Kyle Busch’s wife Samantha explains her absence from the 2024 NASCAR Awards Ceremony

Samantha Busch, wife of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, was recently asked on social media why she and her husband didn't attend the recent NASCAR Awards Ceremony in Charlotte, North Carolina. The wife of the champion driver explained that since her husband failed to make this year's playoffs, the couple wasn't obligated to go.

The question was raised via Instagram when one of Samantha's decided to conduct a question-and-answer session with the fans. Mrs. Busch responded with an old photo of herself on the red carpet at a NASCAR banquet and explained that only playoff drivers and their families attend.

"You only go if you make the playoffs," she wrote.

Screenshot via Instagram @samanthabusch

The 2024 season was arguably the worst in Kyle's career. Amid his 20th full-time Cup Series season, the Las Vegas native failed to capture at least one win for the first time in his career. He finished 20th in the points standings, tied for the worst in his career.

The 63-time Cup Series winner had a few close calls to win races throughout the season, including runner-up finishes in the final two races of the regular season at Daytona and Darlington, respectively. Ultimately, the #8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet driver registered five top fives and scored an average finish of 18.3.

This year was the first time Busch has failed to make the playoffs since 2012. It also marked the second year Busch has wheeled the #8 RCR machine after joining the team ahead of the 2023 season. Before that, the 39-year-old spent 15 seasons piloting the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, where he notched two championships in 2015 and 2019.

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Kyle Busch spent time with family on the West Coast during the week of Thanksgiving

Kyle Busch is taking advantage of the offseason time to slow down and enjoy time with family. Recently, Kyle, his wife, Samantha, and two children explored the West Coast during Thanksgiving week.

Samantha shared a litany of photos from the family's time spent on the West Coast on her Instagram, including pictures of them enjoying the sun on the beach, exploring the area's big cities, and one in an elevator.

"Life on the west coast," Samantha wrote.

Kyle and Samantha have been married since New Year's Eve 2010. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Brexton, in May 2015. They then welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lennix, in May 2022.

Despite the difficult 2024 season, Busch has rewritten NASCAR's history books in multiple ways. He's the all-time leader in wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. He's one of only two active multi-time Cup Series champions along with Joey Logano, and his 63 Cup wins rank ninth on the all-time wins list.