According to a report published by CBC Sports from The Associated Press on Thursday, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch has died at 41, following hospitalization for what his family earlier described as a “severe illness.” A joint statement from the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR announced the death but did not provide a cause.
Busch was scheduled to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway three days after the announcement of his hospitalization. The report noted that 11 days earlier, during a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, Busch asked over team radio for a doctor to give him a “shot” after the race. Broadcasters said he had been dealing with a sinus cold aggravated by the track’s physical demands. He finished eighth at Watkins Glen, then competed at Dover the following weekend, winning a Truck Series race and placing 17th in the All-Star race.
NASCAR’s statement described Busch as a future Hall of Famer and cited his skill, competitiveness and connection with fans. Fellow drivers Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin posted messages expressing shock and sympathy for Busch’s family.
Busch entered the Cup Series in 2005, won Rookie of the Year, and later captured Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibbs Racing. A Las Vegas native and younger brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, he became one of the most accomplished drivers in the sport’s history. Across NASCAR’s three national series, he recorded 234 victories, including 63 in Cup, 102 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 in Trucks. The latter two totals were records.
Known by nicknames including “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing,” Busch was also associated with rivalries, confrontations and a strong fan following known as “Rowdy Nation.” He is survived by his wife, Samantha, and children, Brexton and Lennix, officials said.