Kyle Busch Recalls How he Saved an Army Veteran’s Life

Kyle Busch is often perceived in the NASCAR community as the sport’s ‘bad boy’. However, there are occasions when we see a more compassionate and human side to the man. This is mostly seen when he is spending time with his family and overseeing his son’s budding racing career. However, there is one incident that truly makes him deserving of respect. One time, Army veteran Chris Brunelle gave Busch his Purple Heart medal.

In conversation with Graham Bensinger, Kyle Busch told the story behind the purple heart.

Busch said, “He was struggling with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When I had my injury in 2015 and I was able to do the rehab and come back from injury. I think that gave him a sense of appreciation. He turned away from taking his own life. He himself sent me his purple heart as if it were me earning a purple heart.”

How did Kyle Busch inspire the Army veteran?

In 2015, Busch endured a fairly hefty accident and he was injured for a while. Owing to the crash, he got sidelined for 11 races. Suffice to say, when Brunelle heard about Busch’s rehab and the road to recovery, it ignited something within him. The Army veteran took this as a sign from the good God above and realized he had a lot to live for, this included his family as well.

Even after Brunelle gifted the medal to the Joe Gibbs Racing driver, Kyle Busch still kept in touch. The driver and his father-in-law eventually struck a small friendship with the army man. Busch’s accident was quite significant because it almost cost him his career. Despite that, he was able to come back and somehow win the Cup Series title. Talk about the comeback of the century for the #18 Joe Gibbs Racing driver!!

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