Jimmie Johnson reacts to Kyle Busch's death: "Lost for words"

CBS Mornings Jimmie Johnson reacts to Kyle Busch's shocking death: "I'm kinda lost for words" .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-cbs-mornings.jpg'); } By Mark Osborne May 22, 2026 / 9:57 AM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson couldn't find the words to describe the shocking and sudden death of his former teammate and fellow champion Kyle Busch."I'm kinda lost for words at this moment, but we're gonna miss you buddy. Gone too soon to say the least," Johnson told "CBS Mornings" on Friday.Busch's family posted on his social media Thursday morning he had been hospitalized with a severe illness and would not be competing at this weekend's race in Charlotte. Just a few hours later, NASCAR announced Busch had died."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," NASCAR wrote on social media.Busch was beloved by many fans for his take-no-prisoners driving style, an attitude that earned him the nickname "Rowdy.""[I'll remember] just that spirited, ruthless competitor on track. And I use ruthless in the best way possible. If you took an inch, he was going to take two," Johnson told "CBS Mornings" on Friday. "And there was an amount of respect on the track that you just showed him, as a result. At the same time, [he] would race you so hard and so clean, and just an incredible competitor." Jimmie Johnson, left, talks with Kyle Busch during qualifying for the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2017, in Charlotte, N.C. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images Busch won Cup Series titles, the sport's highest level, in 2015 and 2019. Busch is the all-time leader in wins in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and Craftsman Truck Series (69), considered the second and third tier in the sport respectively. Combined with 63 wins in the Cup Series, he holds the most wins eve...