signature move.
“I know with Kyle, that’s what he would want to do. So, no question in my mind about coming in and going to work and going to race," Chastain added. "It’s what we do.”
There are reminders of Busch everywhere.
The track's oversized video board features an in memoriam photo of Busch. The scoring tower on the infield lists just one number on the very top: 8. That's been Busch's car number the past four seasons since he made the move from Joe Gibbs Racing to Richard Childress Racing.
Every car in the field will carry a black No. 8 decal on Sunday to honor the two-time Cup Series champion.
Despite the overwhelming sense of sadness at the track, NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell never considered postponing the race.
“Kyle Busch would probably be pretty (ticked) off if we didn’t race, so we’re going to honor his memory,” O'Donnell said.
Normally, Charlotte Motor Speedway goes above and beyond to honor the military on Memorial Day weekend, with several tributes to fallen soldiers, includings listing their names on the windshields.
But this weekend also will be about paying tribute to Busch.
So racing they will go, which Zilisch said may not be a bad thing.
“I don’t really wanna go to the track," Zilisch said. “But at the same time, though, this place is home. And I feel like it’s easier to accept it here than it is laying in my bed and just scrolling on (social media) and continuing to see posts about it.”
Others things to know about Sunday's race:
Cup Series points leader Tyler Reddick will start on the pole after rain washed out qualifying on Saturday. Ty Gibbs will be alongside Reddick on the front row.
Drivers got in some practice laps on Saturday during a break in the wet weather, but more rain is in the forecast for Sunday, which could make NASCAR's longest race of the season even longer.
Austin Hill, who normally competes in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, will replace Busch and represent Richard Childress Racing in the No. 33 car.
RCR made the decision to temporarily retire Busch's No. 8 until his 11-year-old son, Brexton, is ready to take over and race.
Austin Dillon also will race for RCR on Sunday as he looks to win his second Coca-Cola 600.
Katherine Legge will look to become the first woman to complete “The Double” on Sunday, when she begins the day running the Indianapolis 500 before making the trip south for the Coca-Cola 600.
Although many have tried to run "The Double," only Tony Stewart (2001) has completed all 1,100 miles.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
FILE - Katherine Legge (78) is introduced before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on May 10, 2026, in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (Photo/Adrian Kraus, File)
Tyler Reddick is introduced before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 10, 2026, in Watkins Glen, N.Y. (Photo/Adrian Kraus)
An in memoriam photo of former driver Kyle Busch is displayed on the video board of the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Friday, May 22, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
BUCHAREST, Romania--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2026--
Grandmaster (GM) Vincent Keymer from Germany captured the title at the Super Chess Classic Romania, first-place after defeating Jorden van Foreest in the only decisive game of the ninth and final round to avoid a playoff. The victory marks Keymer’s first tournament win in a classical event on the 2026 Grand Chess Tour (GCT) during his debut appearance as a full tour player on the circuit.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260523249521/en/
For this victory, Keymer earned a total of $131,250, which included his share of the $125,000 Classical Wins Bonus, distributed among players based on total wins across the tournament, with the prize pool divided by the number of games won to determine a per-win value and each player’s final bonus allocation.
“Vincent’s performance in Bucharest was a tremendous example of the next generation of elite players rising to the occasion on one of chess’s biggest stages,” said Michael Khodarkovsky, Executive Director of the GCT. “It’s exciting to see new talent break through and claim a major title against such a world-class field, and we believe fans are witnessing the future of elite chess unfold in real time.”
GM Fabiano Caruana finished in second place after remaining in contention for the title until the final round, while World Championship Challenger GM Javokhir Sindarov secured third place with another impressive performance against a world-class field. The event featured intense competition throughout the nine rounds, including the withdrawal of Alireza Firouzja, who stepped out of the tournament due to a persistent ankle injury.
“Congratulations to Vincent Keymer for an extraordinary performance and a well-deserved title,” said Augusta Dragic, President of the Super Foundation. “We also extend our appreciation to all participants for the exceptional quality of play, sportsmanship, and dedication they demonstrated throughout the Super Chess Classic Romania, making it a true celebration of elite chess at its highest level.”
2026 Super Chess Classic Romania Final Standings
“I still haven’t fully taken in what happened — it’s been an amazing event for me,” said Keymer. “I’m very happy with my performance, especially despite a setback in the middle. This is the biggest tournament victory of my career so far. I prepared less and focused more on having enough mental energy to be successful. I want to thank the organizers of the Grand Chess Tour, my coach Peter, my father and all the fans who supported and cheered for me.”
The GCT now heads to Zagreb for Super Rapid & Blitz Croatia, taking place from June 29 to July 6, 2026. As the second rapid and blitz event of the tour, the tournament will feature a total prize fund of $200,000 and include six full-tour participants alongside four wildcard players: Gukesh Dommaraju of India, Nodirbek Abdusattorov of Uzbekistan, Bogdan-Daniel Deac of Romania, and Ivan Saric of Croatia.
The GCT features a total prize fund of $2 million across its 2026 season, including rapid and blitz events, classical tournaments, and the season-ending GCT Finals. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top four players will advance to the Finals at the newly expanded Saint Louis Chess Club, where the tour champion will be decided in knockout matches. The prize fund is provided by Super Foundation and the Saint Louis Chess Club, whose continued partnership has helped establish the tour as one of the premier competitions in elite chess.
The remaining 2026 GCT stops include:
For more information, visit grandchesstour.org.
Grand Chess Tour
Grand Chess Tour (GCT) is a circuit of international events, each demonstrating the highest level of organization for the world’s best players. The legendary Garry Kasparov, one of the world's greatest ambassadors for chess, inspired the GCT and helped solidify the partnership between the organizers. For more information about the tour, please visit grandchesstour.org.
Super Foundation
The Super Foundation, a non-profit organization, is responsible for coordinating the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of Super Technologies. Their goal is to support the advancement of health, education, and sports initiatives, with a special emphasis on promoting the game of chess and its myriad benefits within all the communities they serve.
Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to making chess a vital part of the community and advancing Saint Louis’s reputation as the nation’s premier chess destination—the U.S. Chess Capital. In addition to hosting world-class tournaments and providing a welcoming space for casual and competitive play, the Club offers a robust slate of educational programming, including beginner lessons, chess improvement classes, lectures, and special events for players of all ages and skill levels.
Recognizing the cognitive, academic, and social benefits of chess, the Saint Louis Chess Club is deeply committed to scholastic education. The Club supports existing chess programs in area schools while actively developing new in-school and after-school initiatives that introduce students to the game and help young players thrive both on and off the board. For more information, visit www.saintlouischessclub.org.
Grandmaster Vincent Keymer from Germany captured the title at the Super Chess Classic Romania during the second leg of the 2026 Grand Chess Tour.
