Kyle Busch cause of death: What we know as two-time NASCAR champion dies at age 41 News Today

Kyle Busch, the two-time Cup Series champion, has died at the age of 41, his family announced Thursday, May 21. Kyle, whose aggressive driving style earned him the nickname “Rowdy,” won more races than anyone else in NASCAR’s three national series.

Kyle died after being hospitalized with a serious illness, his family said.

Busch is survived by his parents and his wife, Samantha, and children, Brexton and Lennix.

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Kyle Busch’s cause of death

In a statement, the Busch family gave no cause of death. But earlier Thursday, they said he was hospitalized with a “serious illness” just three days before his 24th Coca-Cola 600 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Kyle was testing on a Chevrolet racing simulator in Concord on Wednesday when he became unresponsive and was taken to a Charlotte hospital, The Associated Press reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Several before his death, Kyle radioed his crew at the end of a Cup Series race at Watkins Glen, asking the doctor to give him a “shot” when he finished the race.

According to the telecast, Kyle was dealing with a sinus cold exacerbated by the intense G-forces and elevation changes on the New York track.

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Kyle was ‘wild, passionate, extremely skilled’: NASCAR

“We are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” his family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR said in a joint statement.

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken at the loss of Kyle Busch. Kyle, a future Hall of Famer, was a rare, once-in-a-generation talent,” the statement read. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was extremely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and the fans.

The statement continued, “During a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set national series wins records, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level, and nurtured the next generation of drivers as a Truck Series owner. His quick wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of all ages, creating a proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.'”

Kyle was in his 22nd full-time season in NASCAR’s top division, winning two Cup Series titles (2015, 2019) and 63 races – a number that ranks ninth on the circuit’s all-time wins list.

Hr raced at Dover last weekend and won the Trucks Series race for Spire Motorsports. He then finished 17th in the NASCAR All-Star Race, his final race.

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Who is Kyle Busch?

Born in Las Vegas, Kyle Busch entered the sport as a brash teenager nicknamed “The Bush” as the younger brother of Hall of Fame driver Kurt Busch.

But the nicknames “Rowdy” and “Wild Thing” for his post-race fights, regular arguments with other riders and sometimes eccentric behavior stuck with him.

The multi-talented Kyle burst onto the Cup Series scene in 2005 when he won Rookie of the Year. He won championships for Joe Gibbs Racing in 2015 and 2019.

“His impact on our organization and the sport of NASCAR will never be forgotten,” the team said in a statement.

Kyle started with Hendrick Motorsports, joined Joe Gibbs Racing in 2008, established a long-term partnership that made him the face of Toyota’s NASCAR effort, and spent the latter stages of his career with Childress, arriving in 2023 to take the reins of the No. 8 Chevrolet.