Concord, NORTH CAROLINA – Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41 following a sudden illness, according to a joint statement released by his family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR officials.
The racing star had earlier withdrawn from this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 after being rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Okay News reports that an official cause of death has not yet been released, though reports indicated Busch had been battling a severe medical condition.
Kyle Busch, widely known by fans as “Rowdy,” was regarded as one of the greatest and most successful drivers in modern NASCAR history.
During his career, he won two NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2015 and 2019 and recorded 63 victories in the premier racing division.
He also became the winningest driver across NASCAR’s top three national series, earning a combined 234 victories during a career that lasted more than two decades.
Busch’s final victory came less than a week before his death when he won the Craftsman Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.
In a statement, NASCAR described Busch as a once-in-a-generation talent whose passion, competitiveness and personality helped shape the sport for years.
Tributes have continued pouring in from drivers, teams and fans across the motorsports world following news of his death.
Busch is survived by his wife Samantha, their two children, his parents and his brother, fellow NASCAR champion Kurt Busch.
