The 64-year-old actor was photographed sitting beside an empty chair bearing Busch's name, a poignant reminder of the racing star's absence. Cruise was seen gently patting the chair and looking down during the meeting, in a moment that quickly drew attention from NASCAR fans.
Cruise attended the event as part of preparations for the newly announced sequel to Days of Thunder, the 1990 racing film in which he starred as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. The upcoming sequel will also feature Anne Hathaway.
Photos of Cruise's quiet gesture were shared online by Motorsport, with fans praising the actor for acknowledging Busch's memory. One fan described the moment as a sign of respect, while another noted that the original Days of Thunder had reportedly been one of Busch's favorite racing movies.
Busch died in May after suffering from a severe illness. He was hospitalized and later died on May 21 after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis.
The NASCAR champion is survived by his wife, Samantha Busch, and their two children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, 4.
Since her husband's death, Samantha has spoken openly about the challenges of navigating life and motherhood while grieving. In a social media post shared in June, she described losing Kyle as losing the love of her life, her best friend and the person she expected to grow old with.
She acknowledged the pain of missing him every day but said her role as a mother has given her a reason to keep moving forward for their children.
Earlier this month, Samantha spoke publicly for the first time since Kyle's death when she received the Seeds of Hope Award at the Carlos Rodón Foundation's Third Annual Willow Gala. She was honored for the work she and Kyle supported through their foundation, The Bundle of Joy Fund.
During her remarks, Samantha described losing her husband as the greatest heartbreak of her life. She said she hopes his legacy will live on through their children, his accomplishments in racing and the charitable work he cared deeply about.
She also hopes people remember Kyle not only as a champion on the track, but for his generosity, compassion and the lives touched by the causes he supported.
