Gabe Brown honors Kyle Busch with win and driving like ‘Rowdy’ at Oxford

On Oxford 250 weekend, Gabe Brown honored not just a competitor, but a friend, with a throwback to Kyle Busch’s 2011 Oxford 250 win and racing like ‘Rowdy’ in winning the American Canadian Tour’s Pine State 125.

To do so, he would have come from the back of the pack after a fourth lap incident. Brown in recent years had built a relationship with the two-time Cup Series champion. This win meant extra to Brown.

“It’s really special, this meant a lot,” Brown said to Short Track Scene. “I thought I threw it away there on Lap 4. Just a special race. We did it, Kyle Busch-fashion, driving from the back to the front in the third groove. I’m sure if you go back and watch that 250 that he won, he was up there a lot. So I know he’s looking down smiling tonight, and I’m proud of that.”

When Kyle Busch tragically died in May, Brown knew quickly that he wanted to honor their relationship and their legacy made together at Oxford Plains.

“With the throwback scheme, when that happened, I was like, yeah, we’re going to do that over 250 weekend,” Brown said. “No ifs, ands or buts. So, we made that happen. We’ll probably do something for the Milk Bowl too, maybe just go back to the 51 on this car or something. We’ll do something for that too, and just show my appreciation for the relationship I had with him.”

Busch made numerous appearances at Oxford Plains, most recently participating in the Pro All Star Series Celebration of America 300 in 2025. In that race, Busch was behind the wheel of a Dale Shaw Racecar prepared by Brown.

Brown says after getting to work with Busch for that race, Busch was always checking in with him.

“With Kyle, we had a really good relationship very quickly when he came up to drive my car,” Brown said. “He called me, or texted me, at least each race after that to congratulate me, or talk about what could be better, or anything. We had really cool plans with Brexton to get in one of my Late Models and all that, and hopefully I can still get him in one of my Late Models, but I don’t want to pressure the kid, act like everyone else, trying to step on their toes and take advantage of the situation. So when they’re ready, I hope I can have the opportunity to work with him and make Kyle proud and show them we can do that.”

On Lap 4 he and Derek Gluchacki were involved in an incident that led to Brown being slightly confused about what happened.

“Kyle wouldn’t admit that was a stupid mistake, but it was a stupid mistake,” Brown said. “The way he went down the frontstretch up high, I felt as if he was gonna give me the lane, and I drove it in there and filled it, and he hauled it for the curb. So I spun him like a friggin’ top, and that was that. So we went to the back and just had to use the thing up profusely to get back to the front.”

Brown knew he had a fast Dale Shaw Racecar, but there was a concern that he had used up his tires and wasn’t sure what he would have left when he got to the front.

“When we got to the front, there was just nothing left of the thing,” Brown explained. “It bottomed out terribly and I just had to hang on for life there. Anyone besides Kaiden (Fisher) would have moved me for that win. Just thankful for our relationship and picking up another win here at Oxford.”

Earlier in 2026, Brown departed from Dale Shaw Race Cars as an employee, and started his own company, Factory 47. Brown remains devoted to Dale and DJ Shaw’s business.

“It’s still a Dale Shaw Race Car,” Brown said. “You see three or four of them in the top five. I’ll stand by them. They are the best you can get for an ACT car right now, but I’m pretty proud of what me and my guys can do at Factory 47 to make them even better. Just really good for business, a one-two finish, and just super thankful for all the people that trust me, and looking forward to the next one.”

Brown this summer has been busy, setting up Kaiden Fisher’s ACT Tour car, and this weekend helping his girlfriend, Reilly Lanphear and their family owned ACT tour car. A different driver was behind the wheel of Reilly Lanphear’s car, Bobby Therrien who was up front leading earlier in the race.

“It was cool to see Reilly’s car up front like that,” Brown said. “I know Mark and the whole family works really hard on their car. It was really cool to race him for the lead and see them lead laps. I know it meant a lot to them. It was pretty special to have Factory 47 there. I think we had all of the top five at one point, and one car people that don’t really know about. Just super thankful for everyone that trusts me, and looking forward to Thunder Road. Hopefully we can go back to back wins up there, but I won’t really count on it.”

Brown now turns his focus to Sunday and the Oxford 250, piloting the Bobby Webber Racing PASS car.

“The 250 car is really good,” Brown said. “We’ve got to cross our ‘T’s and dot all our ‘I’s and make sure it’s good come heat race time, and I feel like we’ve got a solid race car. We’ll see Sunday. The draw’s everything.”

Gabe Brown and the PASS cars get two hours of practice Sunday morning followed by rotating practice sessions for 15 and 20 minutes with regular divisions. After practice, PASS drivers will draw for their all-important heat race starting positions.