{"id":5904,"date":"2026-05-21T07:59:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T14:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/news\/7651964\/2-time-nascar-champion-kyle-busch-hospitalized-with-severe-illness-family-says\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T00:30:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T07:30:54","slug":"2-time-nascar-champ-kyle-busch-dies-at-41-after-being-hospitalized-with-a-severe-illness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/news\/5904\/2-time-nascar-champ-kyle-busch-dies-at-41-after-being-hospitalized-with-a-severe-illness\/","title":{"rendered":"2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after being hospitalized with a ‘severe illness’"},"content":{"rendered":"

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) \u2014 Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR\u2019s three national series, has died. He was 41.<\/p>\n

The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given.<\/p>\n

Busch\u2019s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a \u201csevere illness,\u201d three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.<\/p>\n

Busch was testing in the Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was transported to a hospital in Charlotte, several people familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details have not been disclosed by Busch\u2019s team or family.<\/p>\n

Busch was the younger brother of Kurt Busch, a NASCAR Hall of Famer. He\u2019s survived by wife Samantha and children Brexton and Lennix.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,\u201d the statement said. \u201cA future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.\u201d<\/p>\n

The statement went on to say that \u201cthroughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR\u2019s 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 \u2018Rowdy Nation.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

The news comes 11 days after Busch radioed into his crew near the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen asking a doctor to give him a \u201cshot\u201d when he finished the race. According to the TV broadcast, Busch had been struggling with a sinus cold exacerbated by the intense G-forces and elevation changes at the New York road course.<\/p>\n

Busch finished the race in eighth place.<\/p>\n

Busch competed at Dover last weekend and won the Trucks Series race for Spire Motorsports. He then finished 17th at the NASCAR All-Star race, his final race.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely cannot comprehend this news,\u201d NASCAR driver and former teammate Denny Hamlin posted on social media. \u201cWe just need to think of his family during this time. We love you KB.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added driver Brad Keselowski on social media: \u201cAbsolute shock. Very hard to process.\u201d<\/p>\n

A polarizing figure known as \u201cRowdy\u201d and \u201cWild Thing\u201d for his post-race fights, regular feuds with other drivers and sometimes outlandish behavior, the multi-talented Busch stormed on the Cup Series scene in 2005 by winning Rookie of the Year.<\/p>\n

He went on to win championships in 2015 and 2019 for Joe Gibbs Racing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis impact on our organization and on the sport of NASCAR will never be forgotten,\u201d the team said in a statement.<\/p>\n

From Las Vegas, Busch experienced unrivaled success across NASCAR\u2019s three national series winning a combined 234 Cup, O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts and Trucks Series races. He had 63 Cup victories along with 102 O\u2019Reilly Auto Parts wins and 69 Trucks victories \u2014 both records.<\/p>\n

Busch was fired early in his career by Hendrick Motorsports to make room on the team for Dale Earnhardt Jr.<\/p>\n

\u201cKyle and I had a really challenging existence for many years,\u201d Earnhardt said in a statement. \u201cBut we luckily took the time to figure out our differences and that was something he instigated with a conversation in his bus around how we each managed our racing teams. I was super eager for us to get on better terms. But it was he who made the effort for that to be possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Busch moved on to Joe Gibbs Racing where he experienced the vast majority of career success. But Busch was let go when there was no sponsor after the 2022 season and joined Richard Childress Racing, where had struggled to win races.<\/p>\n

His lack of success led to a recent spat with former JGR teammate Hamlin, who appeared to criticize Busch on the \u201cActions Detrimental\u201d podcast. Hamlin said, \u201cIf you\u2019re expecting Kyle Busch to just go back to victory lane on a regular basis, you are kidding yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Hamlin later said he meant no harm by the comments and was just making an observation, Busch took exception and said he could make Hamlin\u2019s life \u201chell\u201d on the racetrack.<\/p>\n

While several laps down at last month\u2019s race at Kansas, Busch raced Hamlin hard instead of allowing the race leader to pass. That decision held up Hamlin during a crucial stage of the race and Tyler Reddick won the race after Hamlin faded late.<\/p>\n

After winning the Trucks race at Dover last week and showing an uptick in speed, Busch seemed to make a veiled jab at Hamlin, saying \u201cI guess I just remembered how to drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

