Kyle Busch’s impact stretched far beyond the racetrack, helping hundreds of people pursue parenthood before his death last week at age 41.
On May 21, reports confirmed the NASCAR icon had died following a “severe illness.” His family later shared that Busch died after “severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis.”
He is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children: 11-year-old son Brexton and four-year-old daughter Lennix.
Samantha and the children made their first public appearance since his passing on Sunday during a Coca-Cola 600 pre-ceremony—an event Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, had been expected to participate in.
While Busch’s career accomplishments and devotion to his family are central to his legacy, many others will remember him through the 111 babies whose families received IVF support funded by Kyle and Samantha.
The couple launched the Bundle of Joy Fund in 2015 and, according to the organization’s website, it has awarded more than $2.3 million in grants since its creation.
That help matters because IVF costs can be overwhelming in the United States. Carrot Fertility estimates the average price of a single cycle at $23,474.
The initiative was rooted in personal experience: the couple faced fertility challenges for years, and Samantha also suffered a miscarriage before the birth of their daughter, Lennix.
“Kyle, and I battled infertility for over a decade before being blessed with our two beautiful children, Brexton and Lennix,” Samantha wrote on the Bundle of Joy Fund website.
“Our journey was long and painful – six rounds of IVF, multiple miscarriages, failed cycles, and countless moments of heartbreak. We faced a rollercoaster of hope and devastation that so many families know all too well.
“Through it all, we held onto faith, each other, and the belief that somehow, someday, God would turn our pain into purpose.”
Samantha also spoke about their motivation for supporting other families in a 2020 interview with PEOPLE, explaining how hard it was to know that many couples never make it past the initial cost estimate.
“We were fortunate to be able to afford IVF treatments but it devastated us to know that for many couples, getting their financial estimate would be the end of the road for them,” she shared at the time.
“In that moment, we knew this struggle was put on us for a special reason. After our son Brexton was born, we started the Bundle of Joy Fund to help other couples become parents by granting them financial grants to alleviate at least some of the financial burdens associated with the IVF process.”
The mother of two later described how meeting the families they supported brought clarity to their own experience.
The mom-of-two continued: “Seeing the families we have helped with their babies has helped us to make sense of our own difficult journey to conceive.
“It was worth all the pain, shots, the months of trying and roller coaster of emotions because it gave us the unique perspective of what these couples face and a strong desire to want to help others.”