NASCAR announces death of Kyle Busch

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

NASCAR announced on Thursday afternoon that two-time Cup champion Kyle Busch has died.

Busch was 41 years old.

“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,” NASCAR shared on its social media. “We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire motorsports community.”

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.

We extend our deepest condolences to the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and the entire… pic.twitter.com/FARIF6OKrw

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

Other media reported earlier that he had been hospitalized.

NASCAR later released a joint statement with the Busch family and Richard Childress Racing.

“Our entire NASCAR gamily is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. As a future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation,” the statement says. “He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

A joint statement on behalf of the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/7fYGjIqxoJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 21, 2026

Busch won the Cup Series championship in 2015 and 2019 and was the rookie of the year in 2005. He won 234 combined races, 63 of which were Cup series victories. His last Cup series win occurred at the Enjoy Illinois 300, which is in the St. Louis area, in 2023.