NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch Dead at 41 MORE

6:00 PM · May 21, 2026

Excerpt NASCAR x.com

We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup champion and one of our sport's greatest and fiercest drivers. He was 41 years old.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.

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Author Commentary

Beege Welborn May 21, 2026 6:00 PM ET

It seems he fell seriously ill earlier this week, but my goodness. This is awful.

Statement Regarding Kyle Busch from the Busch Family:

“Kyle has experienced a severe illness resulting in hospitalization. He is currently undergoing treatment and will not compete in any of his scheduled activities this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. We ask for…
— Kyle Busch (@KyleBusch) May 21, 2026

We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation"

Beege ADDS: An Associated Press article published this morning has the tiniest bit more information. Busch had asked for a doctor after last week's race, but it was a terrifying incident in the Chevy simulator this week that landed him in the hospital. I have no idea - and there's no word - if the two were related.

Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR’s 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’s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness,” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
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’s team or family.
...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 “shot” 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.