The passing of iconic people in NASCAR only makes the sport grow stronger. The NASCAR community has acted like family on several occasions, and tragedies both on and off the racetrack are treated with equal respect. So when the lead singer of a musical band passed away recently, the fans banded together to pay their respects. The memories of the band’s collaboration with the NASCAR cream drivers also created a wave of nostalgia.

The departure of a legend

“With his beloved wife Jennifer and his family by his side, he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, in his sleep after his courageous battle with cancer,” rock band 3 Doors Down posted on social media, detailing the death of its frontman, Brad Arnold.

This was the iconic lead of a band which associated with NASCAR since the early 2000s. Arnold first visited a NASCAR track around 2003, taking part in a race at Martinsville Speedway. In the years since, 3 Doors Down has put on shows at the 2005 Budweiser Shootout at Daytona, multiple races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and the spring race at Texas in 2011. These memories are still evergreen for fans, as comments blew up around Arnold’s defeat in cancer’s hands.

But the first and probably the most jaw-dropping NASCAR collaboration was probably in March 2003 on a film set in Concord, N.C. The band recruited Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Stewart, the defending Sprint Cup champion, for roles in the music video for “The Road I’m On.” Then, 3 Doors Down even sponsored Stewart in August that year for driving Dale Jr.’s No. 8 Chevrolet in the Cabela’s 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

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Brad Arnold had announced in 2025 that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. He explained to fans in a video message that he had contracted clear cell renal cell carcinoma, which had spread to his lungs and metastasized. The band canceled their summer tour that year due to his diagnosis.

3 Doors Down came to life in Mississippi in 1995. And just in four years, it received a Grammy nomination for the breakout hit “Kryptonite.” According to reports, Arnold wrote the song in math class when he was 15 years old.

Such sweet memories resonate stronger with fans when the main person behind them is no more.

NASCAR fans pour out their hearts

3 Doors Down was an extremely popular band – ‘Kryptonite’ has been streamed on Spotify over a billion times. And the group’s debut album, “The Better Life,” sold over 6 million copies. However, on Brad Arnold’s passing, fans highlighted how the band was known for its humane nature as well. “When I was about 13 years old, I messaged him on MySpace after seeing 3 Doors Down live at my first concert. He messaged back and was super, super nice. R.I.P,” a fan wrote.

Another fan also highlighted Brad Arnold’s benevolent nature. That was apparent in Arnold upholding his band’s name as the sole member even after his co-members had filtered out. “I met him back in 2004. Super nice guy. Really saddened to hear this,” a fan wrote. Another fan lined up Arnold’s death with recent tragedies in NASCAR – Greg Biffle‘s plane crash and Denny Hamlin’s dad succumbing to a house fire. “He was a good guy. After the bud shootout concert he stayed an extra 40 minutes to pose for pics or sign autos. Silent lap 3 for Arnold, lap 11 for Denny’s dad and lap 16 for biffle.”

What’s more, Brad Arnold’s music sent fans into a nostalgic reverie. Somebody brought up his iconic collaboration with Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart. “Aww man…Great song, great group &, being a NASCAR fan one of my all time favourite videos… The look on Jrs face…RIP Brad Arnold 💔”

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma, or ccRCC, is said to be the most common type of kidney cancer. So, fans expected Brad Arnold to keep fighting some more. “Damn, was hoping this wouldn’t be the headline I eventually saw when I heard he was sick. RIP.”

With another jewel departing the sport, fans’ hearts are heavy. Brad Arnold’s memories in NASCAR would be cherished for years to come.