One of NASCAR’s most renowned drivers, Kyle Busch, has died at age 41 after being hospitalized with a severe illness Thursday.
No cause of death was revealed.
NASCAR made the shocking announcement shortly before 6 p.m., and the racing circuit said it was “heartbroken by the loss.”
“A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled, and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ ”
Busch became a household name to racing fans over his more than two decades racing in NASCAR and won 234 NASCAR national series races across the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series, which is the most of any driver in the sport’s history.
His 63 Cup Series wins rank ninth all-time in NASCAR history, and owns record-setting win totals in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and the Truck Series (69).
Busch won the Cup Series in 2015 and 2019.
News of Busch’s passing came hours after his family revealed he had been hospitalized due to an unspecified illness, which had first appeared to surface earlier this month at Watkins Glen.
He radioed his team during the race, asking for a doctor who worked with NASCAR to meet him after the race. The Fox Sports broadcast said during the May 10 race that Busch had been dealing with a “sinus cold all week.”
“I’m gonna need a shot,” Busch said over the air.
When speaking with reporters last week at Dover Motor Speedway, Busch told The Athletic that he had a “pretty substantial” cough and that “I’m still not great.”
News of Busch’s initial hospitalization came just days before he was supposed to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and his family said that he was “currently undergoing treatment.”
Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha, 11-year-old son Brexton and 4-year-old daughter Lennix.
Brexton celebrated his 11th birthday Monday, and Busch posted a heartfelt message for his son on social media to commemorate the occasion.
During his career, Busch drove for three Hall of Fame owners in the Cup Series, getting behind the wheel for Hendrick Motorsports beginning in 2005 before joining Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008 and moving to RCR in 2023.
The younger brother of Hall of Fame driver Kurt Busch, Kyle captivated racing fans with his own style on the track and dubbed himself “Rowdy” in a nod to a character from the 1990 action film “Days of Thunder.”
Busch was in the middle of his 22nd full-time season in the Cup Series and had just posted his best finish, eighth, at Watkins Glen, the same day he called for a doctor during the race.
The NASCAR star had just won a Truck Series race at Dover on May 15.
“There aren’t really words for today,” NASCAR driver Ricky Stenhouse Jr. wrote on social media. “I’ve raced against Kyle for a long time, and anyone who’s lined up next to him knows exactly what made him special, he gave you everything he had, every single lap, and he made all of us better for it.
“But more than the wins and the records, I keep thinking about Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix, and the entire Busch family right now. That’s where my heart is.
“Rest easy, Rowdy. The sport won’t be the same without you.”