After earning his win at Dover, Busch was asked how many races he wanted to win in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou take whatever you can get, man,\u201d Busch said. \u201cYou never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all \u2014 trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Busch\u2019s unexpected death is just the latest tragedy to hit NASCAR. Last December, former driver Greg Biffle, his wife and two children and three others died in a plane crash<\/a> in Statesville, North Carolina.<\/p>\n

The announcement of Busch\u2019s death came after teams had already left Gasoline Alley on media day at the Indianapolis 500. As word spread on Main Street in Speedway, Indiana, just a short walk from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, race fans — IndyCar and NASCAR — were saddened.<\/p>\n

NASCAR officials confirmed to The Associated Press the Coca-Cola 600 will go on as planned Sunday.<\/p>\n

Drivers are expected to begin making their way to Charlotte Motorsports Speedway in Concord on Friday with practice and qualifying beginning on Saturday. Earlier in the day, RCR had announced that Austin Hill would replace Busch in the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.<\/p>\n

___ AP freelance writer and former AP auto racing writer Jenna Fryer and AP Sports Writer Michael Marot in Indianapolis contributed to this report. ___<\/p>\n

AP auto racing: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/auto-racing<\/a><\/p>\n

\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch waits for the start of a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo\/Mark Humphrey, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch celebrates his win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ Autism Speaks 400 auto race, Sunday, May 16, 2010, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo\/Nick Wass, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch celebrates his victory in the NASCAR Shelby 427 auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday, March 1, 2009. (AP Photo\/Isaac Brekken, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch celebrates his win in the NASCAR Nationwide series auto race, in Victory Lane at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. (AP Photo\/Steve Helber, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch waits in Victory Lane after winning the pole position for the NASCAR Cup series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 24, 2018. (AP Photo\/Chuck Burton, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Kyle Busch, center, holds up the trophy in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo\/Terry Renna, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – NASCAR driver Kyle Busch bites his earpiece cord as he gets ready to practice for the NASCAR Lenox Industrial Tools 301auto race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H., Friday, July 15, 2011. (AP Photo\/Mary Schwalm, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Kyle Busch celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, May 27, 2018. (AP Photo\/Chuck Burton, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n \"|\"
FILE – Driver Kyle Busch sits in his car prior to qualifying for the upcoming NASCAR Nationwide Series car race at Phoenix International Raceway Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Ross D. Franklin, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) \u2014 Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR\u2019s three national series, has died. He was 41. The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given. Busch\u2019s family said […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":521,"featured_media":5905,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"guid":"efda4c8e-421d-4028-9508-96adb9c8d131","source":"The Associated Press","byline":"Steve Reed","published":"2026-05-21 07:59:20","updated":"2026-05-22 00:30:09","_infotelid":"","_prepressid":"","_multisite_post_sync":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1466,1303,1437,1467,1297,1304],"tags":[],"region":[1279,1280,1410,1299,1310],"class_list":["post-5904","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indycar","category-international","category-motorsports","category-nascar","category-sports","category-world","region-british-columbia","region-canada","region-hamilton","region-ontario","region-richmond"],"blocksy_meta":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/news\/5904\/2-time-nascar-champ-kyle-busch-dies-at-41-after-being-hospitalized-with-a-severe-illness\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after being hospitalized with a ‘severe illness’","url":"http:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/news\/5904\/2-time-nascar-champ-kyle-busch-dies-at-41-after-being-hospitalized-with-a-severe-illness\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/news\/5904\/2-time-nascar-champ-kyle-busch-dies-at-41-after-being-hospitalized-with-a-severe-illness\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/inwheels-4dd1d1e1b9a5a18b52182d95ec2312df81c857241d4833accc6b3a001670f833.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/infonews.ca\/inwheels\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/inwheels-4dd1d1e1b9a5a18b52182d95ec2312df81c857241d4833accc6b3a001670f833.jpg"},"articleSection":"IndyCar","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"The Associated Press"}],"creator":["The Associated Press"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"iNwheels","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2026-05-21T14:59:20Z","datePublished":"2026-05-21T14:59:20Z","dateModified":"2026-05-22T07:30:54Z"},"rendered":"