Legendary NASCAR driver Kyle Busch dies at 41

Source: WCNC, Charlotte

Legendary NASCAR driver Kyle Busch dies at 41

Busch was 41. He won two NASCAR Cup Series titles and 63 races in the series.


Credit: AP
Kyle Busch ahead of a NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 12, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Author: Nathaniel Puente
Published: 5:42 PM EDT May 21, 2026
Updated: 5:53 PM EDT May 21, 2026

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41. ... NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing announced Busch's death on Thursday.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community," NASCAR said in a statement. ... The announcement followed an initial post on Thursday from the Busch family that stated he was hospitalized with a severe illness. The illness that Busch suffered was not confirmed.

Busch was one of the most prolific drivers in NASCAR history. He had 63 Cup Series wins and won the 2015 and 2019 series titles. Busch is the winningest driver in NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck series history, with 102 and 69 wins, respectively.

Busch had raced at NASCAR's highest level since 2005. He had raced for RCR since 2023

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Read more: https://www.wcnc.com/article/sports/motor/nascar/kyle-busch-brought-back-to-life-after-brief-death/275-0bd71c1d-8e42-4113-8fc1-509022b631e3

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This happened so quickly. This was still up as I was posting:

https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/48835359/kyle-busch-hospitalized-due-illness-miss-coca-cola-600

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Kyle Busch hospitalized due to illness, to miss Coca-Cola 600
ESPN News Services
May 21, 2026, 10:57 AM ET

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch will not compete in Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway after being hospitalized as the result of a severe illness.

In addition to the Cup race, Busch, 41, was scheduled to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

"Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization," the Busch family said in a statement posted on social media. "He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation."

This will be the first time in more than a decade that Busch has missed a Cup Series race. In 2015, he missed the first 11 races of the season while recovering from a compound leg fracture and broken foot following a crash during the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

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