Ahead ofDale Earnhardt Jr.’sexpected return to the tracks atDarlington Racewayon Saturday — just weeks after he and his family were involved in a fiery plane crash — fellow NASCAR driverKurt Buschis showing support and reflecting on theEarnhardtlegacy.
“It’s just like wow! It shows the passion, the desire and the fire that’s within him still to go out there and face,” Kurt, who’s also set to compete at Darlington Raceway this weekend, tells PEOPLE. “He’s been an amazing ambassador for our sport.”
The champion driver, 41, doesn’t know the details of the accident but says it’s “miraculous” thatEarnhardt, his wife Amy and their youngest daughter,Isla Rose,walked away with no serious injuries: “That was a blessing and I’m glad that everybody got out safe.”
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Kurt’s wifeAshleyadds, “Thank God, that’s all I can say. Thank God.”
“I reached out to his wife and a few other people that are close to them,” theprofessional Polo playersays. “Everybody is so competitive, but at the end of the day, people really do care about each other.”
Ashley, 28, admits she “knew nothing” about NASCAR before meeting Kurt (who she wed in 2017), but the race car wife says she quickly became her husband’s biggest fan and is now fully invested in the sport
“I enjoy the races so much because now I know the ins and outs of what it takes — it’s so much more than just turning left for 300 laps,” Ashley says.
NASCAR fans will get a taste of what happens off the track on the debut season of CMT’sRacing Wives.
Brian Dorsey
Set in North Carolina, the reality show follows Ashley, her sister-in-law, Samantha Busch (married toKurt’s brother Kyle, also a NASCAR driver),Whitney Dillon, Mariel Laneand Amber Balcaen, as they navigate the world of professional race car driving.
“It’s been really great,” Ashley says of filming the show’s first season. “Samantha and I have gotten to know each other so much better throughout all of this and that’s really brought Kurt and Kyle closer.”
“I thinkRacing Wivesshows a very unique side of Kurt and Kyle that people don’t get to see very often,” she adds. “They get to see how soft Kyle is at home with [kids] Braxton and Samantha and how sweet and romantic Kurt is.”
But like any good reality show, there’s alreadyplenty of drama. In the premiere episode on Aug. 9, Samantha, who manages Kyle Busch Motors, confronted Amber, KBM’s first prospective female driver.
“Can you guys please get Amber out of here,” Samantha says. “She’s not an officially KBM driver, so I don’t want to like throw people off like she’s already racing for us.”
“Honestly, if you were supposed to be in our driver lineup, I would’ve prepped you. I would’ve told you the time to come, I would’ve given you the right polo. I would’ve had your hero card there,” she continues.
Amber later apologizes to Samantha, and insists that she wishes she could “redo the whole thing.”
Racing Wivesairs Fridays at 10/9C on CMT.
source: people.com
