Kyle Busch has died at the age of 41, NASCAR announced on Thursday.
His family had announced earlier in the day that he had been hospitalized with illness and would not be racing this weekend in Charlotte.
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.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026
We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw
Busch is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, winning titles in 2015 and 2019 with Joe Gibb Racing with whom he spent 2008 to 2022. Busch also won an Xfinity Series title in 2009.
Busch had competed in 12 races this season and had two top-10 finishes. He was 24th in the Cup Series standings. Busch was in his fourth season at Richard Childress Racing.
A native of Las Vegas, Busch began competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at the age of 16.
Busch won 63 Cup Series races, 102 in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and 69 in the Craftsman Truck Series. His 234 career victories over the three series are the most in history.
Busch was the younger brother of 2017 Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch.
