Kyle Busch proposed a rule change just two days before his unexpected death, hinting that he may have been envisioning NASCAR as a family affair in the years ahead.

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell revealed that he received a text from Busch on Tuesday regarding an adjustment to eligibility rules for the Truck Series.

“What I look back on is a text from Kyle (on) Tuesday, as only Kyle could do — and I keep looking at it — and he said: ‘Hey, man, what do you think about an over-40 rule to be able to compete in all the Truck Series races next year?’” O’Donnell said.

Busch, 41, died on Thursday from severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement from his family. He was found unresponsive on Wednesday while training in a simulator ahead of the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte.

O’Donnell said Busch’s rule-change suggestion had real merit.

“I said, ‘You know, we put that rule in place because you were winning so much,’” O’Donnell recalled. “But when we looked at it and had a meeting internally on Wednesday, we thought, ‘Damn, that’s actually good. We need Kyle in the Truck Series.’”

He added that the proposal was twofold: Busch knew he could help the series, but he also believed Busch harbored a long-term dream of racing against his son in a national series event one day.

In 2017, NASCAR implemented a rule — unofficially known as the “Kyle Busch Rule” — limiting the number of Truck Series races a NASCAR Cup Series driver with three or more years of experience could compete in during a season to just eight. Busch, who held the NASCAR record with 243 career victories, was proposing an exception for drivers over 40 years old.

Richard Childress Racing has temporarily retired Busch’s No. 8 car, with plans to assign it to his 11-year-old son, Brexton, once he becomes eligible.

A somber atmosphere filled Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday morning as Busch’s familiar blue and white Chevrolet was unloaded in the quiet garage area.