Kyle Busch, 2-time NASCAR Cup and Brickyard 400 champion, dies at 41

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch died at 41 years old on Thursday, NASCAR announced.

Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, was set to continue his Cup season and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend until his family announced he was hospitalized with a severe illness on Thursday morning.

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” NASCAR posted in an online 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.”

Busch requested medical aid from his car during a Cup race at Watkins Glen International on May 10, saying, “I’m gonna need a shot” on his radio, per The Athletic. He finished that race and won the truck race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 15.

“You take whatever you can get, man,” Busch said after winning the truck race. “You never know when the last one is going to be, so cherish them all — trust me.”

Busch, who was driving for Richard Childress Racing in Cup races and Spire Motorsports in truck races, won 63 Cup races and 69 truck races in his career. He was a two-time Cup champion in 2015 and 2019. Busch won the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2015 and 2016.

“Everyone at Indianapolis Motor Speedway is heartbroken to learn of the passing of Kyle Busch,” IMS and IndyCar President Doug Boles said in a statement. “Kyle was one of the most dominant racers in IMS history, highlighted by back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 victories in 2015 and 2016, making history by sweeping both the Cup and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races in those years. He won a record four O’Reilly Series races at the Racing Capital of the World and made his 700th career Cup Series start in the 30th anniversary 2024 Brickyard 400 at IMS – a significant career milestone.

“He was a fan favorite, loved for his competitive spirit and passion. He understood what racing and winning at Indianapolis means. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with his wife, Samantha, children Brexton and Lennix, the entire Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire NASCAR family.”

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

IndyStar staff writer Nathan Brown contributed to this story.

Zion Brown is IndyStar’s motorsports reporter. Follow him at @z10nbr0wn. Get IndyStar’s motor sports coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Motor Sports newsletter. Subscribe to the YouTube channel IndyStar TV: IndyCar for a behind-the-scenes look at IndyCar and expert analysis.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Kyle Busch, 2-time NASCAR Cup and Brickyard 400 champion, dies at 41

Read the full article here