Kyle Busch, 2-time NASCAR champion, dies at 41 after illness

NASCARKyle Busch, 2-time NASCAR champion, dies at 41 after illness Busch’s family said earlier Thursday that he had been hospitalized with a severe illness and was undergoing treatment.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleNASCAR legend Kyle Busch dies at age 4103:18Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 21, 2026, 2:13 PM EDT / Updated May 21, 2026, 6:55 PM EDTBy Marlene Lenthang and The Associated PressKyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, has died at the age of 41, NASCAR announced Thursday.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“We are saddened and heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Kyle Busch,” NASCAR shared on X, remembering him as “one of our sport’s greatest and fiercest drivers.”“We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community,” NASCAR said.Busch had been hospitalized with a severe illness, his family said earlier on Thursday, and was undergoing treatment.They did not disclose what the illness was.“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”“His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation,’” the statement continued. “NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.”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” after he finished the race. According to the TV broadcast, Busch had been struggling with a sinus cold that was exacerbated by the intense G-forces and elevati...