Two-Time NASCAR Champion Kyle Busch Dies at 41

Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, passed away on Thursday from severe pneumonia that developed into sepsis, according to a family statement released on Saturday. Dakota Hunter, vice president of Kyle Busch Companies, shared the news.

Brittan Bosch was hospitalized earlier last week and sadly died at the age of 41. In 2014, he celebrated a victory in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond International Raceway.

The Busch family confirmed that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, leading to rapid and severe complications.

Fox Sports reporter Bob Pockrass initially shared the family’s details on Saturday. Prior to his death, Busch had collapsed while using a Chevrolet simulator and was taken to the hospital. A recorded 911 call revealed he was coughing blood and struggling to breathe, though he remained conscious.

Busch was planning to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend. With a career beginning in 2004, he made 762 starts in the Cup Series, securing 63 wins, including championships in 2015 and 2019. Additionally, Busch held 234 victories across all three NASCAR national series. He is also the all-time win record-holder in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell remembered Busch fondly during a press conference. He described him as an “American badass” and commended him for his prowess on the track and contributions to the sport.

O’Donnell noted, “Behind the wheel, he’s who you want to be. We may have disagreed sometimes, but those moments are significant in racing. I would cherish having more of those encounters.”

This report includes contributions from OutKick’s Zach Dean and The Associated Press.