The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife announced that the late NASCAR champion Kyle Busch had been selected in the state’s annual moose‑lottery, a prize that grants an antlered October permit in wildlife management zone 5.
A Posthumous Permit
The lottery, which issues 3,705 permits each year, draws from a pool of tens of thousands of applicants and is typically used by hunters hoping to add a trophy moose to their harvest.
Busch, a two‑time Cup Series champion, maintained a modest but notable connection to Maine through his victories at Oxford Plains Speedway, where he captured the Oxford 250 in 2011 and later returned for the inaugural Celebration of America 300 in 2024.
Maine law permits the transfer of a moose permit to a deceased holder’s family members if the permit is claimed before the hunting season begins, a provision that allowed Busch’s estate to inherit the prize despite his death weeks earlier.
Mark Latti, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed that the transfer was processed in accordance with the regulation and noted that the agency does not maintain data on how frequently such transfers occur.
The episode underscores an unexpected crossover between high‑profile motorsport and state wildlife management, highlighting how niche traditions can intersect with national sporting figures in surprising ways.