Kyle Busch dies at 41; family requests privacy, NASCAR and RCR confirm

Kyle Busch, 41, died Thursday, his family, NASCAR and Richard Childress Racing said in a joint statement. They said he had been hospitalized earlier that day with a short, severe illness and that his death was sudden and tragic. The statement said he missed the Coca-Cola 600 and that key medical details, including cause of death, remain private, and the family requested privacy and said further updates will be shared as appropriate.

He ended a 24-year career as NASCAR's all-time winningest driver across the three national series with 234 victories, including 63 Cup Series wins, 102 NASCAR Xfinity Series wins and 69 Truck Series wins, and he competed in 762 Cup races. He was the NASCAR Cup Series champion in 2015 and 2019 and ranked ninth on the all-time Cup wins list; at the time of his death he stood 24th in the Cup standings. The statement noted his role as a Truck Series owner who helped develop the next generation of drivers and described him as a "future Hall of Famer," saying his sharp wit and competitive drive built a devoted "Rowdy Nation" fan base.

He is survived by his wife Samantha and their children Brexton and Lennix. The release offered condolences to both sets of parents, his brother Kurt, Richard and Judy Childress, teammates, friends and fans. The statement also noted Busch had sought medical attention 11 days earlier after a race at Watkins Glen for a sinus issue, and that his death came days before he was scheduled to race in the NASCAR Truck Series and the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, events that typically include practice (FP1), qualifying (Q3) and the Race.