Full Breakdown
Ty Gibbs to Honor Kyle Busch with Iconic M&M’s Paint Scheme at Bristol Night Race
8/14/2026, 8:08:29 AM
Core Event
Ty Gibbs, the 23-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, will compete in the No. 54 Toyota at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on September 19. The car will be wrapped in the multicolored M&M’s livery that became synonymous with the late two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. The tribute was announced by Busch’s widow, Samantha Busch, on social media.
Background & Context
Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, died on May 21 after severe pneumonia progressed to sepsis. Throughout his career he amassed 63 Cup victories and 234 wins across NASCAR’s national series. Bristol Motor Speedway was a particular stronghold: Busch recorded nine Cup Series wins (including a 2022 victory on the dirt layout) and a total of 22 wins across all three series at the 0.533-mile short track. The M&M’s sponsorship, provided by Mars, Inc., was a hallmark of Busch’s tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing from 2008-2022.
Data & Statistics
- Kyle Busch’s Bristol record: 9 Cup Series wins, 22 total wins across all series.
- Total career wins: 63 Cup Series, 234 across NASCAR’s national divisions.
- Ty Gibbs entered the 2026 season with a win at Iowa and 10 top-5 finishes, 15 top-10 finishes (as of the August 9 Iowa Corn 350).
Official Statements & Responses
Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed that the partnership with Mars, Inc. will bring the iconic M&M’s colors back for a single race, describing the plan as “a beautiful homage” to Busch’s legacy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Going back without him will be heartbreaking. He should be there,” — Samantha Busch, cup series champion
- “Excited for Bristol. Gonna be a cool 1,” — Ty Gibbs
- “Bristol was always one of Kyle’s favorite tracks,” — Samantha Busch, cup series champion
- “Those bright colors brought so many people to Kyle and to the sport, and somewhere along the way, the car and Kyle just became synonymous with each other. It's a paint scheme I think so many of us will always see and immediately think of him,” — Kyle Busch, cup series champion
- “To see the number 54 car carry those iconic colors again, filled with moments from Kyle's incredible career, feels like bringing a piece of him back to the track that he loved so much,” — Kyle Busch, cup series champion
Why It Matters
The tribute intertwines personal grief with a public celebration of a driver whose M&M’s-liveried car became a cultural touchstone in NASCAR. By reviving the scheme at Bristol—one of Busch’s favorite venues—the event reinforces the emotional bond between the sport’s fan base and its champions. It also highlights the role of long-standing sponsor relationships in shaping driver identities and fan nostalgia.
What's Next
The tribute car will debut at the scheduled September 19 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Fans are encouraged to attend the night-time event to witness the homage and celebrate Busch’s impact on the sport.
