Stunned NASCAR community reacts to sudden death of champion Kyle Busch

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR shared the news of Kyle Busch’s sudden death late Thursday, just hours after we learned the 41-year-old had been hospitalized.

Busch was one of the best drivers in the sport, winning more races than anyone across NASCAR’s three national series.

The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement about his death, but did not mention a cause. We know he called for medical attention at the end of the May 10th race at Watkins Glen. Busch had reportedly been struggling with a sinus cold that was exacerbated by the intense g-forces and elevation changes at the New York road course. The next week he seemed to be fine, and won a truck race at Dover. The Athletic’s motorsports reporter Jeff Gluck asked him, “Do you feel better after whatever was bothering you in the car last week that you needed help for?” Busch replied, “Ah, you can kind of still hear it. I’m still not great, but the cough was pretty substantial last week.”

Busch set records in national series wins and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the truck series. Drivers like Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin, posting on social media that they are just as shocked as everyone.

Dale Earnhardt, Junior posted that he and Kyle had a challenging existence for many years, and that it was Kyle who made the effort that got them to work out their differences.

Speedway Motorsports CEO Marcus Smith, sharing a statement, calling Kyle Busch a “champion among champions, and a once-in-a-generation competitor.”

Busch leaves behind his wife Samantha and two children.