Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star Auto Race at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, 2026 in Dover, Del.
Derrick Hamilton/AP
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Derrick Hamilton/AP
CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Busch, the two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone in NASCAR’s three national series, has died. He was 41 years old.
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’s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness” three days before competing in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Busch was the younger brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Kurt Busch.
“Our entire NASCAR family is saddened by the passing of Kyle Busch,” the statement said. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent that comes along once in a generation. He was fiery, he was passionate, he was extremely skilled and he cared deeply about the game and the fans.
The statement said “In his career spanning 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 quick wit and competitive spirit struck a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating a proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.'”
The news comes 11 days after Busch radioed his crew near the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen and asked a doctor to give him a “shot” after completing the race. According to the TV broadcast, Busch was suffering from a sinus cold that was aggravated by the intense g-forces and altitude changes on the New York road course.
Busch finished the race in eighth place.
In this Nov. 17, 2019 file photo, Kyle Busch holds a trophy in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto racing season championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.
Terry Renna/AP
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Terry Renna/AP
Busch competed at Dover last weekend and won the Truck Series race for Richard Childress Racing. He finished 17th in the NASCAR All-Star Race.
“Complete shock. Too hard to handle,” veteran NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski posted on social media.
NASCAR driver and former teammate Denny Hamlin posted on social media: “Can’t understand this news at all. We just need to think about his family during this time. We love you KB.”
A polarizing figure known as “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” for his post-race brawls, regular feuds with other drivers and sometimes odd behavior, the multi-talented Busch burst onto the Cup Series scene in 2005 by winning the Rookie of the Year title.
He won the championship in 2015 and 2019 for Joe Gibbs Racing.
From Las Vegas, Busch experienced unmatched success in NASCAR’s three national series, winning a combined 234 Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Truck Series races. He had 63 Cup wins as well as 102 O’Reilly Auto Parts wins and 69 Truck wins – both records.
Kyle Busch was said to be ready to race at NASCAR’s top level at the age of 16, but a cigarette settlement banned his debut and he had to wait until he was 18. At the time, Kurt Busch said, “If you think I’m good, wait until you meet my brother.”
Bush is survived by his wife Samantha and children Braxton and Lennix.
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