Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41 following a sudden illness.
The announcement came Thursday after Busch’s family earlier revealed he had been hospitalized in the Charlotte area with a severe illness. The exact cause has not been publicly disclosed.
A joint statement on behalf of the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7fYGjIqxoJ
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026
According to reports, Busch became unresponsive Wednesday while testing in a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord before being transported to a Charlotte-area hospital.
Busch was one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history.
During his career, he captured Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019 while earning 63 Cup Series victories. He also became the all-time winningest driver in both the NASCAR Truck Series and Xfinity Series.
Known to fans as “Rowdy,” Busch built a reputation as one of racing’s fiercest and most aggressive competitors.
His driving style made him both controversial and wildly popular throughout a Cup Series career that began in 2005.
Busch joined Richard Childress Racing in 2023 and remained one of the sport’s biggest stars.
News of his death has sent shockwaves through the Charlotte-area racing community just days before the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
