Late NASCAR driver Kyle Busch appeared on the list of winners in Maine‘s annual moose-hunting permit lottery weeks after his death. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife posted results from the 2026 Maine Moose Permit Lottery following the June 20 drawing at the Acton Fairgrounds.
According to the published results, a “Kyle Busch” from Denver, North Carolina, received a nonresident moose permit. The drawing took place on June 20, 2026, and lottery results became available online later that day, according to the department’s website.
As of June 23, state wildlife officials had not publicly confirmed that the winner was the same Busch who raced in NASCAR. However, NASCAR fans noted that the winner’s name and hometown matched those of the late driver.
Busch developed an interest in hunting before he died
Busch had developed an interest in hunting during his time with Richard Childress Racing. In a June 6 news conference, team owner Richard Childress told NASCAR.com that he introduced Busch to hunting and took him on one of his first hunts.
Childress said Busch quickly embraced the activity and began taking his son, Brexton, on hunting trips as well. “We went hunting, I took him on one of his very first hunts, and he really got into hunting,” Childress said.
Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, died May 21 at age 41. NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, and the Busch family announced his death in a joint statement.
NASCAR later reported that a medical evaluation concluded severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, causing fatal complications. Busch finished his career with 63 Cup Series victories and ranks among the most successful drivers in NASCAR history.
Whether the moose hunting permit can be transferred or used following Busch’s death remains unclear. Maine regulations state that only a permit holder and an authorized sub-permittee may hunt under a moose permit. The state has not publicly commented on Busch’s specific permit status.
A discussion thread on Reddit‘s NASCAR community drew hundreds of comments after users noticed the listing. One commenter wrote, “He’s won something in Maine, even beyond the grave. What a legend.” Another user called the permit drawing “His last win.”
Busch had a personal racing history in Maine. He famously won the state’s signature short-track race, the Oxford 250, fifteen years prior, and had competed at the Oxford Plains Speedway as recently as July 2025.
Maine’s moose hunt operates through a limited-entry permit system. Hunters must obtain a permit before participating, and the state distributes most permits through an annual lottery because demand far exceeds availability. For 2025, more than 76,000 applicants competed for 4,105 permits, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The agency says residents receive at least 90% of available permits, while a smaller share goes to nonresidents. The permit represents a coveted opportunity among hunters. Maine officials describe moose permits as available only through the lottery, special auctions, and a limited number of other allocation methods.
Published: Jun 24, 2026 04:12 pm