Kurt Busch hasn’t had the start to 2025 that he had hoped for after being forced to come to terms with a close friend’s tragic passing. The Nevada native, who is gearing up for his third appearance at the Race of Champions (ROC) in Sydney, Australia, is reeling from the loss and went on to share a heartfelt message to the former Monster Energy associate on social media.

With Busch all set to compete at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, the racer will likely want to dedicate a potential ROC victory to his friend Luke Trembath from down under. Will he be able to honor the memory of the deceased snowboarder with a triumph? Time will tell.

Kurt Busch pays tribute to his deceased friend

Beloved Australian snowboarder Luke ‘The Dingo’ Trembath has passed away. The Australian star tragically lost his life at the age of 38, and while the reason for his passing is currently unknown, the snowboarding world, along with the rest of his friends and family, has been rocked by the loss. The Monster Energy athlete first started competing at the tender age of nine and was soon recognized for his talent, going on to represent Team Australia at various events worldwide.

Luke Trembath’s friendship with Kurt Busch originated from Monster Energy’s ‘UNLEASHED’ podcast, where the duo discussed motorsports, snowboarding, and their love for wild adventures. Mourning the loss of his passing, the former 23XI Racing driver wrote on X, “Rest in peace my friend Luke. Your smile and energy will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to your family. I will race in Australia with your Aussie Dingo spirit sitting shotgun.” The 46-year-old’s heartfelt words reflect Busch’s friendship and admiration for the Aussie athlete.

What better way to honour the memory of his friend than securing a triumph in the land down under? Kurt Busch is all set to return to the Race of Champions (ROC) for the first time since 2017 when it was held in Miami. Driving alongside his brother Kyle Busch at that time, the racer finished runner-up. This time around, he will be partnering with motorsports legend Travis Pastrana to represent Team USA from March 7th to 8th, 2025.

Luke ‘The Dingo’ Trembath’s passing will undoubtedly affect many lives. His larger-than-life persona, along with his infectious personality, made him an endearing figure within the snowboarding community, inspiring several others to follow in his footsteps. Busch isn’t the only athlete to express his condolences, as five times X-Games medalist Jaie Toohey said, “One of the most incredible person I’ve ever met with the biggest heart. We shared some pretty amazing memories together throughout all the years we have known each other, and those I will hold onto forever.”

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Busch to make his long-awaited motorsports comeback

The excitement is at an all-time high. Kurt Busch, winner of the 2004 Cup Series championship, is all set to make his long-awaited comeback in the world of motorsports by competing for Team USA at the 2025 Race of Champions. The 46-year-old was recently given medical clearance to compete in the event and will be going wheel-to-wheel against icons such as Sebastian Vettel, Valtteri Bottas, Mick Schumacher, and Johan Kristofferson. The Accor Stadium will be converted to a 1 km asphalt track specifically for the star-studded event.

Sharing his thoughts ahead of the event, Busch candidly said, “It has been incredible over the last few months. Fredrik Johnsson, the main orchestrator of the Race of Champions, reached out, and once I had all my affairs sorted to confirm my participation, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted. The process of reconnecting with the racing community has been nothing short of incredible.”

Despite the very best drivers across motorsports disciplines competing in the event, Kurt Busch is confident about Team USA’s chances, going on to say, “I feel like Travis and I have every box checked, and we’re going into this with our eyes wide open and not intimidated by the situation.” It’s not the first time the Nevada native will be getting a taste of Australia as back in 2013, the racer swapped his Furniture Row NASCAR for James Courtney’s V8 Supercar for a promotional event.