Kyle Busch, the late NASCAR star who passed away earlier this year, has been drawn in this year’s Maine moose lottery, earning a permit to hunt the state’s iconic animal in October.
A posthumous permit
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife announced that Busch’s name appeared among roughly 3,700 successful applicants for the October moose hunt. The lottery awards a limited number of permits each season, and winners may transfer the tag to a relative, a rule that could allow his family to carry on the tradition.
Busch died in May at the age of 41 after complications from severe pneumonia and sepsis. Though his racing career was rooted in the high‑speed world of stock cars, he maintained personal ties to Maine and competed in Oxford in both 2011 and 2024, linking his legacy to the state’s racing heritage.
Transferable rights
State officials noted that such coincidences are not uncommon, especially in a year when the quota was modest. The department emphasized that the permit’s transferability is intended to honor the spirit of the hunt while respecting family legacies.
The story underscores how the worlds of motorsport and wildlife management can intersect in unexpected ways, leaving a lasting imprint on both the track and the woods of Maine.