2-time NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after being hospitalized

Kyle Busch is introduced during the NASCAR All-Star auto race Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Del. He died at age 41 after being hospitalized with a "severe illness. " ©Derik Hamilton CONCORD, N.

C. — Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion who won more races than anyone across NASCAR’s three national series, has died. He was 41.

The Busch Family, Richard Childress Racing and NASCAR issued a joint statement Thursday saying Busch died after being hospitalized. No cause of death was given. Busch’s family said earlier Thursday that he was hospitalized with a “severe illness,” three days before he was to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch was the younger brother of Kurt Busch, a NASCAR Hall of Famer. “Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch,” the statement said. “A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation.