NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch Dies at 41

Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup champion, died Thursday at age 41.

NASCAR posted on X, “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 motorsports community.”

Busch was hospitalized with a serious illness and announced he would miss this weekend's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his family said Thursday.

“We ask for understanding and privacy as our family navigates this situation," his family announced after his hospitilzation.

During the May 10 Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, Busch radioed his crew requesting medical assistance from Dr. Bill Heisel and a post-race injection. The broadcast said he was dealing with a sinus illness worsened by the track's G-forces and elevation changes.

He continued to compete and finished eighth.

Busch is 24th in the standings with two top-10 finishes in 12 races this season. The Las Vegas native won championships in 2015 and 2019 and is in his fourth season with Richard Childress Racing after previously racing for Joe Gibbs Racing.

His most recent win came in 2023, his first with RCR.

A polarizing figure in the sport, Busch has a record 234 wins across NASCAR's three national series. He has 63 Cup Series victories, including the 2018 Coca-Cola 600.

This is a breaking news article. Updates to follow.

Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.

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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 2:56 PM.