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The NASCAR world was stunned Thursday when Kyle Busch, one of the greatest of all time, died suddenly at the age of 41.
Busch, 41, was hospitalized Thursday due to an undisclosed “serious illness,” according to a statement released by the Busch family. NASCAR, the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing announced the death Thursday evening, but did not offer a cause of death.
When news of Busch’s death broke, fellow NASCAR drivers mourned their lost competitor.
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Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 8 Watermelon x Circle K Zone Chevrolet, is shown before the NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas on May 3, 2026. (James Gilbert/Getty Images)
One of those drivers was Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who famously got into a fight with Busch after a race about two years ago, but he put their differences aside to pay tribute to him.
Many others paid their respects.
Busch’s last Cup Series victory came in June 2023. Although he has struggled for much of this season, Busch started on the pole in February’s Daytona 500 and was coming off a season-best eighth finish two weeks ago at Watkins Glen. He also just won a Truck Series race at Dover last week.
Kyle Busch watches before the NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on March 17, 2024. (Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire)
KYLE BUSCH, TWO-TIME NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPION, TRAGICALLY DIES AT 41 AFTER HOSPITALIZATION
The statement announcing Busch’s death said the “future Hall of Famer” was “a rare talent, one that comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely knowledgeable and he cared deeply about the sport and the fans.”
Busch had been in the Cup Series since 2004, making 762 career starts with 63 wins. Busch won the championship in 2015 and 2019 and has 234 victories in the three NASCAR national series.
He is the all-time record holder for wins in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). His most recent victory came last weekend at Dover, where he led 147 laps in a dominant Truck Series victory.
Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 8 Cheddar’s/ALSCO Uniforms Chevrolet, attends qualifying for the Bass Pro Shops NASCAR Cup Series Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on September 15, 2023. (Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
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Busch leaves behind his wife, Samantha, and two children. He is the first active NASCAR Cup Series driver to die since Dale Earnhardt died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
