It was a tumultuous moment in Kyle Busch’s life. Longtime sponsor Mars had left NASCAR, and he had soon left Joe Gibbs Racing. His own Truck Series team was desperately searching for a much-needed cash injection. The last thing he needed was to get arrested at a Mexican airport and face a prison sentence.
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Authorities detained Rowdy in January 2023 at Cancun International Airport after finding a handgun and ammunition in his luggage as he prepared to head back north. It was an honest mistake, but it was also a situation he made the most of. More than three years later, the late NASCAR legend’s widow, Samantha, shares how Kyle handled himself and the situation, finding an opportunity in the most unlikely of places.
While under detention, Busch was being transferred to a prison, and Samantha said on the Certified Oversharer podcast, “He met this guy named Angel, and Angel had a lot of money. So he’s trying to get truck sponsorship out of a Mexican prisoner. He’s epic, and I just need the world to know, like, how epic my Kyle is.”
In his driving career, Busch was, of course, stepping into the unknown with Richard Childress Racing leaving his comfort zone over at JGR. He understood how important sponsorship money was because of that.
Mars, whose M&M’s brand had been a familiar sight on Kyle’s cars for years, decided to leave NASCAR after the 2022 season. Joe Gibbs Racing couldn’t find a suitable replacement sponsor, leading to Kyle’s departure. Meanwhile, his Truck Series team, Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM), was also facing financial pressure.
For years, KBM had relied on support from Toyota Racing Development. But when Kyle switched to Chevrolet in 2023, the team lost that backing. KBM also partnered with Rev Racing that season to field Nick Sanchez full-time in the Truck Series, but Rev Racing fell behind on its payments, adding to the team’s financial troubles. So Kyle, in a Mexican prison, pitched his team to a supposedly wealthy prisoner who was interested in investing in NASCAR.
In February 2023, KBM announced a multiyear sponsorship deal with Zariz Transport for Busch’s five scheduled starts in the No. 51 truck. Sponsorship was a familiar part of Busch’s racing world, but there is no evidence that Angel helped bail the team out financially.
Later that year, Busch sold KBM and its manufacturing operation to Spire Motorsports, bringing an end to the organization’s 14-year run. Founded in 2010, KBM had recorded 100 Truck Series victories, including 48 with Busch behind the wheel.
Samantha’s story offers another anecdote about the man Rowdy was when the NASCAR cameras weren’t following him around. Getting into legal trouble in a foreign country would leave most people nervous, but by Samantha’s account, Kyle handled the situation remarkably well.
Mexican authorities sentenced Busch to three years and six months in prison and imposed a fine of 20,748 pesos, worth approximately $1,082 at the time, after they found a .380-caliber handgun and six hollow-point cartridges in Busch’s luggage. However, he was allowed to leave Mexico after posting a bond rather than serve the prison term. He was released in early February 2023 and said he had cooperated with authorities throughout the process.
Samantha later recalled visiting Kyle alongside Mike and asking if he was okay. His response was surprisingly casual. Without his phone, he explained, he didn’t have to work and could nap whenever he wanted.
In a statement released after returning home, Busch said he had taken the firearm to Mexico by mistake and forgotten it was in his bag. Although he had a valid concealed-carry permit in the United States, he acknowledged that he had not understood Mexican law and accepted responsibility for the mistake.
Kyle went on to win three races in his first season with Richard Childress Racing in 2023, showing that a change of environment had done little to diminish his talent. Unfortunately, the team struggled to maintain that performance in 2024, 2025, and 2026. His victory at the Enjoy Illinois 300 in June 2023 would ultimately be the last Cup Series win of his career.
Since his tragic passing on May 21, Samantha has shared numerous stories that reveal the man behind the wheel, not just as a racer, but as a husband, father, friend, and now, a businessman.