Samantha Busch never imagined she would meet her future husband at a racetrack. It was 2007, and she was a college student at Purdue University, balancing studies and sorority life. Her mind was far from NASCAR, yet a promotional gig at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, courtesy of her modeling agency, changed her life forever.
That is where she met Kyle Busch, an encounter made possible by Jimmie Johnson‘s PR team, setting the stage for the Busch love story. On a scorching day at the Speedway, Samantha sought relief by accepting a ride offer—an opportunity that marked the start of their relationship. Despite initial challenges during the ride, Samantha took a chance and invited Kyle Busch to join her at the bars, only to face a polite decline. Unbeknownst to her, the ride was orchestrated by Kyle through a mutual acquaintance.
The acquaintance turned out to be Amy Walsh, a public relations professional connected with Jimmie Johnson. Reflecting on that day, Samantha recalled, “She was always Jimmie Johnson’s PR girl for forever. Amy Walsh. So we had her at our wedding cause we’re like, Amy, this is because of you. So she comes over and she’s like, ‘Oh, he wants your number,’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t think he does, but whatever. If you all want to come out with us later, like, have fun.’” Indeed, Jimmie Johnson, through his team, unwittingly became the best cupid NASCAR had ever seen.
Back then, Samantha Sarcinella knew little about Kyle Busch, or his racing career. In a time before Instagram and TikTok, she couldn’t easily find out who he was. “My girlfriends and I were googling, trying to figure it out,” she remembered. After several months filled with texts and calls, a real date finally happened, leading them to marry on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2010, at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.
Their wedding bore the charming reminder of Jimmie Johnson’s role in their story, with Amy Walsh, the messenger of fate, in attendance. What followed was a journey filled with both joy and trials for the couple. The Buschs faced significant hurdles with infertility, experiencing a miscarriage and other complications, which led them to establish the Bundle of Joy Fund. This initiative helps other couples afford IVF treatments, aiming to support them through similar struggles.
Reflecting on the foundation, Samantha shared, “Seeing the families we have helped with their babies has helped us to make sense of our own difficult journey to conceive. It was worth all the pain, shots, the months of trying, and roller coaster of emotions because it gave us the unique perspective of what these couples face and a strong desire to want to help others.” Samantha also documented her experiences in her book, ‘Fighting Infertility: Finding My Inner Warrior Through Trying to Conceive, IVF and Miscarriage’.
Despite their early challenges, Samantha and Kyle now have two healthy children and have overcome some of their past struggles. As a family, they watch Kyle, also known as ‘Rowdy’, work to break a winless streak in the Cup Series while their son, Brexton Busch, begins to carve out his own space in the racing world, aspiring to continue his father’s legacy.
Through the ups and downs, their journey stands as a testament to resilience, love, and the power of unexpected encounters. Today, Jimmie Johnson unwittingly sits in the backdrop of one of NASCAR’s most charming love stories, proving that sometimes, destiny needs just a gentle push from a friend’s PR team. The future is bright for the Buschs, with more victories and milestones on the horizon, as they continue to weave their story into NASCAR’s rich tapestry.
